BALCO conducts menstrual health awareness session for rural women
Korba ( Balconagar) June 1, 2021: Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer, organized a training-cum-awareness session on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day with over 300 women hailing from the local communities as well as employees of the company. Health experts sensitized the women on the importance of following good menstrual hygiene practices and the various complications that could arise, if one does not.
Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director – BALCO, applauded the spirit of women and reiterated the importance of women’s health and hygiene. He also felicitated the health workers who have been dedicatedly working towards educating women in the field of health and hygiene. The comprehensive training programme addressed all aspects of women health and menstrual hygiene management, and queries and concerns of the attendees.
Speaking on the company’s efforts towards improving women’s health, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director, BALCO said, “BALCO, through its community development programs, advocates for creating a supportive and encouraging environment for women. Over the years, our community development project on menstrual health has impacted the lives of hundreds of women of the community. It is a matter of great pride for us that women of Korba are becoming healthier and more aware about their health and wellbeing.”
Ms. Girija Sarthi, a local health worker from Bhadrapara village said, “BALCO has been doing exemplary work towards creating awareness on health and hygiene. The company has been conducting regular awareness session towards women health and have been educating the community on the importance of menstrual hygiene. We are very grateful towards the company for providing continuous support to the community towards women health.”
Mr. Om Prakash Gayari, a social worker in the field of women health and hygiene, who came onboard as the subject matter expert for the session, conducted an in-depth training on various facets of women’s health, explaining the safe practices during menstruation, and need to move beyond the stigmas attached with menstruation. He also attended to the queries, doubts and notions on the matter. He urged the women to educate their daughters and adolescent girls in the family with proper information about menstrual hygiene and consult qualified doctors if needed.
BALCO has been a frontrunner in transforming the socio-economic landscape of Korba. The company has undertaken several social development projects under sustainable livelihood, women empowerment, healthcare, education, agriculture benefiting over 1,50,000 people in Korba region. In the changing paradigm of social fabric due to the pandemic, BALCO is also helping communities sustain livelihoods, working in close coordination with district and local administration.
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. Vedanta Limited is the world’s 6th largest diversified natural resources company and the largest producer of aluminium in India. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
