Vedanta Chief on social security mode

Tathya.in, June 6, 2009
Bhubaneswar:6/June/2009

Anil Agarwal is high on social commitment mode.

The Chairman of the Vedanta Resources Plc announced here out to stamp out killer malaria from Kalahandi on 6 June.

Mr.Agarwal briefing the media after meeting the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat.

He said according to a latest survey, Kalahandi is the largest affected area in the country so far malaria is concerned.

The Vedanta Aluminium, a company of Vedanta Resources plc, has partnered with the State Government, NRHM, National Vector Borne Disease

Control Program and local health authority under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode to eradicate malaria from the region.

This is the first PPP arrangement in Orissa, involving Corporate Organization to eradicate malaria.

The project named as ‘Roll Back Malaria’ aims at achieving zero malaria death rates and reducing incidence of malaria by 50 per cent by the end of this year.

It will cover entire Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district.

“Subsequently, the program can be expanded to other blocks of the district,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer.

The program has taken up an integrated approach to make Lanjigarh malaria free.

As per the request of the Chief Minister, Vedanta is considering setting up a state of the art Burn & Trauma centre for the first time at Bhubaneswar as an extension project of Vedanta Hospital and Medical College.

Vedanta has already initiated the Mid Day Meal (MDM) Programme in Kalahandi which will feed 30000 school going children of the region.

The Company has already signed an MOU with the Nandi Foundation and the district administration.

Mr Agarwal also invited the Chief Minister to inaugurate the Mid Day Meal Kitchen at Kalahandi.