JSPL’s Social development initiatives in Angul, Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: In Angul, JSPL is building a 6 MTPA integrated steel plant along with an 810 MW captive power plant. For the first time in the world, a Coal Gasification based DRI Plant of 2 MTPA has been commissioned in Angul by JSPL which uses the locally available, high ash content non-coking coal to produce Synthesis Gas for use in the DRI Plant. The Plant has adopted a zero discharge model and has set up an online Pollution Monitoring System for reporting emission on real time basis to the Regulatory Authorities.
Like any other business locations of JSPL, the Company has made significant contribution towards the socio- economic development of people at Angul. Through its responsible social development arm,’JSPL Foundation’, the Company has taken up sustainable development Projects in 34 revenuevillages with a population of appx. 70000 based on a well-documented Base Line Survey, Need Profile Analysis and Participatory Rural Appraisal. The CSR Projects are being implemented in Participatory / PPP mode adopting a 360 degree approach incorporating Concept design, appraisal, participatory implementation, concurrent monitoring, social audit/ evaluation and crystallization of the learning for new projects.
A Special Project in partnership with the National Health Mission and Dist. Administration on adolescent anemia control has encompassed 321 villages in 2 Revenue villages benefiting 24000 adolescent girls. Company has dedicated CSR professionals, whose expertise ranges from medical, agriculture science, engineering, sociology and management etc. Community Participation is considered as a critical indicator for successful project implementation.
The JSPL Foundation is chaired by the Director of the Company, Mrs. Shallu Jindal, a Kuchipuddi dancer of international repute. A dedicated Sub Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the CSR Projects through structured MIS and reviews.
The sustainable social interventions of JSPL are focused on addressing the various aspects of the needs of the community which has a broad spectrum focus encompassing need based interventions like adolescent female healthcare, pre-school , primary, secondary and higher education, promotion of sustainable entrepreneurship in Farm and Non Farm Sector, strengthening Self-Help Groups, Artisans Groups and Farmers’ Clubs, supporting implementation of collaborative watershed development programme, unleashing the youth spirit through sports & culture , imparting technical and vocational education, creating rural civic infrastructures and thus complementing and supplementing the efforts of the Government to improve the quality of life the Community on a sustainable basis. For various socio-
economic development initiatives the Company has spent more than Rs. 60 Crore till March 31, 2014. One of the major interventions of JSPL’s CSR programme is Kishori Express – an adolescent anaemia control drive on wheels with the aim of timely detection and rectification of anaemia among adolescent girls for enabling them to attain safe motherhood in future. The Van is equipped with HB testing facility, an inbuilt touch screen-audio-visual awareness generating quiz system and nutrition kit supplement facility. More than 50000 hemoglobin tests have been conducted on 25000 adolescent girls in 321 villages encompassing 2 revenue blocks of Angul. The programme has been successful in improving haemoglobin level among the girls – as there has been 85% shift from severe anaemia level to moderate category.
Also for the first time in the Industrial map of Odisha, JSPL is developing two watersheds in collaboration with NABARD benefitting 1783 households across five villages over a topography of 3500 acres. After successful completion of Capacity Building Phase, the Watershed Project is under Full Scale Implementation. This People-JSPL-NABARD collaborative Project has so far helped in converting about 100 acres of fallow land in to arable land resources and multiplying the income of the farming households at least two times through improved practices and cash crop cultivation and linkages besides reducing the stress on drinking water.
As a part of its women empowerment initiatives, JSPL is promoting micro-entrepreneurship among rural women. At present, 529 Women through Self Help Groups are now networked and supported by the micro entrepreneurship promotion measures of JSPL. By imparting required training, capacity building and providing base capital and zero cost working capital support as well as appropriate linkages the Company has enabled these SHGs to transform themselves to Self Help Entrepreneur (SHE) in manufacturing and marketing of herbal beauty care products, low cost sanitary napkins, food processing, market oriented terracotta products, jute products, incense stick making, tailoring and mushroom cultivation.
Linked with the “Odisha Livelihood Mission”, ORMAS (Orissa Rural Development & Marketing Society), ITC and other similar credible Agencies the Women Entrepreneurs individually now have sustainable access to cash income up to Rs.3000.00/pm.
Similarly, as a conscious CSR initiative, the Company promotes agriculture as a rewarding income generation avenue by providing them scientific technology and methods as well as introducing economically profitable crops. The Company has collaborated with NABARD and Andhra Bank in forming Farmers’ Clubs to facilitate Farmers’ capacity building on various new and profitable farming. Also it works with State Govt to introduce poly-house farming, Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) over 400 acres, Organic Farming, cultivation of exotic vegetables, pisciculture and other high cash return avenues.
Besides above key projects, JSPL also extends health care services such as mobile health unit, health camp in unreached areas ambulance services, covering more than 20,000 individuals every year since As a responsible corporate, JSPL has been addressing control of HIV & AIDS in partnership with NACO & OSACS in the district of Angul. JSPL has set up a full-fledged Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre (ICTC) that has covered 81711 under its counseling and 75227 through voluntary HIV/AIDS testing services.
Another of area of focus of JSPL are the Rural Youths who are imparted vocational skills for improving their employab ility by the well reputed OP Jindal Community College Initiative. Total 2700 youths have been trained with various industry appropriate vocational programmes. In the domain of Mass Education ,the Company is supporting the School Committees by engaging 96 voluntary community teachers at the vernacular medium schools in villages and thereby reducing the student – teacher ratio from 1:76 to 1:40. On the onset of each academic year, JSPL has been awarding the OP Jindal Rural Merit-cum-Means scholarship to meritorious vernacular medium students of Chhendipada and Banarpal block for enabling them to pursue their higher and technical education.
The CSR Impact Study report and the Socio Economic Impact Study of the Pre and Post Land acquisition for the poject by NABARD Consultancy rate the improvement of income of Project Displaced Familiesby 183%. As per the NABARD Consultancy Report, substantial progress in Housing, rural indebtedness, poverty induced migration, drinking water , agricultural productivity , mass education and civic infrastructure have substantially enhanced the indices of quality of life of the Community.
This innovative CSR approach and strategic interventions have earned several awards and laurels like the Golden Peacock Award in Dubai, Green Tech CSR & HR Platinum Awards, Women Empowerment Award from the hands of Padmashri Kiran Bedi , Think Media INC Award for Sustainable Livelihoodand Community Health Care initiatives ,Best Industry Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation by the Red Cross, Odisha INC Best Inclusive Business Award and the Think CSR Leadership Award for consecutive 6 years.