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TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT FY 2023 COMMUNITIES THE PLANET THE WORKPLACE

Indigenous Peoples Rights

Mineral-rich regions in India and in many parts of the Corporate approach to engagement with indigenous peoples
world are often home to indigenous peoples, who share
deep bonds with the forests and tracts of land that
contain this mineral wealth. Dependent on forest produce Identifying Principles of Commitment to Audit and
and to certain unique ways of living, these indigenous
groups are repositories of knowledge, cultures, and affected good protect and assessment of
practices that are distinctive and not part of the indigenous engagement of preserve relocation /
mainstream. At Vedanta, we hold great regard for the peoples indigenous cultural heritage resettlement
rights, cultures, knowledge, interests, and aspirations of peoples from the
Indigenous Peoples. Our commitment lies in establishing adverse impacts
robust and enduring relationships with Indigenous of local
communities and to promote their socio-economic activities
development.

In all those areas of our operations that are contiguous to Understanding Free prior and Grievance
habitations of indigenous people, we try to ensure that the local context informed mechanisms
there is no negative impact on people’s specific rights to for engaging with consent
protect their cultures, traditional lifestyles, and close ties indigenous (FPIC)
with land and water. Preserving cultural heritage is a peoples
fundamental component of our commitment to
effectively manage our social impact. Our corporate
actions align with the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention 169 on
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. These international
frameworks provide guidance on respecting the rights
and safeguarding the well-being of indigenous and
vulnerable tribal groups.

To understand their perspectives and needs, we actively
engage in dialogue and implement impact management In the fiscal year 2019, we conducted an independent assessment to evaluate the Free, Prior, and
processes that are designed after two-way consultations Informed Consent (FPIC) requirements alongside the existing rigorous Indian regulations designed to
and have the support and agreement of affected protect the rights of indigenous communities. The study indicated that certain aspects of the Indian
communities. We have established the programme regulations align with the principles of FPIC. Where there are gaps, we are actively developing internal
design, risk management controls and supporting standards to ensure our compliance and uphold our commitment to FPIC. This exercise highlights our
information needed to avoid, reduce, and in some cases determination to follow well-regarded standards and best practices to ensure that our organization uses
compensate for adverse project impacts on indigenous
peoples and our approach is based on fairplay, whereby all means possible to protect the best interests of the indigenous peoples.
their marginalized status is not exploited, and
standardized, internationally mandated mechanisms, No incidents of violations were reported against the indigenous peoples over the last three years.
based on fair market value, are used.

Refer, Restoring Lives and Communities:
Vedanta's commitment to Resettlement and Rehabilitation in Lanjigarh

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