Odisha: Tata Steel provided assistance to more than 200 schools in state

 Tata Steel has taken several measures that are aimed at promoting school education in Odisha. Towards this end, the Company has provided assistance to more than 200 schools in the State.

To improve the educational infrastructure in schools that are located in and around its areas of operations, the Company has taken proactive initiatives in repairing and constructing school buildings and boundary walls and distributed desks and benches to schools. It has also distributed essential items to students regularly to further their education.

The latest endeavour of the steel major has been to extend Jyoti Fellowship Awards to the students of the State. Jyoti Fellowship Awards are given under the aegis of the Tata Steel-promoted Tribal Cultural Society (TCS).

This fellowship awards support education of underprivileged Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students of Standard VII and above. During the current year, more than 700 poor students belonging to the districts of Keonjhar, Jajpur and Ganjam were provided assistance under the scheme.

The commitment of the Steel Company towards providing world class education for the tribal community in Odisha is testified by the MoU signed by the Company in this regard with the Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

The Company has already set in motion the process of setting up a residential school in Jajpur district for scheduled caste, scheduled tribe children and those from underprivileged sections of society.

Another grassroots level initiative for facilitating tribal education in the State is reflected by the support provided by the Company to Adivasi Vikas Samiti (AVS), a school founded by Padmshree Tulasi Munda in Serenda area of Keonjhar district.

Besides providing infrastructure support, Tata Steel has provided books for the school library. With 352 students already enrolled, AVS, Serenda, imparts education to tribal children up to Class IX.

Similarly, the Company has provided assistance to Adivasi Vikas Samity (AVS), Kainsi, in Keonjhar district. To facilitate free education for poor children, Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) is sponsoring the residential schooling of poor students of Joda area at AVS, Kainsi. TSRDS has already sponsored the education of two batches of 20 students each at AVS, Kainsi.

Further, to improve school infrastructure and ensure quality education in schools located in Kalinganagar, Joda and Gopalpur areas, Tata Steel has been distributing benches and desks. Sports materials are also distributed to a number of schools located in these areas. (Source: orissadiary.com)