Project Vidya, an initiative launched by Vedanta Aluminium to enhance learning outcomes in government schools, has benefited over 1,800 students across 17 rural schools in the Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts of Odisha. The program emphasizes foundational literacy and numeracy, along with core subjects such as mathematics, science, and English, through the deployment of 20 additional educators.
Company officials noted that Sundargarh faces a high dropout rate, which necessitates a focused approach to foundational learning and an improved student-teacher ratio to mitigate this risk. As a result, Project Vidya has led to an increase in school attendance, rising from 64% to 76% in the Lakhanpur block and from 66% to 82% in the Hemgir block.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and aims to strengthen School Management Committees (SMCs). It also supports headmasters with academic planning, record-keeping, student tracking, and enhances coordination between teachers, parents, and SMCs. Additionally, Project Vidya prepares students for competitive examinations and scholarships, including the Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (OAV) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya entrance exams.