Tag: Vedanta Sesa Goa

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Vedanta Sesa Goa Inaugurates 42nd Annual Mines Safety Week at Bicholim Mines

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore Goa (IOG) inaugurated the 42nd Annual Mines Safety Week 2025–26 at Block 1 of its Bicholim Mines under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Goa Region, and the Mines Safety & Productivity Council (MSPC). The week-long observance will focus on reinforcing safety measures, regulatory compliance and behavioural safety across mining operations, in line with the company’s ‘Safety is Us’ philosophy.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials from DGMS and MSPC, with Mr. Ramesh Walikar, Director of Mines Safety, West Zone, Goa Region, gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, and Mr. Deepak Chandramukhi, Deputy Director of Mines Safety, West Zone, as Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries present included Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Jagdish, Vice President, Mines Safety & Productivity Council and Nominated Owner of Bicholim Mine; Mr. Sandeep Morajkar, Secretary, Mines Safety & Productivity Council; and Mr. Santosh Mandrekar, Agent, Bicholim Mines.

The programme commenced with a ceremonial flag hoisting followed by a safety oath-taking ceremony, symbolising the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring a safe and secure working environment. The proceedings continued with Deep Prajwalan and the National Anthem, formally marking the inauguration of Mines Safety Week.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ramesh Walikar emphasised the importance of Mines Safety Week as a key platform to reinforce safe mining practices and regulatory awareness. He noted that the regional observance would see participation from over 50 mines across Sindhudurg, Goa, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri, covering iron ore, silica and bauxite mines as well as stone quarries. He highlighted that sustained safety performance depends on strong leadership, strict adherence to statutory provisions, continuous capacity building and the active involvement of every individual working in the mining ecosystem. He also underscored the need for focused awareness on new labour codes to ensure compliance and safeguard workforce welfare.

Mr. Deepak Chandramukhi, Deputy Director of Mines Safety, highlighted the dynamic nature of mining safety and the importance of continuous vigilance. He stated that proactive hazard identification, timely corrective actions and consistent compliance with safety standards are essential to achieving zero harm, and that initiatives like Mines Safety Week play a crucial role in embedding safe work practices at all levels.

Speaking on behalf of Vedanta Sesa Goa, Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Jagdish reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to safety. He said that safety is deeply embedded in Vedanta’s operational philosophy and decision-making processes, and that the ‘Safety is Us’ approach reflects the belief that safety begins with individual responsibility and is strengthened through collective ownership. Through Mines Safety Week, the company aims to further promote behavioural safety and ensure that every employee returns home safely at the end of each working day.

A key highlight of the inauguration was the flagging off of the Safety Publicity and Propaganda Vehicle, an outreach initiative designed to extend safety awareness beyond mine premises. The vehicle will travel across mining clusters and surrounding areas during the week, disseminating critical safety messages through audio-visual aids, posters and interactive communication. The initiative aims to reach employees, contract workers and local stakeholders, reinforcing statutory safety practices and encouraging safe behaviour across the wider mining ecosystem.

The ceremony concluded with a plantation drive undertaken by the dignitaries, reflecting Vedanta Sesa Goa’s integrated approach to safety, sustainability and responsible mining. The 42nd Annual Mines Safety Week 2025–26 will feature a series of safety awareness programmes, training sessions and employee engagement initiatives aimed at strengthening safe work practices and promoting a culture of zero harm across the company’s mining operations.

Sports

SFA’s Maiden IWL Qualification Marks a New Dawn for Goan Women’s Football: Armando Colaco

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The Sesa Football Academy Senior Women’s Team has created a landmark moment in Goan football by securing its first-ever qualification for the 9th Indian Women’s League. Their entry marks the return of a Goan team to the national stage after three years, and positions SFA among the only five Goan clubs to have ever competed in the prestigious league. Having already established themselves as the reigning Vedanta Women’s League champions, their commendable third-place finish in the IWL 2 set the foundation for qualification. With the Indian Arrows withdrawing, and through the persistent efforts of Dr. Caitano Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association, SFA earned their place in the 16-team competition.

