20,000 BPL Rural Families of Rajasthan to get House-hold Toilets

Vedanta Hindustan Zinc join hands with Rajasthan Government under Total Sanitation Campaign

Under the “Mukhya Mantri Gramin BPL Awas Yojana”, Vedanta Hindustan Zinc has joined hands with the Rajasthan Government to construct house-hold toilets for 20,000 BPL families in Rajasthan. An MoU in this regard was signed between the company and the State Government.

This project of constructing toilets is being undertaken with an aim to provide clean and hygienic house-hold toilets to BPL families and discourage and eventually eradicate open defecation practices in the villages. The project is also expected to improve the good hygiene practices and create awareness towards Health & Sanitation.

Lack of Toilets in rural areas for women and girls have always been a matter of concern. Toilet in each house-hold gives dignified lives to the rural families and also provides comfort, convenience with a sense of security and safety to each member of the house, particularly women and the girls.

As per the UNICEF report only 48% of rural Indian population has access to good toilet and sanitation facilities. There is a direct link that exists between health & sanitation and human well-being. When about 50% of Indian population defecates in open it leads to improper disposal of the waste, sanitation issues and causes of many harmful diseases. In Rajasthan alone, 60% of population defecates in open.

Initially, these toilets will be constructed in 3 Panchayat Samities of Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts and the project will be completed in 3 phases in 3 years time with an estimated cost of about Rs. 2.5 crore.

The project is also aligned with centrally sponsored, 'Total Sanitation Campaign', a comprehensive program to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company in Zinc-Lead-Silver has in the past also undertaken construction of toilets in rural areas under its CSR project and has constructed nearly 1750 rural house-hold toilets in collaboration with DRDA-Total Sanitation Project.

The company is running a series of projects on education, health and nutrition in Rajasthan.

Vedanta-Hindustan Zinc Red Cross Bhavan inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot

The Vedanta - Hindustan Zinc Red Cross Bhawan, Udaipur built by Hindustan Zinc was inaugurated on 29th January, 2012 and formally handed over to Red Cross Society, District Udaipur by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot. The Bhawan is expected to be highly useful towards attending large number of patients visiting Red Cross, Udaipur.

While inaugurating the Bhawan, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan praised the efforts being made by Hindustan Zinc to improve the socio-economic conditions of rural poor.

Shri Gehlot also praised Mr. Anil Agarwal – Chairman, Vedanta Group for his vision towards uplifting socio-economic conditions of rural poor, sustainable development in rural areas and his initiative towards being partners with Government of Rajasthan on socio-development initiatives.

The other dignitaries present from Hindustan Zinc were Shri H.K.Mehta Sr. VP(HR), Shri Ahmar Sultan, Head - CSR, and Shri K.K.Dave - Location Head Zawar Mines. Shri Raghuveer Singh Meena - MP from Udaipur, Shri Maangi Lal Garasia- Sports Minister, Dr. Arun Bodaria - Chairman Red Cross Society, were also present and acknowledged the work being done by Hindustan Zinc towards CSR.