JSPL: Driving Socio-Economic Development at Angul

Industrialization plays a vital role in the economic development of an underdeveloped region.History of Human civilization says that all the developed Nations of the world broke the vicious Cycle of underdevelopment through industrialization.In the process of socio-economic development industrial sector has been the engine of growth driving structural change from low to high productivity activities.A transfer of labor from low productive agriculture sector to high productivity industry sector results in an immediate increase in overall productivity and income per capita.This transfer has been a major source of core sector development in many industrial areas, as evident in Angul.Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) with its 6 MTPA Steel & 810 MW Captive Power Plant project has contributed significantly in development the socio-economic status of local people.This mega steel project has triggered several social and economic development processes that have positively impacted the quality of life for people in and around the project. In the first phase, this OP Jindal Group Company has invested more than Rs.20000 Cr in the project and the 1.5 MTPA capacity steel plant is nearing completion.The DRI/Coal gasification route is being used for the first time in the world and has the advantage of using high ash non coking coal.It has built a Steel Melting Shop with the largest Electric Arc Furnace in India of 250 Tonne Capacity and a 1.5 MTPA Plate mill having capacity of producing India’s widest plate of 5.0 meter.As a responsible Corporate Citizen, the Company has contributed more than Rs.1150 Crore as various tax to the exchequers of State and Central Government.The project has generated more than 50,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the people of this state.Against the HLCA Guideline of providing 90%, 60% and 30% of jobs under the unskilled / semi skilled, skilled / Highly Skilled and Supervisory / Managerial categories, JSPL has provided 98%, 66% and 47% of jobs, respectively, to local people.Besides, there have been significant indirect employment opportunities, mostly local people take advantage of these.The increased job opportunity has resulted in occupational shift from Agriculture to Industry in the area.As per Study done recently by NABARD Consultancy Services, after inception of JSPL plant there is enough wage opportunities and as a result poverty induced migration have become very minimized or meager.Rather there are instances of reverse migration which is a symptom of sustainable development.The improved livelihood opportunity has helped in enhancing family income, impacting improvement of quality of life.Use of toilet in periphery area villages has increased significantly.People are living in concrete house with enough space.They have electricity connectivity and now, children can read during evening hours.Access to television, cell phone and a variety of drudgery reducing and entertainment gadgets have been ensured because of availability of electricity and increased income.Another major benefit for the community is up gradation of SH-63 – as a mainstream collaborative development initiative of the Government – which has become the lifeline of the area.Up gradation of SH-63 has ensured better connectivity with round the clock transport and communication facility to block and district head quarters.With establishment of Nisha Police station close to the village, the Community members do not need to commute to Angul town in case of need.On account of significant increase in purchasing power in the area / district due to industrialization, the villagers are able to set a good price for their farm and non-farm products without commuting everyday in search of a good market.Improvement in living standards of the people of the area as well influx of huge numbers of workers and employees has developed the market economy of the area to a significant extent.“After establishment of the mega steel project, there is increase in general outlook and awareness of affected people in the post displacement/land acquisition period.People belonging to all the castes are participating in the community gathering and freely expressing their views.The ST families are now residing mixed with general and other caste people in Rehab colony.In Rehabilitation colony untouchability is not practiced by higher caste people.Uniform access to housing, hospital, school, road, public utilities has been arranged by JSPL,” according to the NABCONS Study.According to the NABCONS Study, children of Displaced Families are studying in Jindal Vidyapitha and learning lot of new ideas.Their style of conversation, personality has undergone sea change.The personality of adults, youths is getting changed after dealing with CSR and company officials frequently.Previously, there was fear to contact with government officers. Now all are going to government offices frequently and put forth their grievances.The Company believes that sustainable local development is a key indicator of the kind of holistic growth that any industrial investment can trigger.The company has taken up multi-dimensional initiatives to improve quality of life for people in its periphery area villages, besides employing state of the art technology for least environmental pollution.Therefore, to improve the Quality of life of the local people, JSPL on its own and in partnership with bodies like NRHM, NACO, NABARD, DIC, ORMAS etc has been implementing a number of sustainable community development projects in the areas of Health, Education, Sanitation, and Livelihood.Some unique social initiatives implemented by JSPL are the (i) Certified Skill training of more than 2500 youth under OP Jindal Community College (ii) Integrated watershed development in collaboration with NABARD and (iii) the adolescent anemia control in both Chhendipada and Banarpal block through a PPP programme “the Kishori Express”, (iv) Micro Enterprise promotion among 865 rural women through capacity building and marketing linage, (v) Mobilization of 1800 farmers for improving agricultural productivity, (vi) building Community infrastructure to provide drinking water supply, access roads, village electrification, School buildings, Toilets for girl children and micro irrigation infrastructure (vi) providing primary healthcare and ambulance support and (vii) reducing gap in student – teacher ratio through Community Teacher programme.For its contribution to community development, JSPL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) work has received many National and International awards.The Golden Peacock award, GreenTech CSR award, CII awards, Tefla’s CSR awards are some examples. – A Correspondent