Rayagada: Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a 100% subsidiary of Hindalco Industries under the Aditya Birla Group, in collaboration with Chocolaca, inaugurated a Roasted Millet Processing Unit at Bilamal in Tikiri, Rayagada district. The initiative seeks to empower local women by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities and fostering self-reliance.
The project is designed to benefit rural women from nearby villages. Through this unit, millets will be processed into a variety of healthy food products with attractive packaging, to be marketed across Odisha, other states and even international markets. Depending on production success, the initiative will be scaled up to other areas of Kashipur block, thereby extending livelihood opportunities to more women. The unit has been set up as part of Utkal CSR’s collaboration with Chocolaca LLP.Commending the initiative, Bijay Kumar Soy, Block Development Officer of Kashipur, said, “This is a commendable effort by UAIL to empower women and make them self-reliant. It will provide income and support families in the region. The project has the potential to expand further and include more women in the coming days.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Siba Shankar Mahapatra, Cluster Head CSR, Hindalco, remarked, “Women should not be dependent on others for financial stability. With proper training and skill development, they can become self-reliant. The Roasted Millet Unit is a step in this direction and we aim to expand it to more villages in Kashipur block in the future.”
Lopamudra Mishra, Head CSR, UAIL, added, “Utkal CSR has been consistently playing an active role in livelihood creation and infrastructure development in its operational and neighbouring villages. We remain committed to supporting our communities through developmental initiatives.”
The event was attended by Jadumani Majhi, Sarpanch of Hadiguda; Narayan Mitra, Unit Head HR; Chandan Choudhary, AGM LDC; Surendra Sheron, Environment Head; Diganta Mohanty, DH Plant CSR; and representatives from Chocolaca, Rita Baliarsingh and Shanta Baliarsingh.
Members of the CSR team including Kartikeshwar Sahu, Rupen Pattnaik, Somyajit Swain, Manoj Dash, Nirupama Barik, Binod Pujari, Subash Chandra Nayak, Satyabhama Nayak, Ashish Kumar Sahu, Gajendra Naik, Mausumi Das, Susmita Khosla, Mohini Naik, Kamdev, Hemlata Saunta and Gauri, among others, were also present.
