Bhubaneswar, Jun 23: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, marked the vibrant Raja Festival in Odisha’s Kalahandi district through a community outreach initiative under its Pehli Udaan Project. The celebrations were held across Turisimel, Chhatrapur, Kutunipadar, and Asurpada villages, reaching over 200 women and adolescent girls. The initiative combined cultural festivities with structured awareness sessions to promote menstrual health and hygiene, foster open dialogue, and celebrate womanhood and fertility.

Sessions were conducted on Menstrual Health & Hygiene (MHH) and Adolescent Reproductive & Sexual Health (ARSH). A train-the-trainer initiative was also undertaken to strengthen grassroots capacity and enable community members to sustain awareness efforts within their villages. The programme was aligned with Raja Parba celebrations, providing a culturally familiar platform for engagement on menstrual and reproductive health among women and adolescent girls.

Speaking about the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, Lanjigarh said, “We believe community development is built on awareness and inclusion. Through Project Pehli Udaan, we are promoting access to menstrual health solutions while encouraging open conversations, empowering women and girls to lead healthier, more confident lives.”

Sharing her experience, Mamata Garadia, frontline health worker, Chhatrapur village, said, “The Raja Sankranti celebration by Vedanta brought everyone together, creating a comfortable space to openly talk about menstruation, a topic we usually hesitate to discuss. By connecting it with the Raja festival, the message became easy to understand and engage with. Such efforts can create meaningful change in society.”

Project Pehli Udaan focuses on improving access to menstrual hygiene and strengthening preventive healthcare practices among women and adolescent girls. Key interventions include the introduction of reusable cloth pads, supported by stitching training for self-help group (SHG) members, which enables affordable menstrual hygiene solutions while also generating livelihood opportunities.

In addition, the initiative includes anaemia screening camps, nutrition-focused interventions such as nutri-gardens, and community health activities aimed at supporting preventive healthcare.

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Project Pehli Udaan continues to empower tribal women and adolescent girls by promoting awareness on menstrual and sexual health, while advancing eco-friendly, affordable, and safe menstrual hygiene solutions. The initiative reached over 10,000 beneficiaries in FY 25-26, reinforcing Vedanta Aluminium’s continued commitment to inclusive growth and community well-being.