IndiaCSR News Network
BHUBANESHWAR: Beyond headline grabbing attention, a silent revolution has been unleashed in the tribal belt of Kalahandi. Poor infrastructure and absenteeism of teaching staff were the major roadblocks for quality education in the block. With Vedanta Aluminium stepping into the scenario in partnership with the Government of Odisha and people, students here are now getting what is their right – quality education.
Improved infrastructure at schools, regular teaching, additional support for students to prove their skills and due care of students’ health through nutritious mid-day meals have radically changed the education scenario in Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district. As a result, while school dropout rate has come down from 70% in 2005 to just about 20%, attendance has gone up to 86% from 45%.
Vedanta supports 10 Government and non-Government schools including Basantpada Primary school, Panchayat High School, Chhatrapur, Jodabandha High School, SSD High School Lanjigarh etc. in the block by providing them facilities like school building, classroom, boundary wall, logistic support, contract teachers, non-teaching staff and financial support for co-curricular activities. The company has also constructed girls’ hostels in many schools.
Besides, Vedanta assists in providing nutritious mid-day meal to more than 15,000 students of 187 schools from its modern, centralized, fully mechanized kitchen in Lanjigarh. The quality mid-day meal provided to students has played a major role in improving attendance. Also, it has helped improve education quality by relieving school staff from the hassle of organizing and cooking mid-day meal.
Vedanta has also established a DAV International School in Lanjigarh for English-medium education. The school with all modern facilities imparts quality education to tribal and other natives of Lanjigarh for free. Students of the school have emerged as top performers in Kalahandi district over the past few years. Apart from education, the school also promotes students in sports and other co-curricular activities.
Highlights of Vedanta education initiatives
•   Assisted State Government to provide mid-day meal to more than 15,000 students of 187 schools
•   Infrastructure and financial support to 10 Government and non-Government schools in Kalahandi
•   Attendance in schools improved from 45% to 86%
•   Dropout rate down from 70% to 20%
•   Vedanta DAV International School to promote English medium education.
•   Quality education to 200 first-generation tribal students in DAV international School
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