·       Recognized for extensive work done towards Covid-19 relief, women empowerment and food security & agriculture

New Delhi: Vedanta Group received three awards at the 19th Edition of annual FICCI CSR Awards, held on 24th November 2021. These awards celebrate and honour the best CSR practices across the country. The awards recognized Vedanta Ltd for its Fight Against Covid-19, Project Subhalaxmi of Vedanta Limited Jharsuguda under women empowerment category and Project Samadhan of Hindustan Zinc Limited under food security & agriculture category. Ms. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, FICCI CSR & Community Development Committee, conferred the awards at a virtual award presentation ceremony.

Vedanta is one of the world’s largest natural resources companies which has positively impacted the lives of 4.23 crore people. The company has spent more than Rs. 1000 crores over the last 3 years towards various social development initiatives.

On the occasion Group CEO Shri Sunil Duggal said, “In Vedanta, community welfare remains at the core of each of our business decisions. I am thankful to Ms. Birla and the jury for recognizing our social development initiatives. We at Vedanta are very proud of the role we played during the pandemic in supporting community members. Vedanta contributed around Rs. 250 crores in the fight against covid 19. We have now committed Rs. 5000 crores for community welfare over the next 5 years and will continue doing everything possible to uplift the lives of children and women across the country.”

Over the years, Vedanta has built many impactful CSR programs and is considered one of the most socially responsible corporates in the country. Earlier this year, Vedanta announced Rs 5,000 crore social development roadmap of Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF) as part of their giving back mission. AAF’s ‘Swasth Gaon Abhiyaan’ project will provide end-to-end healthcare services across 1,000 villages in 12 states, impacting the lives of more than 2 million people.

Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee, CEO of Anil Agarwal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Vedanta also thanked FICCI and the jury for the awards. He said “It is an honor for us to have received these awards. We at Vedanta have always been at the forefront of aligning ourselves towards the welfare of our communities and fostering sustainable progress and development. With the jury having conferred on us these distinguished awards, we are encouraged more to serve society as our integral goal. With the vast roadmap towards social development in the form of various group projects, Vedanta will continue to transform communities for good.”

As part of its many interventions, Vedanta played an important role in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting communities, daily wage workers, contract and business partners. As many as 15 lakhs have benefitted from Vedanta’s Covid Care initiatives.

Under Vedanta Cares, field hospitals were set up with 100 critical care beds with oxygen and ventilator support across 10 locations and more than 20 lakh litres of oxygen to Covid-affected patients was supplied.