The pre-requisite for economic and social development in any region is the availability of adequate infrastructure facilities. Tata Steel has always endeavoured to take the necessary measures in this direction in order to ensure all conveniences in its areas of operation and in the lives of extended communities.

A happy and prosperous community and workforce in and around its operations bears testimony to Tata Steel’s manifold corporate sustainability initiatives. The Company understands that economic development is not only about working with people; there are practical barriers which cause deprivation and prevent people from taking up economic opportunities –for example lack of access to water and electricity, poor roads and communications, inadequate health and educational facilities, etc. Tata Steel therefore, works in conjunction with local communities to identify appropriate areas to develop infrastructure and services that benefit local people.

 

Some highlights of Tata Steel’s contribution to local community infrastructure development and services are provided below.

 

Development around Jamshedpur

Though almost 75% of local residents of Jamshedpur are not employees of Tata Steel, they are considered to be vital stakeholders in the Company and equally entitled to the continuing social, economic and environmental welfare of the town. Tata Steel ensures a strong community infrastructure to support the healthy operation of the business. Initiatives in this direction include:

 

• Setting up of Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (JUSCO) to provide committed municipal services to the Jamshedpur township that can boast of having the highest reliability in water and power services.
• Improvement and maintenance of roads and infrastructure including beautification through parks and horticulture gardens.
• Tata Steel runs three primary schools, six high schools, one college in the region apart from supporting nearly 500 other schools.
• The 890 bed Tata Main Hospital provides quality health services to employees and citizens of Jamshedpur
• Two super-dispensaries and nine dispensaries along with HIV/AIDS support centres.
• The JRD Tata Sports Complex and Keenan Stadium for Cricket.
• Various Academies for the advancement of Sports.
• The Tribal Cultural Centre and Centre of Excellence for advancement of culture.

 

Community infrastructure in Orissa

In Orissa, where Tata Steel is developing new operations, it has worked with local communities to create many much-needed facilities. Some initiatives include:

 

• Installation of 44 tube wells in 2008-09 to provide drinking water.
• Irrigation facilities to villages such as Kalarangi and Kakudia enabling the farmers to achieve harvests three times a year.
• A much-required bridge was built at Mutuda village to enable access all year round.
• Drainage system at Bichakundi has been improved.

 

Resettlement Townships

From the early stages of a project's planning, the Tata Steel Parivar (Tata Steel’s Resettlement and Rehabilitation programme) engages with local communities to discuss their expectations and needs. The Trijanga Township is an exemplary development. It is well equipped with amenities like all-weather roads, uninterrupted power supply, piped water and a planned layout. Established by the Tata Steel Parivar, Trijanga, Sansailo and Gobarghati Townships have been built for families displaced by the Kalinganagar Greenfield steel project. Each relocated family has been given a plot of land measuring 0.1 acres and

funding for the construction of a house. They have also been given employment.

 

Other Infrastructure Initiatives

Health Facilities

• Outside Jamshedpur, medical services are extended through a - 66-bed Tata Steel Hospital at Noamundi, whose ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit was inaugurated in April 2008 and a 47-bed Hospital at Joda.
• Sneh Kendra HIV/AIDS support centre
• TSFIF resource centre – which has the goal of improving reproductive health through integrated capacity building and development programmes

 

Environment

• TSRDS has been instrumental in the protection of over 2000 hectares of regenerated forests
• Dimna Lake, a large manmade reservoir promotes rainwater harvesting
• Parks, gardens and green spaces around areas of operation
• The Tata Zoological Park in Jamshedpur and several other Botanical Parks in other locations.