"Every Company has a special continuing responsibility towards the people of the area in which it is located. The Company should spare its doctors, managers to advice the people of the village and supervise near development undertaken by co-operative effort between them and the company" - Mr. J.R.D. Tata
The purpose of Tata Steel’s business has, since its inception, extended well beyond just steel making. Since the beginning of operations, Tata Steel envisaged its Steel Works, mines and collieries as symbols of nation building and an endeavour to improve the quality of life of its people, with a special interest in the communities where it operates.
The belief that progress of the community is integral to a harmonious business environment led to need-based interventions in the early years. This gradually evolved into structured mechanisms represented by Tata Steel’s numerous social and community welfare groups. The idea of inclusive growth has been initiated with the view that Tata Steel’s successes are shared by all its constituents and shareholders. Therefore the scope of improvement initiatives reach far beyond the immediate circle constituting employees and their families to communities that are directly or indirectly impacted by the Company. In its global operations too, Tata Steel has ensured that several specific initiatives are taken towards benefiting extended communities through the Group’s business. In recent years Tata Steel has reorganised its various activities so as to achieve a wider and deeper impact on lives and improve the satisfaction levels of communities in the rural and urban areas in and around its areas of operations.
Sustainability Initiatives
In facilitating sustainable development and inclusive growth, Tata Steel Corporate Sustainability Services (CSS) has been taking steps through its operating social arms that address the needs of the community. In its areas of operation, capacity building for human, social and financial value creation has spawned initiatives in sustainable livelihood, education, health, renewable energy and affirmative action with the objective of improving the economic and social status of the communities. With the focus of each delivery arms changed, the Company also re-strategised its priorities and identified key interventions.
The most prominent social-activity groups are:
- Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS)
- Community Development & Social Welfare Department (CD&SW)
- Tribal Cultural Society (TCS)
- Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation (TSFIF)
- Urban Services
Years of involvement, either directly or through the operating units has made Tata Steel one of the largest non-governmental agencies to be engaged in community development in the Country. Through the years the Company has –
- Supported and nurtured leadership among self-help groups and village advocacy groups.
- Encouraged multi cropping and irrigation across thousands of acres in over 800 villages in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhatisgarh.
- Earmarked dedicated resources for social welfare, rural and tribal development and programmes for community empowerment.
- Encouraged enterprise development to create sustainable growth in the villages.
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Initiatives
Tata Steel's Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) programme has extended beyond a fair resettlement scheme to an entirely new process of sustained well-being for project impacted families. The Company’s R&R initiatives guarantee a better future for local people and is positioned as the ‘Tata Steel Parivar’ programme.
It encompasses -
- Fair and just compensation packages for land.
- Communicating the CSR initiatives of Tata Steel to involved stakeholders.
- Creating awareness about the advantages of industrialisation and employment opportunities to the beneficiaries.
- Initiating and conducting coaching and training sessions in various trades to improve employability at the project sites and for the project affected families for all age groups, including women.
- Development of rehabilitation colonies in collaboration with villagers - with basic civic amenities, drinking water, power, streetlights, sewerage, schools, dispensaries, access to education, community areas and places of religious worship.
- Psychological and emotional impact management.
- Formation of Self-help groups.
- Employment opportunities for members of displaced families in the Company plant or associate companies.
- Customised training programmes to improve the employability of local youths.
- Micro-credit and micro-enterprise projects, especially for women.
- Basic health and hygiene services
- Culture preservation schemes and educational scholarships.
Tata Steel's Resettlement and Rehabilitation programme 'Tata Steel Parivar' is to be independently audited to provide an objective assessment of how families displaced by the Company's greenfield projects are affected over the years.
For more information on R&R initiatives, click here.
Tribal Upliftment Programme: Uthnau
Uthnau is evidence of how much Tata Steel has invested in the communities around it – both financially and emotionally. The word ‘ Uthnau’ has its roots in the language of the Santhals and stands to denote the upliftment and progress for the tribal people. In areas around Jamshedpur as also in the areas of its operations in Jharkhand, Orissa and Chattisgarh, Tata Steel in a number of ways has touched the lives of the tribals. Tata Steel is dedicated and committed to bring the indigenous tribes of Jharkhand to the mainstream of civilisation. Some of the initiatives taken in different areas of development may be grouped as follows:
Education
- Adult literacy programmes
- Youth leadership programmes
- Early child education centres
- Several camp schools for tribal children
- A technical training centre in Seraikela
Health
- Family planning camps
- Immunisation camps for children
- Cataract operation camps
- ‘Cleft lip and palate’ operation programmes
- HIV/AIDS awareness programmes
- Mobile Medical Camps