Bhubaneswar, 08/04/2016: Navratna CPSE National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has decided to install solar electrification systems in 163 periphery villages in tribal dominated Damanjodi sector of Koraput district, where the company’s Mines & Refinery Complex is located. This Rs.9-crore project shall be executed through Nalco Foundation, the CSR arm of the company. The Foundation has already installed 30 solar street lights in 2 villages, as a pilot project.

Besides, Nalco has also received proposals from local Sarpanchs, MLAs, MPs and District Administration to take up different projects towards the infrastructure development in the villages around Damanjodi and Pottangi. In this line, in the first phase, Nalco is planning to implement 49 projects at a cost of Rs.15.83 crore. In the second phase, 32 projects shall be implemented with an estimated cost of Rs.24.33 crore.

In the field of employment generation for the project affected people in Damanjodi sector, Nalco has taken up significant steps. The company has provided employment to all the 600 Land Displaced Persons, barring one for want of nominee. Going a step further, the company has now identified 235 substantially affected persons, who have lost 1/3rd or more land for the project of Nalco in this sector. The list of nominees from the identified families is being prepared by the District Administration. Out of the names nominated so far, 3 persons have been employed in the company and rest nominees are in the process of getting employment.

Nalco has also proved to be an active partner of Govt of India in implementing the Swachh Bharat and Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan. The company has constructed 473 toilets in 224 schools of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, out of which 172 toilets have been constructed in 85 schools of Koraput district.

Nalco has sponsored 655 children of Koraput district for residential education in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, KDF Model School, Jeypore and Bikash Vidyalaya, Koraput. During 2016-17, 100 more students shall be sponsored from periphery villages of Damanjodi and Pottangi.

In the field of healthcare, besides its own hospital, the company is operating 4 mobile health units in Damanjodi sector, through Nalco Foundation, in association with Wockhardt Foundation of Mumbai to cater to the daily healthcare requirements of the people residing in 163 periphery villages and adjoining hamlets, free of cost. Going a step further, the company has planned to start an additional mobile health unit for the 36 periphery villages of Pottangi during 2016-17.