The work on the proposed six million tonne steel plant of Tata Steel at Kalinganagar is yet to take off, but the people who were displaced for the project are already a richer lot with perceptible improvement in their standards of living over the past five years.
While the annual income of the first batch of displaced families of 2006 under Tata Steel Parivar Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) scheme nearly doubled (a growth of 96 per cent), in the post-displacement period, the value of assets held by the first batch of the displaced families went up by nearly 300 per cent during this period.
On the whole, the average asset value of the families displaced in the first batch, increased from Rs 1.39 lakh in 2006 to Rs 5.47 lakh in 2010. Similarly, the average annual income of the families rose from Rs 37430 in 2006 to Rs 73413.
This is revealed from a study conducted by RSMS, a unit of Orissa based NGO, Harsha Trust
It said, participative and planned rehabilitation, creation of sustainable income generation opportunities, free education and health care facilities for all and focus and preservation of cultural heritage are some of the key steps beyond the government R&R policies that were taken up under the Tata Steel Parivar scheme that helped in achieving the above feat.
The exercise that was undertaken was in line with Tata Steel’s commitment to improve the quality of life of the displaced persons. ‘Tata Steel Parivar’ has been conceived by the company as a tool to provide facilities to the relocated families which is beyond the mandate provided by the R&R policy of the Orissa government.
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“The Tata Steel Parivar rehabilitation scheme focuses on the four R's- reassuring communication, resettlement of displaced persons, rehabilitation - ensuring a better quality of life, income and happiness and rechecking implementation through self and independent social audits. It takes care of requirements of psychological, economic and emotional rehabilitation”, said a company release.
The latest achievement comes close on the heels of the attainment of various Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, including removal of hunger and poverty by the Tata Steel Parivar at Kalinganagar.
The major millennium development goals attained by Tata Steel Parivars includes 100 per cent primary education, zero dropout, total coverage under health services, 100 per cent institutional delivery, zero infant and maternal mortality, among others.
Company empowers 300 SHGs
As many as 5000 families belonging to more than 300 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Orissa have benefited from the concerted efforts made by Tata Steel, through Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) to empower women. The initiative to organize village women and form SHGs has enabled them to find alternative livelihood opportunities.
The support provided by Tata Steel to the Tejaswinis, the members of the women SHGs, have enabled them to sell their products not only in the local market but also outside. The SHGs have been formed in Kalinganagar, Bamnipal, Sukinda, Joda, Belpahar and Gopalpur among others.
Importantly, more than 95 percent of these SHGs are women SHGs. The SHGs are engaged in income generating activities like poultry farming, gardening, stone carving, saura painting and in setting up of small industries like phenyl and pickle making among others. Besides facilitating credit linkage for the self help groups (SHGs), TSRDS is also facilitating the marketing of their products.