Milaap by Vedanta Aluminium: An outreach turned into continued community engagement

The development journey of Kalahandi showcases trust as an equally essential factor as investment in any long-term progress. Vedanta Aluminium’s Milaap programme was designed as a periodical engagement platform rather than a one-time intervention. With each visit, building continuity and a deeper understanding over time, the dialogue between the villages and Vedanta Aluminium changed its nature for the better. 

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Building a community beyond the plant

Under Milaap, company authorities leave plant premises to meet communities in village courtyards, schools, and shared spaces. Conversations cover varied topics such as agriculture, education, livelihoods, healthcare access, and local infrastructure. Diversifying from formal presentations, a great emphasis is laid on listening, documenting concerns, and following through.

Reflecting on the programme’s intent, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO, Vedanta Alumina Business, noted that Milaap extends leadership beyond the plant boundaries, and “enabled our leadership and teams to engage directly with communities that are integral to our journey.” It allowed for sustained dialogue “beyond formal outreach, fostering meaningful conversations” that support more informed and responsive decision-making.

Outreach and participation under Milaap

Since its commencement, the initiative has reached out to 46 villages around the Lanjigarh Refinery, engaging over 25 villages in 2025, with participation count exceeding 15,000 community members. Follow-up actions have directly benefited almost 3,000 households, with periodic visits to enable an open, trustworthy and constructive dialogue between Vedanta and the community. 

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Turning feedback into a local initiative

A notable aspect of Milaap is how community feedback translates into practical actions relevant in the local context. To reinforce meetings and group activities, community areas in participating villages have been supplied with essential utilities and furnishings.

Youth engagement has also emerged as a key focus. In Harekrushnapur, the local cricket team received jerseys and sports equipment, an initiative that residents say has strengthened confidence and encouraged participation among young people.

Phillip Campbell, Director Technical at Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “Milaap gently shifts your focus from schedules and outcomes to people and conversations that truly matter.”

Support extended to farmers and volunteers

The programme has also given recognition to Village Sevadal groups and equipped them with uniforms to acknowledge their role in emergency response. Concurrently, to extend support to productivity during a critical cultivation period, farming households have received agricultural tools and Rabi crop seeds.

Transforming company-community relations

Through the course of time, Milaap has been reshaping the dynamics of Vedanta Aluminium’s relationship with surrounding communities. Participation in development initiatives has increased, communication channels have stabilised, and the nature of engagement has shifted from scepticism toward collaboration. 

Image for referential purposes only (source Vedanta Limited official LinkedIn page)

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