Education is a basic human right, vital to personal and societal development and well-being. As an integral part of its CSR practices, Tata Steel has from the very beginning maintained a strong focus on improving educational facilities in its areas of operation thereby increasing the literacy rates in these regions.
Tata Steel has, from its inception undertaken various initiatives in education that have catered to the needs of youth in rural and urban areas alike. Tata Steel supports the right to free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of fourteen years and supports initiatives to improve literacy levels amongst adults. The Company also wishes to promote the study of science, to promote understanding of its product and help to develop qualified people for industry in the future.
The positive results that the Company's efforts in this direction have shown have been both promising and motivating for further initiatives. Tata Steel has undertaken several ventures to attain 'education for all' with specific focus on the enlightenment of the rural and urban slum children, the girl child and the SC/ST youth.
Tata Steel has been actively promoting excellence in education in the schools of the steel city by extending the Tata Business Excellence Model to create an Education Excellence Model. It has instituted the Dr. J. J. Irani Education Excellence Award to encourage all schools to serve children better. This includes a cash prize for the school.
The Company donated a building on a 71-acre campus to the Xavier Institute for Tribal Education (XITE) in an endeavour to assist less privileged tribal students improve their quality of life. It also assists the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), a premier management institute in Jamshedpur.
At Jamshedpur, the Company has created the Jamshedpur School of Art and also supports centres of performing arts and culture as an extremely generous sponsor. Support through the Tata Group has facilitated many more such centres across the country including the prestigious National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai.
Tata Steel has influenced the integration of tribals in the economy in a less obvious and immediate way by propping up the education of tribal children and youth of various ages at different stages in their academic career. Some of the initiatives include:
- Informally run balwadis (crèches/nurseries) for infants and toddlers.
- Financial assistance and sponsorships.
- Sponsorship of two tribal student every year by TCS at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
- Project Sahyog helps tribal students to develop self-esteem and plan their future.
- Assistance and support for The Xavier Institute for Tribal Education near Jamshedpur.
- Financial support worth Rs 25 lakhs to more than 493 meritorious tribal students each year since 2004.
- Fifty matriculate students identified every year for coaching that prepares them for higher studies.
In accordance with the Affirmative Action Policy all Education and Scholarship initiatives benefit the ST/SC community. In 2009-10, a total of 646 students were supported. The Company has set itself a target of supporting 700 students annually by 2012 and will allocate a sum of Rs 4.7 million for these scholarships.
Early childhood education is a vital preparatory ground to formal schooling in both rural and urban areas. In the urban areas out of about 570 students who were enrolled in 12 centres, over 380 students (67%) have been integrated into formal schools. In rural areas, 22 centres catered to 550 Children in the age group of 3-6 years with a 100% success rate for 110 students in the age group of 5-6 years.
The Company supports many schools in its areas of operation. For example twelve primary schools have been identified for support near Dhamra Port in 2008-09. Twenty-four teachers will provide academic support to 480 students.
TQMS Initiative in City Schools
Tata Quality Management Services (TQMS) has set out to foster quality education among students in line with Tata Steel's Educational Excellence Programme. One of the major initiatives introduced by TQMS in 2010 is 'Education Quality Improvement Project' (EQUIP), whereby the schools try to identify and resolve improvement opportunities as a team.
With the objective of gaining greater understanding of quality and performance excellence, teachers of various schools of Jamshedpur participated in a presentation ceremony of Quality Improvement Projects, organised by Tata Quality Management Services (TQMS) at Beldih Club on 20th October 2011. Fifty-three projects have been submitted by 19 schools in the present year.
The eight projects that have been recognised at the Annual Education Excellence Award Function are -
1. J. H. Tarapore School: 'Parameterised Marking System Computer Practicals'
2. Kerala Samajam Model School: 'Motivational Cards''
3. Kerala Samajam Model School: 'Suggestion Mela'
4. Baug-E- Jamsheed School: 'Let's Share Learning with Fun'
5. Kerala Public School, Mango: 'Hindi Vyanjan Mein Hulchul'
6. Jusco School Kadma: 'Green Warriors'
7. Kerala Public School NML: 'Students Progress - Our Challenge'
8. Jusco School South Park: 'Implementing 2S across the School'
Camp School:
To help underprivileged girl children enter the mainstream of learning a camp school programme was initiated with the help of the Jharkhand Education Project. The nine-month intensive learning course offered to students aged 9-14 makes up for education lost till the 5th standard and qualifies them for admission to class VI. In 2009-10, 200 girl children enrolled in the two camp schools.
Scholarships
Financial assistance programme for meritorious scheduled caste/ scheduled tribe students covered 660 students last year.
In May 2008 annual scholarships to promote the talent and knowledge of students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were announced. These awards often encourage students from families who would not be able to support further studies. Among these are the Sakshar Samaj programme for functional literacy in adults and the Moodie Endowment for financial assistance to students pursuing professional courses. The total grant is Rs. 1.1 million annually for 110 awards.
The Jyoti Fellowship is awarded by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) and Tribal Cultural Society (TCS) to enable students to accomplish their educational and career aspirations. This Scholarship benefits the students belonging to twin districts of East & West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan in Jharkhand. In 2011 students in the mining hub of Noamundi availed this benefit for the first time. 25 students from different schools of Noamundi have been selected for the Jyoti Fellowship Scholarships 2011-12. These students will get Rs.2500 per annum as scholarship and will have to score 45% or above in their next final examination to remain eligible for the scholarship.
“Thanks to Tata Steel I can pursue my education.” – Mahesh Murmu
Mahesh Murmu of Jamdih village, near Jamshedpur, was overjoyed when he secured a place at the engineering college. However, coming from a poor family he could not afford the college fees. The Tribal Cultural Society came to his aid by paying his fees and continuing to support him throughout the course duration.
'Grow Smart with Tata Steel'
This project is aimed at encouraging learning and self-development in students from remote areas of India. It also focuses on spreading knowledge through vocational training for adults.