Orissadiary.com, Dec 14, 2010
Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Lanjigarh: In an attempt to make Kalahandi district free from Malaria, Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) – a special purpose vehicle formed by Government of Orissa with Directors from Government of Orissa (GoO), Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and Sterlite Industries (India) Limited (SIIL) as per the Supreme Court order for economic sharing community development, has initiated a special program for eradication of malaria in Kalahandi district.
The foundation has contributed Rs. 1 Crore for the same. The program would be implemented through the District Administration of Kalahandi. To start with about 1000 medicated mosquito nets have been distributed in Lanjigarh block of the district.
Kalahandi is a Malaria-prone area and has affected a lot of people in Kalahandi district in the past and even taken life of several people. Hence, LPADF has accorded ‘highest priority’ to health needs of this area and started number of projects like distribution of medicated mosquito nets, safe drinking water supply, emphasis on cleanliness and sanitation conditions etc besides bringing awareness in the community. To fight malaria in the region, initially, 20473 numbers of medicated mosquito nets will be distributed in Lanjigarh block alone by Chief District Medical Officer, Kalahandi. This step was necessary as, till now in 2010, 2881 people were found positive for malaria in Lanjigarh out of 21526 blood samples collected.
Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh has opened a hospital at Lanjigarh which is also playing a major role in eradication of malaria. The hospital aims at rendering health care to the needful and poor people around Lanjigarh. The facilities include 24 hours emergency service, Ultrasound, X-Ray, Pathology, Ambulance facility, Specialist consultancy, fully automatic pathological laboratory, QBC machine for malaria detection. They have also started a neo-nano screening project so that all newly born babies can be detected within 6 months of their berths for Sickle Cell Anemia.
Recently, LPADDF donated three fully operational ambulances to the District Administration of Rayagada for better control of Malaria in remote areas of Rayagada.
LPADF is the first ever initiative in India for sharing economic benefits of industrialisation with the society. This model, advised by the Supreme Court for Vedanta Refinery Project and OMC’s Niyamgiri mining project, will help in confidence building in the society and promote sustainable socio-economic development through industrialization in tribal and rural areas.
In Kalahandi and Rayagada district, the LPADF has taken up a lot of developmental work such as comprehensive upgradation of tribal schools, college infrastructure, upgradation of electrical system, health facility etc, since inception in October 2009. The main focus areas are development in health, education, livelihood, communication and cultural heritage.
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