The achievement arrives at a promising time for women’s football in India, where the U17, U21, and senior national women’s teams have all qualified for the AFC Champions Cup. For Goa, SFA’s entry into the IWL opens a vital pathway for local players to gain exposure, visibility, and opportunity at the national level. Navin Jaju, CEO of Vedanta Sesa Goa, expressed pride in the team’s rapid progress, acknowledging that their journey serves as inspiration for many young athletes.

Dronacharya Awardee and former India and SFA coach Armando Colaco described the qualification as more than a sporting accomplishment. For him, it signals the revival of women’s football in Goa. He recalled a time when the women’s game had strong grassroots presence in the state, which gradually faded over the years. The recent successes of SFA, he believes, have reignited that lost momentum. Colaco praised the technical ability, discipline, and temperament of the young players, viewing this milestone as the beginning of a new phase for Goan football rather than a conclusion of past efforts.

Colaco also highlighted SFA’s important role in rebuilding a sustainable ecosystem for women’s football. He emphasized that women’s football must not be regarded as a benevolent side venture but as a high-performance sporting avenue deserving of strategic investment. In this journey, the continued support of Vedanta Sesa Goa has been instrumental in stabilizing and growing the women’s football structure in the state, particularly through their contributions to the Women’s League in Goa.

Looking ahead, Colaco believes that if SFA sustains its current momentum, it has the potential to become a national reference point for women’s football development. As the SFA Senior Women’s Team prepares to enter the IWL, expectations rise not just for their performance but for the broader impact they may have on Goan football. The moment, he says, belongs to the players, the academy, and to every young girl dreaming of pursuing football professionally. For him, this is not only a moment of qualification but a moment of revival—one that calls on the entire football community to support the SFA team in ushering in a true Goan sunrise.

Social

Vedanta Sesa Goa Revives Over 20 Hectares of Farmland in Maem with ‘Back to Farming’ Initiative

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Vedanta Sesa Goa – Iron Ore Goa, recognizing the need to support local farmers, has launched the ‘Back to Farming’ initiative in Maem, aimed at rejuvenating over 20 hectares of uncultivated land and empowering more than 150 farming families. The project is designed to provide critical support to agricultural activities, enhance crop yields, and encourage the younger generation to take an active interest in farming.

A key aspect of the initiative is the construction of a traditional water storage system, known locally as a ‘bandhara’, which will augment irrigation facilities and enable farmers to cultivate double crops as well as vegetables. The foundation stone for the bandhara was laid in a ceremony attended by Shri Premendra Shet, Hon’ble MLA for Maem, along with Vedanta IOG executives, Panchayat members, and community members.

Currently, factors such as high input costs, expensive farm machinery, and a declining interest in farming among the youth have left several large land tracts uncultivated. Vedanta Sesa Goa is actively mapping these areas across the villages of Mulgao, Piligao, Maem, and Bordem, providing scientific guidance, construction of fences, and water storage mechanisms to support sustainable farming practices.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shri Premendra Shet emphasized the significance of this initiative in preserving Goa’s agrarian heritage, strengthening farmer livelihoods, and ensuring sustainable rural development. Farmers, including Mr. Dilip Shet of Maem, highlighted the importance of Vedanta’s support in giving uncultivated land a second lease of life and sustaining agricultural practices for future generations.

This initiative builds on Vedanta IOG’s previous successes in Piligao, where over 20 hectares of uncultivated land were rejuvenated through the ‘Hands to Help’ farmers’ association. Similar projects are also underway in Amona and Navelim, further cementing Vedanta Sesa Goa’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and rural development in Goa.

Social

Vedanta Sesa Goa Crosses 1 Million Meals Mark Through #RunForZeroHunger Initiative

Tanisha Cardozo

Vedanta Sesa Goa has achieved a landmark milestone by contributing over 1 million meals since 2022 as part of the ongoing #RunForZeroHunger campaign. Aligned with the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM), the initiative uses the ‘Step Set Go’ app where every kilometre logged translates into a meal donated—impacting lives across communities, children, and even animals in need.

In the 42-day 2025 edition, Vedanta Sesa Goa organised over 30 events across five states—Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Karnataka—demonstrating the company’s strong commitment to community welfare. In Goa, impactful local events were held in Bicholim, Amona, and Panjim, with over 20 individuals contributing more than 1,500 km, converting into direct meal support. The campaign reached its emotional high with the Funrise Walkathon at Divar Island, where a large crowd walked in solidarity for a world without hunger.

