Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation launches ‘e-Shikshya Express’ and ‘Kanya Express’ in Kalinganagar

Bhubaneswar, July 14: Reaffirming its commitment to community-centric development, Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), the CSR arm of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA) launched two of its flagship outreach initiatives, Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express, in Kalinganagar, Jajpur, today.

The programs were inaugurated by P. Anvesha Reddy, Collector and District Magistrate of Jajpur. The Kanya Express, part of BIPF’s healthcare vertical since 2021, is a mobile health initiative aimed at combating anaemia among adolescent girls. It promotes awareness on nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and preventive healthcare. With anaemia affecting over 56% of adolescent girls in India, this program fills a vital gap in rural healthcare.

Complementing the e-Shikshya Express, introduced in 2024, which functions as a mobile digital learning centre. It brings basic digital literacy and computer skills to underserved communities, enabling individuals, particularly youth and women, to become confident participants in an increasingly digital world.

These initiatives are part of a broader set of development activities already underway in Kalinganagar. While the groundbreaking for IMFA’s upcoming plant in the region was conducted by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 22nd May 2025, efforts to engage with and support local communities had begun well in advance. The launch of Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express builds on BIPF’s ongoing interventions and reaffirms the Foundation’s commitment to empowering communities from the outset.

Commenting on the significance of such initiatives, Shaifalika Panda, Trustee & CEO of BIPF, said, “True development is not about waiting for operations to begin, it’s about showing up for communities from day one. With Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express, we are taking essential services directly to where they are needed most. These initiatives reflect our belief that when you invest early in health, education, and dignity, you lay the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive future.”

Since its inception in 2011, the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) has focused on creating long-term impact across key areas such as healthcare, education, livelihood, skill development, and women’s empowerment. These efforts are carried out in close collaboration with government agencies and local stakeholders to ensure meaningful and sustainable change.

This approach builds on the legacy of IMFA, which has always believed that development should begin with people. At every site, IMFA has consistently engaged with communities from the outset, taking the time to understand their needs and implement targeted interventions even before operations begin. The launch of Kanya Express and e-Shikshya Express in Kalinganagar continues this tradition of placing communities at the heart of progress.