Balconagar, Korba, April 9, 2021: Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), IndiaÂs iconic aluminium producer is playing a crucial role in the prevention of various diseases, especially Covid-19 in the rural regions of the state through its ÂVedanta Rural HospitalÂ. Under BALCOÂs CSR project ‘Arogya’, hospitals have been established in the villages of Chuhiya & Parsabhata located in the Korba region. During 2020-21, more than 22000 villagers were benefitted through the various medical facilities provided by the Arogya Project. Through these hospitals, free medicines are being distributed to the villagers, awareness campaign on the pandemic and health consultation are being provided by the medical teams.

The aim of establishing Vedanta rural hospitals is to spread health awareness amongst the masses. BALCO has been instrumental in changing lives through this campaign. Vedanta Rural Hospital has come out as a ray of hope for around 60,000 citizens living in the vicinity of the plant. One of the major achievements of Vedanta rural hospitals has been that villagers now have proper access to doctors and medicines. These hospitals are playing a major role in spreading awareness about COVID-19 and its prevention. The villagers have been familiarized with social distancing, the importance of frequent hand washing, and the use of sanitizers.

Speaking on the Arogya Project by BALCO, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director BALCO said, ÂIn the current challenging times of the pandemic citizens must take care of themselves and the health of their family members. BALCO has witnessed unprecedented success in the implementation of the Arogya Project and is proud that the project is adhering to the goals of community health. Villagers are now aware of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in their surroundings. Vedanta Rural Hospitals are now providing information related to the prevention of the coronavirus. BALCO is to extend all possible help to the villagers in the prevention of Covid-19.Â

The villagers have access to first aid and hospital services within their villages, which saves them time and from the inconvenience of commuting to BALCO or Korba. The Vedanta rural hospitals have also been the tools to serve national campaigns such as those for vaccinations and maternal and child health protection. In coordination with the District health department, Vedanta rural hospitals is running awareness programs for Tuberculosis and HIV Aids also. These hospitals are also equipped with pathology labs to check for malaria and other diseases.

Mr. Shivraj Singh, Sarpanch,Village Chuiya, shared that BALCO is making a commendable contribution towards the availability of medical facilities in the villages. Presently, the villagers are receiving help through the rescue and awareness programs run by the rural hospital. He also added that the hospitals provide information regarding seasonal diseases, health camps are a big part of the project which is diligently set up by the hospital and the villagers are happy to have a medical facility in their village.

Ms. Anjali Markam and Ms. Peela Bai of village Chuiya share that they are happy to get all the necessary medicines through the Vedanta Rural Hospital. They are pleased that the villagers do not have to wait for local transport to reach hospital, also children and expectant mothers get vaccinated on time. Health care counselling is also available from the doctors at no cost.

Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is IndiaÂs iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. Vedanta Limited is the worldÂs 6th largest diversified natural resources company and the largest producer of aluminium in India. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ÂMetal of the Future for a greener tomorrow.

About Vedanta Cares

Vedanta is committed to reinvesting in the social good of its neighbouring communities and the nation. The GroupÂs flagship CSR project, Nand Ghar, is a network of model anganwadis where the thrust is on inclusive development of women and children at the grassroots level. The Group CSR initiative comprises of seven key verticals  Education, Healthcare, Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Livelihood, Skilling, Sports & Culture and Employee Volunteering. Vedanta Foundation, a philanthropic initiative of Vedanta Group is focused on skill development and vocational training programmes for the underprivileged to make them employable. A key healthcare speciality CSR project is the Balco Medical Center, a 200-bed state-of-the-art Cancer care hospital located in New Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The company supports grassroots level sports through their Football academies in Goa and Udaipur.

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About Vedanta Limited

Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the worldÂs leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation-building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta’s strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and the environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. The company has been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred CII-ITC Sustainability Award, the FICCI CSR Award, Dun & Bradstreet Awards in Metals & Mining, and certified as a Great Place to Work. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information please visit www.vedantalimited.com

For more information:

Mansi Chauhan

Head  PR & Communication

BALCO

mansi.chauhan@vedanta.co.in