(MENAFN- ForPressRelease) Bhubaneswar, 3rd November, 2025: Leading experts, policymakers, and social advocates have urged the Government to take immediate, decisive and time-bound policy actions to unlock the state's rich bauxite reserves - calling it the missing link in India's journey toward Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

At a national webinar jointly hosted by AIDENT, social welfare organisation and FIJEEHA, a development forum, participants called upon the government, industry, and local stakeholders to move decisively from potential to production, fast-tracking bauxite mine operationalisation and downstream development. With strategic reforms and collaborative implementation, Odisha can anchor India's global aluminium leadership, strengthen its position in critical minerals, and power the nation's journey toward Atmanirbhar & Viksit Bharat.

The webinar follows AIDENT's recently launched White Paper "Mining Odisha's Potential: Powering India's Journey to Atmanirbhar Bharat and Prosperity", which identified bauxite, iron ore, and coal as the state's greatest strategic levers for inclusive industrialisation. Experts underscored that unlocking Odisha's bauxite potential is not just an industrial necessity but a pathway to inclusive prosperity capable of generating 2.4 million jobs and empowering over 10,000 MSMEs through local entrepreneurship, downstream manufacturing, and green industrial clusters. They called for a shift in approach from raw resource drainage to value creation through Green Aluminium Parks and Value-Added Clusters, thereby strengthening India's industrial resilience and export competitiveness.

Participating in the discussion, Dr. Umesh Jena, Former Additional Director of Mines, Government of Odisha, discussed the urgency of expanding Odisha's mining capacity to meet aluminium demand projected by Government's Aluminium Vision. He said, "Delay in mine operationalization is depriving local population in remote areas to reap in the socio-economic benefits which come from the contributions of DMF, Royalty & Taxes which the exchequer earns from mining. Odisha must take the lead in operationalising bauxite mines. Time-bound expansion of mining capacity will ensure raw material security, reduce import dependency, and generate large-scale employment in mineral districts."

The session focused on the Aluminium Vision roadmap released by the Ministry of Mines, which projects a sixfold rise in aluminium demand requiring production to expand from 4.5 MTPA to 37 MTPA and an investment of nearly â‚120 lakh crore over the next two decades. Odisha's vast bauxite reserves were identified as the cornerstone of this growth, crucial to ensuring self-reliance, securing raw material supply, and reducing import dependency.

Dr. Dukhabandhu Sahoo, Associate Professor of Economics, IIT Bhubaneswar, highlighted that Odisha's mineral strength gives it a defining role in India's industrial future. "Despite Odisha having largest bauxite resources in the World, nation had to import bauxite worth ~ Rs.11,000 Crs in the last 5 years-resulting in loss to both local economy and remote area job creation. Strategic State Government Interventions in bauxite mining and downstream processing can transform regional economies and help Odisha achieve its goal of a Viksit Odisha by 2036", he added.

Dr. Kapila Khemundu, Head, Department of Sociology, Central University of Odisha, Koraput, emphasized the importance of community participation in Odisha's mining-led growth. He added, "Mining can be a catalyst for inclusive growth if it is accompanied by equitable rehabilitation, social infrastructure, and local capacity-building. Communities must be partners in progress, not just observers. State can act as a regulator and facilitator to expedite Public Hearings and Gram sabhas with trust of Local people to expedite existing mine expansions and operationalization of new mines."

Mr. Deba Mohanty, Vice President, Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict, stressed that sustainable resource utilization must be at the heart of Odisha's growth strategy. He said, "India's aluminium demand is rising rapidly, but we must align mineral production with sustainability. Odisha's resource strategy must balance industrial growth with environmental and social responsibility to build public trust."

Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Regional Director, AIDENT, said, "Odisha is on the cusp of becoming India's aluminium capital. Realising this potential requires collaboration between industry, government, and communities to ensure that resource wealth translates into long-term prosperity."

Key Challenges Identified

Delay in environmental & mining approvals and convening of long pending Gram Sabha for opening of bauxite blocks
Gaps in infrastructure and last-mile logistics
Policy unpredictability impacting investor confidence
Limited local participation and skill development in mining regions

Suggested Solutions

Time-bound mine opening and expansion through simplified approval processes including expediting the laid down process mandated by the Supreme Court including convening of Gram Sabha.
Establishment of Green Aluminium Parks and downstream clusters for value retention
Skill development and MSME linkage programmes in mineral districts
Transparent frameworks ensuring community participation and benefit-sharing


About Fijeeha

Forum for Indian Journalists on Education, Environment, Health & Agriculture (Fijeeha) is an independent, pan-India network of journalists, development professionals, academics, and policy analysts committed to advancing development communication. With over 1,500 members from across India and South Asia, Fijeeha works at the intersection of energy, environment, education, health, and agriculture.

Established in 2011, the forum has been instrumental in enriching journalism by empowering grassroots voices, organizing critical dialogues, and promoting informed public discourse. Through a wide range of workshops, expert interactions, policy memorandums, and advocacy campaigns, Fijeeha continues to sensitize communities and influence decision-making at local and national levels.


About AIDENT

AIDENT Social Welfare Organisation (ASWO) is a non-profit, non-partisan Indian NGO dedicated to promoting inclusivity and social well-being among marginalized communities. It focuses on areas such as education, health, livelihoods, water and sanitation, women's empowerment, and the eradication of child labor, primarily across states like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

User:- Pallavi Acharya

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