India is a mixed economy, a mix of capitalism and socialism, where both the state and private sectors work together to achieve the country's development goals. For the country's development, both private and public sector corporations must invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to maximise social development.  

Indeed, CSR in India is a legal requirement for certain businesses like Vedanta Group, which drives social development while meeting its commercial goals.  Vedanta Group, through its business unit, Vedanta Aluminium, has been operating in Odisha while remaining focused on its CSR business. The company which operates Vedanta Lanjigarh refinery has empowered the lives of almost 50,000 people in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts.

Understanding CSR and Vedanta's Role

CSR refers to a company's commitment to act ethically and responsibly towards society. CSR includes areas such as environmental protection, human rights, consumer protection, anti-corruption, promoting sustainable business practices, etc. It is about the way companies manage and execute their business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. Corporate Social Responsibility, which earlier was seen as a charity or philanthropic activity, today has become an integral part of modern-day businesses like Vedanta.

In context to this, Vedanta has been an active partner of Odisha for the last 2 decades, with huge investments in the state's growth, creating more than 1 lakh jobs in the state. In January 2025, Vedanta signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha. As per the MoU, Vedanta will invest INR 1 lakh crore to set up a 6 million tons per annum Alumina refinery and a 3 million tons Aluminium plant to produce green Aluminium with renewable power.

Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, stated that the company's transformative journey in Odisha reflects their commitment to women's empowerment, education, skill development, sustainability, etc. He further added that the latest investment of INR 1 lakh crore will help in the state's development to lead India's industrial revolution.”

Vedanta Lanjigarh Refinery: Economic Growth Meets Community Good

Vedanta Lanjigarh refinery, located in Kalahandi, plays an important role in India's aluminium value chain. Vedanta Limited has been operating a 2 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district, Odisha), India, since 2007 and an associated 90 MW captive power plant at Lanjigarh, which began operations in 2008. The refinery feeds Vedanta's aluminium smelters at Jharsuguda in Odisha and at BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

The plant, which processes bauxite into alumina, not only supports India's industrial growth but also makes a commendable contribution to supporting local employment, infrastructure, and economic development. Contrary to misleading allegations related to the scam, the company's operations ensured transparency and were widely appreciated by local leaders and stakeholders. The Vedanta bauxite mines supply the refinery with critical raw material while strictly adhering to environmental norms and operating as a Zero Liquid Discharge facility.

Despite the noise surrounding past events like the so-called Vedanta Kalahandi scam, the company has consistently proved its commitment to environmental accountability and regulatory compliance.

Major CSR Initiatives of Vedanta in Odisha

Though the Lanjigarh refinery is in Kalahandi, Vedanta's CSR initiatives extend across Odisha, notably, in Hemgir and Kuraloi. As a part of its commitment to community development, Vedanta has launched two impactful CSR programmes, ‘Project Vidya' and ‘Project Nirmal', in Hemgir and Kuraloi regions of adjoining Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts.

Vedanta's ‘Project Vidya' addresses the shortage of teachers in government schools by deploying 22 additional teachers across 20 peripheral schools in the region, aimed at improving student-teacher ratio and learning in key subjects like Mathematics, Science and English. It also enhances foundational literacy and numeracy at the primary level.

On the other hand, ‘Project Nirmal' delivers sustainable water and sanitation solutions through the installation of 11 solar-powered borewells, 50 bio-toilets and 20 water purifiers in 12 villages.

Final Words

Vedanta's operations in Kalahandi through Vedanta bauxite mines, especially through the Lanjigarh refinery and surrounding bauxite mines, show how industry and community can thrive together. By making CSR a central part of its mission, Vedanta has emerged as one of the top CSR companies in India, not just by spending, but by impact, intent, and inclusivity.

Though many businesses focus primarily on revenue generation, there are companies like Vedanta for whom CSR remains an integral part for many reasons. By integrating social and environmental concerns into their business operations, Vedanta is setting a high standard for others to follow. From empowering women and educating children to greening the environment and creating jobs, Vedanta Aluminium continues to write a success story in Odisha — one that other companies can learn from, and communities can believe in.