Lanjigarh: June 29: Vedanta Aluminium’s Lanjigarh refinery unit has won the coveted ‘CSR Health Impact Award 2019’ for its Swachhta project. The award was presented during the IHW Council at Delhi.
The prestigious award was presented by Prof. Shiv Sarin, ILBS and Mr. Karan Thakur, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. The award recognizes those organizations which have undergone initiatives on energy conservation, rainwater harvesting, waste disposal, compost pits or similar infrastructure on cleanliness, painting and adoption of clean-green technology under the noble vision ‘ Swachh Bharat Mission’.
On receiving the award, Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Alumina Business, said: “Vedanta Aluminium’s, Lanjigarh unit has worked on a holistic hygiene and sanitation approach, converging with the Government and involving active participation from the villagers in establishing the Open Defecation Free (ODF) project. This award reinstates the efforts on employing the best of sanitation practices within the block. It is commendable that the combined efforts of all the teams has resulted into such a positive outcome. We are committed to support the community for a better and sustainable lifestyle that is free from any hygiene-related illness.”
Open Defecation Free (ODF) is a community development initiative under the Swachhta Project wherein Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery has provided technical support through its partnering NGO, Feedback Foundation in collaboration with the District Administration. Under Swachhta Project, six Gram Panchayats have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), where 56 villages with a total of 5273 households have become ODF.
The establishment of the ‘Nigrani Committee’, involving the villagers, women and children, has also ensured that the villagers have access to safe methods of sanitation. Their continuous follow-ups and rallies emerged as powerful change agents. These groups took the responsibility of keeping their village clean and healthy, while also making sure that no member of the village was defecating in the open.
Similarly, school committees comprising of students have been formed in every school, who are responsible of maintaining the operation and maintenance at the school level. It is commendable to note that there have been no cases of diarrhea in the year while the project was implemented. With the involvement of the Anganwadi workers (AWW), Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and Self-Help Group (SHG) members, youth groups, influential leaders, the community was further encouraged to participate in the triggering process. The overall result has featured Lanjigarh block with much better health indicators through these sanitation interventions.
