The presence of Tata Steel in Odisha has ensured that even remote tribal villages in the State are well ahead in the road of development. Believing strongly that real empowerment of any state can be achieved only when all members of society benefit equally from industrial and economic development, Tata Steel in its areas of operation has created equal opportunities for all. Universal access to livelihood, employment generation and employability training for both men and women are some of the measures that comprise Tata Steel’s empowerment agenda.
The Company has worked in association with local stakeholders to stimulate economic growth and development along with addressing basic needs of the people of the region. Villagers are encouraged to sustain the development processes initiated by Tata Steel. The Tata Group has facilitated about 500 enterprises in the last fifteen years and created more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs for people of Odisha.
Some major areas of empowerment in the State are:
» Livelihood Opportunities
To help create livelihood opportunities for the people of Odisha, Tata Steel provides training and assistance to people interested in small businesses such as goat rearing, mushroom cultivation and vermicompost preparation. Other fields of employment generation include nursery raising and care,
animal husbandry, poultry, candle making, bamboo work, jewellery making etc.
Tata Steel Rural Development Society as a part its interventions in the areas of sustainable livelihood has always maintained a steady focus on improving agricultural productivity.
The Swarnalakshmi Mahila Silai Samitee
This outfit as of now has fifty-two members who have taken to tailoring as their livelihood. Started with aid from Tata Steel in 2007, the unit first bagged orders from the State Government of Odisha for supply of school uniforms to the state run schools. The Samitee generated a net profit of Rs. 50,000 after recovering the start-up capital and payment of labour charges.
» Dhamra Employment Regeneration
Three tourist boats have been constructed to provide employment to the people below poverty line for whom boat making has been the ancestral occupation. Through this activity livelihood opportunity has been provided to nine families and this is also a means of reviving tourism in the island of Hookitola. Resource mapping of Kendrapara and Bhadrak District was also conducted. A Computer Centre in collaboration with Microsoft Corporation at Kharinasi has been started in order tap potential in the unemployed youth and provide them basic computer training. Five girls from Gahirmatha have been selected to be trained as Community Health Providers at Jamshedpur. Twelve Primary Schools have been identified to give academic support to 480 students through 24 teachers.
» Kalinganagar Employability Training
To take the process of development beyond the creation of economic wealth, many young men were given training in different kinds of vocations to build skills in different areas. Specialised trainings were provided through three different training centres at Duburi, Baragadia and Danagadai. In the year 2008- 09, 670 young men were trained and of them 316 have been placed.
Apart from training on Tally and Basic as well as Advanced Computer skills, the youth are trained for such vocations as:
Community Health Providers
Pathological Laboratory Assistant
Automobile Mechanic
Electrical Technician.
» Empowerment of Women
Tata Steel aims to empower women and help them to find ways to increase their income. Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) has provided many dedicated training programmes for women. Thirty-six women in Joda were trained to drive and some of them have secured jobs. Tata Steel, through TSRDS has made concerted efforts to organise village women and form Self Help Groups, which operate in different sectors like poultry farming, goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, tailoring etc.
In a bid to provide higher education in remote areas, especially for girl students, Tata Steel has facilitated the setting up of Joda Women’s college.
To help create livelihood opportunities for the people of Odisha, Tata Steel provides training and assistance to people interested in small businesses such as goat rearing, mushroom cultivation and vermicompost preparation. Other fields of employment generation include nursery raising and care,
Tata Steel aims to empower women and help them to find ways to increase their income. Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) has provided many dedicated training programmes for women. Thirty-six women in Joda were trained to drive and some of them have secured jobs. Tata Steel, through TSRDS has made concerted efforts to organise village women and form Self Help Groups, which operate in different sectors like poultry farming, goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, tailoring etc.