Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, played a prominent role at Vikas Mela 2025, an event commemorating the first anniversary of the Odisha government under Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. The company showcased the remarkable achievements of women-led enterprises from Kalahandi through its flagship Project Sakhi, celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of rural women and their vital contribution to the region’s development.
The Vedanta Aluminium stall, featuring a vibrant array of handmade products crafted by women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), garnered significant attention and appreciation. Dignitaries, including Shri Pawar Sachin, District Magistrate of Kalahandi, and senior representatives from the Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS), Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), and the District Planning and Monitoring Unit (DPMU), lauded the high quality, creativity, and market-readiness of the showcased goods. They recognized these products as a testament to Vedanta’s sustained efforts in nurturing rural enterprises and fostering women-led microeconomies in the region.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Vedanta Alumina Business, emphasized the intrinsic link between the development of Kalahandi and the empowerment of its people. “At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe women are the cornerstone of inclusive growth,” he stated. “Through Project Sakhi, we are enabling them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs and active agents of socio-economic change.”
Project Sakhi’s presence at the Vikas Mela provided a valuable platform for rural women to not only showcase their unique products but also to forge new market linkages and amplify their entrepreneurial efforts before a wider audience. This initiative seamlessly aligns with Vedanta’s broader vision of transforming Kalahandi through focused interventions in sustainable livelihoods, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and grassroots sports and culture, ultimately reshaping the region’s future.
Launched in 2016, Project Sakhi has steadily evolved into a cornerstone of women’s development in Kalahandi district, home to Vedanta’s world-class alumina refinery. The initiative currently supports over 4,900 women across 4,701 SHGs. By providing comprehensive training, leadership mentoring, and vital market access across both farm and non-farm sectors, Project Sakhi is actively building sustainable livelihoods and fostering crucial financial independence for these women. As Kalahandi charts a new path forward, Vedanta Aluminium remains deeply committed to deepening its role as a catalyst of change, empowering communities and nurturing the aspirations of the rural women who are scripting this transformation from within.