India CSR News Network

DHENKANAL (Odisha): In a bid to inculcate healthy food habit among its employees and the local community, and to make them aware of environment-friendly agricultural practices, GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited (GKEL) has come forward to promote organic farming and develop demonstration plots to motivate people to produce organic foods without applying fertilizer and pesticide.

GKEL’s horticulture department developed one acre of land as demonstration plot near the Township area at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district for organic farming. In that plot vegetables like brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, lady’s finger, pumpkin, bean, chilly and spinach are being grown and the same are sold regularly in the township. It seems the organic vegetables have good demand among family members of GKEL employees and others also. The vegetables are being cultivated organically by using compost and cow dung as the main manures. The horticulture department also plans to expand the same method in more areas near the Township.

The organic farming initiative has been successful with the encouragement and motivation by Ramesh R Pai, Chief Operating Officer, GKEL. “The natural resources should be utlised, it should not be exploited. Organic farming has become the need of hour,” Pai said.

“GKEL employees have shown a good example to the community through organic farming. It is an encouraging development,” Pai added.

GKEL, which operates 1050 MW coal-fired power plant in Dhenkanal district, launched a livelihood restoration pilot project in Mangalpur Panchayat with an aim to boost income to 1500 project affected families through agri-based activity, employable skill training and micro-enterprises support initiative.

trict, launched a livelihood restoration pilot project in Mangalpur Panchayat with an aim to boost income to 1500 project affected families through agri-based activity, employable skill training and micro-enterprises support initiative.