Vedanta’s Jharsuguda plant, the largest aluminium producer, has intensified preventive measures and management oversight to safeguard its employees, families and business partners against the disease. The company is working in close coordination with the Jharsuguda District Administration to ensure business continuity with limited manpower and resources.
CN Singh, CEO – Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda says, “The health and safety of our employees, families, business partners and communities are of utmost import to us. We are in strict adherence to all guidelines and protocols of the land, and will continue to use our experiences and learnings from the pandemic to safeguard our people to the best of our abilities.”
Dr Sudhamaya Nayak, Chief Medical Officer – Apollo Clinic, Vedanta township, says, “As Vedanta’s healthcare services partner, we are dedicatedly working with the company’s health team to ensure a safe environment for all working here. Vedanta has put in place robust measures to guard employees, associate partners and township residents against the pandemic, and we are extending all support to ensure good collective health status in plant and township.”
- COVID-19 Rapid Response Team has been constituted at site to monitor plant and township round-the-clock and support management in taking appropriate decisions.
- With business continuity and disaster management plans in place, a Central Control Room with emergency helpline number has been established.
- The company has tied up with Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, for COVID testing for employees, families and business partners.
- Increased utilization of advanced technologies and digital solutions to boost employee connectivity and productivity, as the company continues to operate with limited manpower.
- Entry into the plant and township is strictly regulated. All travels from plant/township to outstation destinations, whether business or personal, are currently restricted. All personnel who travelled to inter-district and inter-state post-unlock have undergone medical fitness test and quarantine, if needed, before resuming work as per govt. protocol. To that end, a dedicated quarantine centre has been developed in consultation with District Administration.
- Surveillance of plant & township premises is being carried out through drones and a centrally monitored network of CCTV cameras.
- Aarogya Setu app has been made mandatory in plant & township.
- Biometric punching has been discontinued in favour of RFID based attendance clocking since early March.
- Motion sensor-based hand sanitizer dispensing machines have been put up at all entry/exit points and building entrances.
- Telemedicine facility has been setup for employees and families to get proper health and medical consultation remotely. Regular and random thermal screening of employees, business partners and township residents are being conducted.
- Besides frequent sanitization of work surfaces and common areas, surprise audits are helping ensure that proper hygiene standards are maintained.
- Public amenities in Vedanta township like temples, parks, gyms, clubs, etc. continue to be closed for usage.
- With a consequence management action plan in place, a dedicated taskforce is monitoring compliance of all applicable COVID guidelines.
Since March, Vedanta has undertaken a slew of measures for the Jharsuguda citizenry to help bolster grassroots preparedness against COVID-19. The company has supported the District COVID Hospital with equipment, infrastructure, medicines and PPEs worth crores. Nearly 2 lakh reusable masks have been distributed in the district. Vedanta helped hundreds of farmers affected by disruption to supply chain and marketplace restrictions, sustain their livelihood.
Besides conducting intensive awareness sessions in villages, the company had also undertaken fumigation and disinfection in populous areas of the urban and rural areas in partnership with Jharsuguda District Administration. Thousands of underprivileged and marginal households were supported with dry ration during peak lockdown. Today, as various small business owners, farmers and micro-entrepreneurs cautiously reopen their doors to business again, Vedanta is helping them adapt to the new normal and hit the ground running, the company said in a statement.
