BALCO Celebrates Unnati Utsav with Communities
29th March 2024- Serves opportunity for self-help groups to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and talents
- Honours inspiring individuals for their social contributions
- Launches a new Mobile Health Van (MHV) for the health and well-being of communities
Balconagar, March 29, 2024: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminum producer and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, successfully completed the 3rd rendition of Unnati Utsav, an annual CSR event under BALCO’s Project Unnati, celebrating women in communities. Held during International Women’s Day 2024, this event aimed at empowering women, marking a celebration for over 650 women in communities, who were not only encouraged towards self-reliance but also provided with an opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and other talent.
Celebrated for the third consecutive year, Unnati Utsav engaged women from communities in various games and cultural performances. During the event, these women showcased Karma and Raut, local dance forms from Chhattisgarh, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the region. To raise awareness around social issues, they also participated in plays and performances addressing crucial topics such as women’s empowerment, menstrual health management, entrepreneurship, and girls’ education. Additionally, the event provided promotional and earning opportunities for women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), who had set up stalls with their handcrafted food and decor items in a flea market open to general visitors. Featuring impactful plays, cultural performances, and a captivating flea market with stalls from self-help groups, the event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 1000 individuals.
Unnati Utsav is a flagship program under BALCO’s Project Unnati that focuses on empowering and mobilizing women into Self- Help Groups (SHGs) and honing their capacities and skills for entrepreneurship and building sustainable livelihoods. This project, running in partnership with GPR Strategies and Solutions (GPRSS), a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to community and social services. has impacted over 5700 women in BALCO’s surrounding communities.
Appreciating the event and Project Unnati, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO & Director, BALCO, said, “BALCO is committed to supporting women from local communities on their journey of self-empowerment by providing them with skills training, financial literacy, market linkage, and similar initiatives. Through Project Unnati, we aim to promote the financial empowerment of women, enabling them to establish their individualistic identity within society and contribute to the growth and progress of their families, society, and nation.”
In addition to performances, BALCO had also recognized 16 individuals from the communities for their remarkable contributions to social causes, under BALCO’s various CSR projects on health, education, skills, and sustainable livelihoods. From dispelling myths surrounding menstruation to equipping individuals with the skills necessary for sustainable livelihoods, and providing primary academic support free of charge, these individuals were honored for their inspiring endeavors in driving positive change across communities.
The company also launched an additional van under its Mobile Health Van (MHV) initiative during the event, furthering its commitment to the health and well-being of the communities. Introduced to serve over 47 communities through fortnightly visits, camps, and consultation services, this initiative was a key highlight of the event.
Mr. S. N. Kesari, Chief Health and Medical Officer (CHMO) Korba Dist. applauded the launch of the MHV, and said, “Every individual has the right to primary healthcare. I am pleased that BALCO’s newly launched Mobile Health Van will support the district administration in meeting the needs of essential primary healthcare services for communities in remote areas of the district.”
BALCO, through its CSR interventions, impacts over 1.5 lakh lives annually across 123 villages, spanning 4 blocks in 4 districts of Chhattisgarh, namely Korba, Kawardha, Surguja, and Raipur. Through its efforts, it aims at transforming all aspects of life with its diverse projects under multiple thematic areas, including Education, Sustainable Livelihoods, Health, Water and Sanitation, Women’s Empowerment, Environment and Safety, Sports, and Culture, as well as Community Asset Creation, including community development.
