Tata Steel’s involvement in the mineral development of Joda and Odisha, right from discovery to a sustained holistic expansion, has created several positive milestones in the history of scientific mining. The Joda East hill where Tata Steel discovered iron ore, spreads over an area of almost eight sq. km. The iron ore here is of hard and massive type and runs on top of the hill practically from end to end. At Joda, mining is done by the conventional Open Pit Benching System but operations are constantly evolving through innovations and knowledge management practices.
The mining operations in this area are constantly evolving through innovations and knowledge management practices. Modern processes such as de-slimming of iron lumps through ‘Magic Sprays’, increasing tyre life by nitrogen infusion and land reclamation through slime dams are being carried out on a regular basis.
With a century of progress behind it, the mining town of Joda is set for a glorious future as an integral part in a continuous improvement process. The Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) was set up as a dedicated wing for a holistic development of the entire mining belt and the villages surrounding it. Joda’s growth has been characterised by its community development, where most of the people now form groups and reside in organised townships with modern amenities like clubs, schools, a marketing complex, co-operative stores and co-operative credit societies. Sports and recreational activities are also a part and parcel of life at Joda.
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Creating Livelihood Opportunities
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Ever since Tata Steel started its mining operations in Joda in the early years of 1900, significant employment opportunities have been created and subsequent peripheral development has helped to upgrade the lifestyle of the local populace. Apart from direct employment opportunities in the mines and numerous jobs in related fields or ancillary industries, the Company has taken proactive steps in enhancing means of livelihood through agriculture and other prospects for self-employment. Initiatives include:
- Training farmers in modern practices of farming
- Providing them with seeds and farm machinery
- Training programmes for animal husbandry including development of pisciculture, piggery, goatery and poultry farming.
- Dedicated training programmes for empowerment of women. Thirty-six women in Joda have learnt to drive as part of this initiative.
- Women SHGs are facilitated for Savings and Micro Credit and Income generation Schemes with market linkages.
- Employability training by CAPS Foundation in hospitality, information technology, mechanics, automobile technology and other fields.
For an overview on Tata Steel’s employment generation initiatives in Odisha, please :
Healthcare Advancement
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Tata Steel runs a 53-bedded fully equipped hospital at Joda with specialist doctors and an ICU facility, the only such facility in the district Keonjhar. In addition,
- The medical wing of TSRDS provides mobile medical vans in approximately 45 villages in the area.
- Regular health check up camps are conducted.
- Special health camps with operating facilities are conducted. (In these initiatives 123 cases for eye care, 194 family welfare cases, 17 hydrocel cases have received treatment)
- 12 health camps were arranged especially for women.
- There are special training programmes for health workers and midwifes in 12 villages.
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The Hospital at Joda - A milestone in Odisha healthcare
The well-appointed hospital run by Tata Steel at Joda provides free medical treatment to Company employees and also extends its services to the local population at nominal charges. It is the only hospital of its kind in this mining belt with a state-of-the-art intensive care unit.
The hospital has one of the best Blood Banks in Odisha, which is recognised by the Blood Bank Council of the State. In addition to the hospital, there is an operating dispensary each at Joda East and Bonaikela.
Tata Steel Hospital at Joda is the only hospital in Keonjhar district recognised under “Janani Suraksha Yojna” by the Health Services, Government of Odisha. It is also the only private hospital to be recognised by RNTCP funded by Denmark Tuberculosis Programme in the district.
The Hospital also conducts health camps and health awareness programmes on AIDS and various other health related concerns.
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Malaria Control
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Joda used to be a problem area among the malaria endemic zones in Odisha. Factors like lack of awareness, poor socio-economic condition, the surrounding forest area etc. have combined to result in a high incidence of malaria in the region. Tata Steel has teamed up with TSRDS and the Tata Steel Hospital to combat the problem through various initiatives that include:
- Identification of malaria prone villages- Khondbond, Guruda, Gonua, Bichakundi, Khuntpani, Katesahi.
- Fogging and spraying the villages with disinfectants and insect repellents.
- Distribution of mosquito nets.
- Fixing window nets at employee quarters.
- Card test in villages for detection of malaria.
- Awareness programmes for the early detection of the disease.
For comprehensive information on Tata Steel’s healthcare initiatives in Odisha, please click here:
Focus on Education
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Tata Steel ensures quality education through the Company run TISCO UP School at Joda, which provides free education to the children of its employees and to children living in the adjoining areas. Other schools supported by the Company include St. Theresa School, Joda East ME School and the Adivasi Vikas Samity (AVS) Vidyalaya at Seranda that provides education to tribal children in the area. The Joda Women’s College has also been founded by Tata Steel for the advancement of higher learning among the local populace in the area. Tata Steel has constructed the school building and aided school infrastructure development in several schools in villages adjoining Joda.
For detailed information on Tata Steel’s initiatives in the field of education in Odisha, please click here:
Boost to Agriculture
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Tata Steel Rural Development Society as a part of its interventions in the areas of sustainable livelihood has focused on improving agricultural productivity in Odisha through a number of proactive measures.
- Revival of lift irrigation points in several blocks of the State.
- Water harvesting projects.
- Digging up new ponds.
- Deepening of the existing water structures in the 16 villages for self-sufficiency throughout the year.
- Conversion of wasteland into fertile agricultural land.
» Joda Case Study on Wasteland Development
| A plot of wasteland of nearly one acre, in Joda East was given to TSRDS to try out some innovative methods to convert the land for agriculture productivity. TSRDS mobilised a group of youth club members, who formed an SHG to take up this initiative. They were provided with technical support as they were engaged in this kind of initiatives for the first time. They were also given training and financial support to hire farm implements and labour. After a lot of sweat and hard work the patch of land actually started showing signs of green and this was motivation enough for farmers who had earlier refused to believe in the possibilities. They worked on the land diligently and the labour paid off when it began to produce vegetables like bottle gourd, ladies finger, spinach, cabbage, capsicum etc. After nearly four months of hard work this group earned a sum of Rs. 75000. The total investment in the project by the groups and TSRDS was nearly Rs. 17500 and therefore the net profit stood at a grand Rs. 57500 for all. |
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Infrastructure Development
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Apart from developmental work undertaken by TSRDS exclusively in Joda and the surrounding villages spread over 15 kms radius from the mines, Tata Steel has taken up many other infrastructure projects in the region as well. These projects are aimed at bringing a balanced development at local as well as at the state level and the positive impact is clearly visible in the surroundings.
Some specific endeavours in recent years include:
- Improving drainage – Construction of drains in the Bichakundi village of Joda municipality near Joda West Iron Mines thereby improving the drainage system in surrounding villages and communication on the main road.
- Rebuilding bridges – Tata Steel rebuilt a collapsed bridge on river Sona connecting the Lohanda and Mutunda village in Joda area.
- Improving connectivity – The 18 km Ransal-Joda-Bamberi road built by Tata Steel has made access to NH 215 easier and is an important road in the Keonjhar district.
- The Centenary Park – Developed on wasteland, the Centenary Park was dedicated by Tata Steel to the people of Joda on the occasion of its centenary in 2007.
For detailed information on these and other projects please click here:
