‘Arunima 2023’: Tata Steel Foundation’s Sustained Commitment To Water Conservation and Management
- Students are appointed as water action partners.
- A total of 2,561 scholarships, amounting to Rs 1.20 Crore, were awarded to students from the SC/ST communities in the Kalinganagar, Bamnipal, and Sukinda regions.
Sukinda: In its seventh year, the ‘Arunima 2023’ initiative, organized by Tata Steel Foundation, kicked off its three-day event at Tata Steel’s Sukinda Chromite Mine on Thursday, extending until December 23rd. This annual program serves as a cohesive platform for communities in proximity to Tata Steel’s Sukinda, Bamnipal, and Kalinganagar operations. The event encompasses various initiatives focusing on education, recognizing outstanding women through Project DISHA, and highlighting sustainable agriculture and water conservation. Engaging discussions will cover crucial topics such as water action, climate change, the Millet Mission, education, women’s empowerment, livelihood, and related activities.
On the inaugural day, the Foundation conferred Jyoti Fellowship upon 2,561 deserving students from economically disadvantaged SC/ST families, supporting them in pursuing their educational and career goals. A sum of Rs 1.20 Crore will be distributed as part of the Fellowship grant, benefiting a total of 598 students from Kalinganagar, 1297 from Bamnipal, and 666 from Sukinda.
‘Arunima’ is a community-centric event, emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and providing meaningful dialogue opportunities for communities in Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, with a particular focus on water within the ecosystem. The event introduced the first cohort of water action buddies, where female leaders participated in discussions about a collective approach to women’s empowerment and water action.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda, Head of CSR, Odisha, Tata Steel, expressed, “Arunima aims to address regional water issues sustainably through community involvement.” He highlighted the significance of the International Millet Mission, aligning it with the goals of Odisha Millets Mission schemes and programs, aiming to inspire farmers to cultivate millets. Dr. Nanda emphasized, “This initiative seeks to promote millets and water ambassadors within the community, paving the way for a greener and more prosperous future.”
The event was attended by notable personalities, including Smt. Damayanti Beshra, Padmashree awardee, Nabakrushna Jena, ADM Jajpur, Anil Pradhan, Smt. Vaishali Sharma, Co-founder of Young Tinker, Shashi Shekhar Kar Sharma, President awardee teacher, and Surendra Hansda, a Jyoti Fellow and Tata Steel Scholar.
Also read : TSF’s Jyoti Fellowship: Nurturing Aspirations of Emerging Students
