ANGUL, NOV 24
The Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel & Power, has expanded its flagship program, Project SNEH, to Dhauragoth village in the Tikarpada region of Angul district. This initiative aims to combat malnutrition and improve healthcare in the region, with a focus on underprivileged and tribal communities.
The program was inaugurated by Saroj Panda, the DFO of Satkosia Wildlife Division, in the presence of Dr. Sibananda Mohanty, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Angul; Dr. Keshav Ch. Pradhan, SDVO, Angul; Saudamini Pradhan, Sarpanch; Ananta Basudev Mohanty, President of Satkosia Biodiversity Conservation; and other prominent local leaders.
Under Project SNEH, the Jindal Foundation has been providing dry rations and cooked meals rich in both macro- and micronutrients to the needy across various regions of India, particularly in tribal-majority districts. The program’s expansion to the periphery villages of Satkosia Tiger Sanctuary aims to address the nutritional challenges faced by families resettled outside the sanctuary’s core area.
This initiative also supports broader efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict while helping vulnerable communities. In its first phase, more than 700 families in Dhauragoth village will receive dry rations rich in essential nutrients. A reassessment of community needs may lead to the program’s further expansion.
Thanking the Forest Department and Team Jindal Foundation for this noble initiative, Shallu Jindal, the Chairperson of the Jindal Foundation, said, “Forest geographies are the lungs of our Mother Earth, and the forest dwellers, who have a symbiotic existence with the forest ecosystem, are the ultimate protectors of these precious natural resources. I am sure that this initiative of the Jindal Foundation will holistically nourish the lives of forest dwellers in the region.”
In addition to addressing nutrition, the Jindal Foundation also launched a public awareness campaign on dengue and malaria, providing the community with information on prevention and management strategies for these prevalent diseases. The event also included the distribution of sports equipment to local youth volunteers who are actively involved in implementing the program on the ground.
Prashant Hota, President and Group Head of CSR at Jindal Steel & Power, announced that the Foundation would soon explore the roll-out of the Kishori Express to combat anemia among girls and the Swosti Express to extend geriatric care to these villages, as envisioned by the Foundation’s Chairperson.
“We encourage the local community to actively participate in these life-nourishing programs and help turn the inclusive vision of Jindal Steel & Power and our Chairman, Naveen Jindal, into a reality,” Hota said.
During the event, Dr. Sibananda Mohanty highlighted upcoming healthcare initiatives by the Health Department for the periphery villages of Satkosia Sanctuary. Officials from the Animal Husbandry Department also discussed a comprehensive program aimed at improving the livelihoods of forest dwellers through allied agricultural activities.
The initiative received widespread appreciation from local community leaders, government officials, and the DFO for its sustainable support to the most vulnerable populations.
Ashutosh Mishra, DGM (CSR) at Jindal Steel & Power, welcomed the guests and community members, thanking them for their participation. With guidance from JSP Angul’s CSR Head Jayant Mohanty, Manager Jhilli Khatua, and Assistant General Secretary of Jindal Foundation Maitreyee Mishra, community volunteers and management trainees distributed dry rations to all identified families.
