Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Ltd, Jharsuguda has rolled out the 2nd phase of its land & water management livelihood project ‘JeevikaSamridhhi’ for farmers of three villages in Jharsuguda – Gudigaon, Siriapalli and Kelendamal. The launch ceremony was graced by Saroj Kumar Samal, District Magistrate and Collector of Jharsuguda district, CN Singh, CEO of the company and other dignitaries.
‘JeevikaSamridhhi’ is Vedanta’s CSR project in land and water management, which aims to introduce small and marginal farmers in the company’s peripheral community to better, more efficient and sustainable methods of farming, thereby increasing quantum of produce/revenues on their investments. The programme leverages technical resources from the Odisha Government, NABARD and development sector, amplifying the company’s vision for social development through convergence with govt. mechanisms.
Encouraged by the success of Phase 1 on ground, the company is poised to invest INR 58 lakhs for Phase 2 of ‘JeevikaSamridhhiwhich’ which will include 250 farming households across three villages in its fold, for duration of two years. Phase 2 targets income enhancement of beneficiary households by at least 50 per cent by the end of project period. Additionally, the programme intends to leverage schemes like MGNREGA, OLIC Cluster Borewell, Shed-net Polyhouse, and Drip Irrigation for better augment the farming and irrigation potential for these three villages.
The first phase of ‘JeevikaSamridhhi’ covered 111 farming households of Siriapalli, mobilising a fund base of nearly Rs 33 lakh which includes the company’s CSR funds, government funds and beneficiary contribution. Phase one resulted in increasing irrigation potential of Siriapalli by 21% and household income of beneficiaries by 20-25%.
Speaking about the programme, Saroj Kumar Samal, said that the initiative has correctly identified the core issues faced by farmers on ground and is a welcome move by Vedanta to collaborate with the State government’s efforts in transforming the agricultural practices that will benefit the farming community. He also stressed that more such efforts need to be taken in this direction.
CN Singh said, “Farming is still the backbone of the Indian economy and there is huge potential in Jharsuguda. To strengthen the farming community here, we have rolled out programs like ‘JeevikaSamridhhi’, whose success in the first phase has motivated us to expand the ambit of this programme so that more farmers can be benefit from our efforts in community development.”
PNN
