Sundargarh, July 24 (UDN): Vedanta Aluminium Coal Mines has extended nutritional and healthcare support to more than 180 tuberculosis (TB) patients in Balishankara block of Odisha’s Sundargarh district under the Nikshay Mitra initiative, reinforcing efforts to eliminate tuberculosis through community-based intervention.
Implemented under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the programme focuses on improving treatment adherence by providing nutritional assistance, counselling and continuous follow-up support to patients throughout their recovery.
As part of the initiative, the company has distributed over 717 nutrition kits and organised regular counselling and awareness sessions to encourage patients to complete their treatment and adopt healthy practices.
Supporting India’s TB Elimination Mission
Vedanta Aluminium said the initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of achieving a TB-free India by strengthening community healthcare and improving patient outcomes in rural areas.
The company has supported more than 154 beneficiaries during the 2025-26 financial year, and its contribution to the national tuberculosis elimination campaign has been recognised with a Certificate of Completion from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Focus on Community Healthcare
Speaking on the initiative, Amares Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium Coal Mines, said healthcare remains a key pillar of the company’s community development efforts.
“At Vedanta, we believe that healthier communities are the foundation of sustainable and inclusive development. Through the Nikshay Mitra initiative, we are supporting TB patients with nutritional care, counselling and encouragement to help them successfully complete their treatment while contributing to the vision of a TB-free India,” he said.
Beneficiaries Share Their Experience
Lusia Tete, a resident of Balishankara block who benefited from the programme, said the nutritional support and counselling played an important role in her recovery.
She said the initiative not only helped her remain motivated during treatment but also reassured her that she was not facing the illness alone.
Broader Community Development
The Nikshay Mitra programme is part of Vedanta Aluminium’s wider community outreach in its mining areas. According to the company, its healthcare, education, livelihood, infrastructure and social development initiatives have benefited more than two lakh people across 26 villages surrounding its coal mining operations in Odisha.
Through such interventions, Vedanta Aluminium says it aims to strengthen rural healthcare systems and contribute to long-term socio-economic development in the communities where it operates.