The campaign also integrated seamlessly with Swachhotsav – Swachhata Hi Seva 2025, an initiative led by the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Directorate General of Mines Safety. These joint efforts helped raise awareness about hygiene, cleanliness, and civic responsibility through walkathons and other outreach activities—further elevating the cause beyond hunger eradication.

Speaking at the culminating event, Navin Jaju, CEO of Sesa Goa, said, “Congratulations to the entire Sesa Goa family for their spirited participation in the #RunForZeroHunger. Across locations, the zest for a hunger-free world was visible. I thank everyone for their resolve to give back meaningfully to the world.”

Crucially, this campaign brought together a vibrant mix of employees, business partners, local communities, and students from schools and colleges, showing the power of collective action. By merging health, responsibility, and community service, Vedanta Sesa Goa has set a new benchmark in what corporate social responsibility can truly achieve—one kilometre, and one meal, at a time.

Business

Tripartite Meeting Strengthens Mine Safety Initiatives at Bicholim Block I

Tanisha Cardozo

Vedanta Sesa Goa – Iron Ore Goa (Vedanta IOG), operating the Block I, Bicholim Mineral Block, marked a significant milestone in mine safety and stakeholder collaboration by hosting a Tripartite Meeting under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) at Panjim, Goa. The gathering brought together key stakeholders including senior DGMS officials, worker union representatives, and Vedanta’s leadership and employees.

The primary objective of the Tripartite Meeting was to foster an open forum for discussing best practices, risks, and innovative measures that contribute to a safer and more sustainable mining environment. With a firm focus on collective responsibility, the event highlighted the need for strong coordination between regulators, industry leaders, and the workforce.

Gracing the occasion were dignitaries including Shri Ramawatar Meena, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, Western Zone, Nagpur; Shri Aftab Ahmad, Director of Mines Safety, SO, Western Zone; Shri P.K Jain, Director of Mines Safety (Mech.), Western Zone; Shri Ramesh Walikar, Director of Mines Safety, Goa Region; Shri Vineet Chaurasia, Deputy Director of Mines Safety (Elect.), Western Zone; and Shri Deepak Chandramukhi, Deputy Director of Mines Safety, Goa Region.

From Vedanta Sesa Goa, the delegation was led by Shri Navin Jaju, CEO; Shri Vinod Kumar, COO-Mining; Shri Dhirajkumar Jagdish, Dy. CEO, Vedanta IOG; and union leaders including Shri Siddesh Parab of the Bicholim Workers’ Union and Shri Lakshwadeep Arsekar of the Sesa Goa Workers’ Union, along with other management and union functionaries.

In his welcome address, Shri Navin Jaju emphasized that safe and responsible production is central to Vedanta’s operational philosophy. “We prioritise Occupational Safety & Health as a collective responsibility. Safety is Us. The Tripartite Meeting has served as a constructive forum to reaffirm our shared responsibility in shaping a safer and more sustainable mining ecosystem,” he said.

Shri Ramawatar Meena, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, lauded the initiative and remarked on the critical role of Tripartite Meetings in building trust and alignment among regulators, workforce, and management. He appreciated Vedanta Sesa Goa for embracing responsible practices, technological innovation, and sustainable mining solutions such as the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy. He noted that such forward-thinking adoption is not only commendable but essential for a future-ready mining industry.

This event holds particular significance as the first Tripartite Meeting since Vedanta began operations at Block I, Bicholim Mineral Block in April 2024—the first auctioned mine in India to become operational under the auction regime. The high-level DGMS delegation reviewed the safety mechanisms in place and expressed satisfaction with Vedanta’s adherence to safety standards and its vision of responsible mining.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in dynamic discussions, sharing real-world insights and exploring collaborative solutions to reduce operational hazards. The sessions underscored the importance of proactive safety protocols, continuous training, and transparent communication across all levels of operation.

The Directorate General of Mines Safety reiterated its commitment to partnering with responsible operators and worker representatives to evolve and implement comprehensive policies that center the well-being and safety of every individual associated with the mining industry.

The Tripartite Meeting not only highlighted Vedanta Sesa Goa’s proactive stance on safety but also reinforced the vital role of such collaborations in transforming India’s mining sector into one that is not only productive but also safe, inclusive, and future-focused.