In economic terms too, healthy and happy workers are more productive; absenteeism and employee replacement/re-training costs are very low.

Tata Steel’s commitment is top down and has extended to address HIV & AIDS. The Company has a stated policy on HIV/AIDS signed by the Managing Director. In 1994, Core Group-AIDS was formed under the Chairmanship of, Dy. MD (Corporate Services) and the Nodal Center-AIDS placed under Dr. H K Gardin, Convener, Core Group-AIDS to focus on this grave threat and formulate strategies for its control and prevention. The Core Group-AIDS members are drawn from the existing staff of departments such as Social Services, Community Development, Personnel, Public Health, local health institutions and the Government-run Voluntary Counselling & Testing Center.

All initiatives on HIV/AIDS are integrated into the ongoing social and welfare programs for the 38,182 employees at the workplace at all locations, as well as the community residing in and around Jamshedpur. Tata Steel has a very strong culture of social responsibility, which is imbibed and practiced by employees and the citizens of Jamshedpur, resulting in a large army of social volunteers and social entrepreneurs.

The activities of the Core Group-AIDS are focused on HIV/AIDS and include identification of target groups/areas, conducting AIDS Awareness Programs, developing peer leaders, developing and implementing a Health Information Management System at the district Civil Surgeon’s office, organizing sensitization and skill building workshops on HIV/AIDS for doctors, para-medics and grass-root level staff and helping prevent Parent to Child Transmission by facilitating safe delivery of the baby in a hygienic environment. Apart from this Nodal Center Core Group-AIDS focuses on counselling of STD/HIV/AIDS patients and their family members, prepares teaching materials, distributes condoms through six condom vending machines and has a help line.

“A life saved is worth a million”. This program has had an impact on the stakeholders and led to many of them changing their “unsafe” sexual behavior, thus saving them from the scourge of AIDS. These programs have also helped reduce the stigma and discrimination, especially at the workplace. This has prompted the company to conduct more of these IEC interventions on a war footing. The employees are very happy that for more than a decade Tata Steel has been conducting such initiatives not only for them, but also for their families and the society at large.

The Company also believes in networking to help create synergy in activities and ensure better utilization of resources. It’s partners include WHO, NACO and Jharkhand SACS, CII Indian Business Trust, Tata Council on Community Initiatives, ILO, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Global Compact, GRI, Rotary International, INP+, British Council, Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Ladies Core Group – AIDS, Jharkhand AIDS Prevention Consortium, Jharkhand Health Society and other regional NGOs.

Health & Safety Management System and ILO guidelines (LA14)
In 2005-06 the organization sustained the systems for OHSAS-18001 & SA-8000 Standards. ILO guidelines on Occupational Safety & Health Management System (ILO-OSH-2001) are integrated with OHSAS-18001 & SA-8000 management systems.

Addressing health & safety at workplace jointly with trade unions (LA15)
The Joint Consultation agreement with the trade union was signed in 1956 to enhance the participation of the workforce in managing the operation of the organization including Health and Safety aspects. The Joint Committees as explained above have been formed under these agreements at all locations with equal participation of employees and management. The representatives from the Union are duly elected members of the workforce of the Company.