Navjeevan Co-operative Ltd. (NCL) is promoted by Tata Steel at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district of Odisha. It was formed by members of displaced families of Kalinganagar project of Tata Steel. More than 200 members who belong to the displaced families have come together to form this Co-operative.

Fabindia, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (an organisation under the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs), and Delhi Crafts Council are some of the buyers that have shown keen interest to procure products from NCL.

The next time you visit a Fabindia store, you are likely to find on its shelves a saree or a stone artefact beautifully crafted by a project displaced person. This may be possible because of the initiative taken by NCL. “We have sent sarees and stone craft samples to Fabindia and are awaiting their response. Tribes India has also shown interest in our products and is likely to visit our place soon”, says Mukul Kumar Mishra, senior associate programme manager, NCL. In fact, NCL has successfully bagged a small order for supply of hand paintings on stoles, dupattas and wall hangings from Delhi Crafts Council.

NCL began its artistic journey with paintings and wall hangings and later extended its offerings to garments (hand painted T-shirts), hand painted stoles, dupattas, sarees and multi-utility items like conference files & folders, flower vases, pen stands, laminated jute bags and mobile covers. The strategy reaped good results as it helped NCL generate a great turnover of Rs. 59 lakhs in FY 2012-13.

Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (TDCCOL), the apex co-operative organisation engaged in the sale and purchase of tribal products in Odisha, will procure products manufactured by NCL. The rehabilitation and resettlement team of Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar project actively supports NCL who is now successfully running poultry units, three garment units, pickle making units, office stationary units and a painting unit.

Aesthetics play a very crucial role and, hence, NCL is leveraging the expertise of two graduates from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to present beautiful designs for every season. The designers visit the garment unit at Trijanga for seven to eight days in a month and look into factors like modulation of production plans and standardisation of products.

Consolidating its growth plans, NCL has decided to expand its garment unit at Trijanga, which is among the three modern rehabilitation colonies set up by Tata Steel in the area. The membership of the unit is set to increase from 24 to 29. It is geared to make cotton and silk kurtas with paintings on them.

A bigger garment unit accommodating 60 artisan-members is proposed to be set up at Gobarghati & in Sansailo which is to go under production soon. Exclusive showrooms will be set up in Bhubaneswar which will sell the items manufactured by NCL.