PANAJI
Vedanta Sesa Goa on Friday marked National Girl Child Day and the International Day of Education by reiterating its commitment to inclusive growth through education, skill development and empowerment initiatives aimed at rural and underserved communities.
The company said its flagship CSR programme, Project Vriddhi, continues to promote education in remote areas, with a special focus on supporting the girl child. Under the Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarship, more than 1,300 meritorious students have pursued education from Class 10 to professional courses since 2018, with girls accounting for nearly half of the beneficiaries.
Among those supported are Leela Parab from Mulgao in Goa, who continued her B.Pharma degree despite personal loss, and Riya Dattaram Naik from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, who pursued fashion design. Lanchana M from Chitradurga was also able to pursue computer engineering with assistance under the scholarship programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Vedanta Sesa Goa CEO Navin Jaju said the company remains committed to empowering youth and young girls through inclusive education, skills and opportunities. He said initiatives such as Project Vriddhi, the Vedanta Utkarsh Scholarships, the Sesa Technical School and the Sesa Football Academy reflect the company’s belief in investing meaningfully in resilient communities.
The company’s education-to-employment initiatives include the Sesa Technical School in Sanquelim, Goa, established in 1994, which has trained over 2,000 youth in trades such as electrician, machinist, fitter and computer programming, while maintaining a near-100 per cent placement record. Girls are increasingly being encouraged to enrol in technical courses through scholarships. Former student Chetan Salelkar later went on to establish his own enterprise.
Digital literacy is another focus area. Vedanta Foundation-run computer centres and school-based labs in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka have benefited thousands, including persons with visual impairments, with about 65 per cent of beneficiaries being girls and women.
Infrastructure support initiatives include the Back-to-School programme in Karnataka, benefiting over 3,000 children annually, and the strengthening of more than 120 anganwadis under the Nand Ghar initiative with smart kits and digital tools. Dedicated bus services in Karnataka and Odisha ensure safe transport for children from remote areas.
In sports, the Sesa Football Academy in Goa has supported girls from rural areas through structured training and competitive exposure. The academy’s senior women’s team has qualified for the Indian Women’s League 2026, with players such as Aaroshi Govekar and Pearl Fernandes earning national team call-ups.
