LANJIGARH: Vedanta Lanjigarh in partnership with the Odisha Khadi & Village Industries Board and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise Department, Govt. of Odisha organized a beekeeping training camp at Lanjigarh.
In the weeklong camp inaugurated today, 40 women Self Help Group members from different villages of the region from Shakteemayee foundation, promoted by Vedanta participated along with officials from partner agency Mahashakti foundation.
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding skill-based livelihood means that is the need of the hour in rural India. By training women of local communities in beekeeping expertise at Lanjigarh, they were introduced to a new window of opportunity by becoming skilled entrepreneurs and financially autonomous.
The inaugural session was attended by Tejeswar Parida, President – Odisha Khadi & Village Industries board. Inaugurating the program, he highlighted different trades and scopes of SHGs in the society and briefed them about various Government schemes. During his address, he stressed upon the importance of economic independence in the family.
Also present on the occasion were Sanjeev Kumar – Operation Head, Vedanta Lanjigarh, Pitambar Bhoi, BDO – Lanjigarh, Benudhar Pradhan, Development Officer – OKVIB, Kalahandi, Shivanand Mohanty – Head Public Relations, Vedanta Lanjigarh, Harmeet Sehra – Head CSR, Vedanta Lanjigarh, J.C. Nayak – OKVIB – Ganjam, Prafulla Ku. Dharua – Assistant Horticulture Officer, Prasant Mohanty and Prithviraj Sahoo along with the trainer Iswar Chandra Parida and other officials of Vedanta. Sanjeev Kumar motivated the women participants to immerse themselves in the training so that they could be the flag bearers of the rare skill in the district.
The ongoing program is scheduled to continue till 13th March wherein 40 beneficiaries would get 200 bee-boxes and a certificate each on the completion day. The total cost of the project is Rs. 4.18 lac, equally shared between the State Govt. and Vedanta.
Women SHG members acknowledged the effort of Vedanta for its initiative to make them self-reliant.
