The Lifeline Express (LLE) – Hospital on Rails, hosted by Tata Steel at Joda in Keonjhar district of Orissa concluded on 5th January, 2008. Lifeline Express was inaugurated on 15th December 2007 by Mr K V Singh Deo, Hon’ble Minister of Urban development and Public Enterprises, Govt of Orissa. During its 22 days stay at Joda, Lifeline Express has treated patients in different areas like Orthopedic, Plastic Surgery, ENT and Eye. Also at the Camp, 33 Wheel Chairs, 35 Tricycle, 17 Crutches, 25 Calipers, 11 Artificial Limbs, 2 Walking Sticks and 235 hearing aids were provided to the patients free of cost. These appliances were provided by NIRTAR, Olatpur, Orissa, and ORTHECO, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

The Chief Guest during the concluding ceremony was Mr. M M Biswal, Deputy Director (Mines) - Joda, Government of Orissa. The Concluding ceremony was also graced by Mr. Shailesh Verma, Chief (Joda), Tata Steel as guest of Honour, Dr S Bhattacharya, Dy. Chief Medical Officer, Tata Steel, Dr N C Mahanta, Senior Registrar (SS & FI), TSRDS presided over the function. It may be mentioned that Lifeline Express was inaugurated at Joda on 15th December 2007 by Mr. K V Singh Deo, Honourable Minister of Urban development and Public Enterprises, Govt of Orissa.

Addressing the gathering during the Concluding Ceremony of Lifeline Express at Joda, Chief Guest Mr M M Biswal said, “Tata Steel in association with Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) is reaching out to the society and providing benefit to the needy people. During the Lifeline Express Camp at Joda not only medication was provided to the patients but their accommodation and food was also provided which shows the concern of the company.”

Earlier, screening of the patients for Lifeline Express were held at Kadakola and Keonjhar in Orissa besides Noamundi in Jharkhand. During the Screening Camp almost 720 patients registered their names, out of which 28 patients were screened by the doctors for treatment in Lifeline Express. In another Screening Camp held at Keonjhar, 3330 patients had registered their names, out of which 123 were referred for the Lifeline Express Camp at Joda.

During the stay of Lifeline Express at Joda, the orthopedic camp was held from 15th to 18th Dec 2007 in which 361 patients had registered their names out of which 15 cases were operated for correction of congenital TEV and TA lengthening. During this camp, arrangements were made for free of cost distribution of different aids like Calipers, Wheel Chairs, Crutches, Tricycle etc.

For the Cleft lip and other deformities, the Plastic surgery Camp was conducted from 19th to 25th Dec 2007 and 191 patients have registered their names. Out of these patients 56 were selected for Cleft lip operations and other operations like burn contracture release and other deformities.

The ENT Camp in Lifeline Express at Joda was held from 26th to 29th Dec 2007 and 892 patients registered their names. 70 cases were operated and 376 people benefitted from Audiometry, after which 235 patients were given Hearing Aids free of cost. The final camp during Lifeline Express’s stay at Joda was Eye Camp, which was conducted from 30th Dec 2007 to 5th Jan 2008 and 1033 patients had registered their names. A total of 254 Cataract Operations were performed, during the camp, with latest SICS technique and Intra Ocular Lenses were provided.

In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact, the very purpose of our existence.” These are the words of our Founder J N Tata that has steered the Company for the last 100 years. The inspiration and determination that Tata Steel has derived from its fore - fathers has enabled it to reach heights, achieved by few. Following its Vision laid down almost a century ago, Tata Steel today has created benchmarks in corporate sustainability and is looked upon as a pioneer in social welfare. Lifeline Express is one such activity that Tata Steel has sponsored 12 times in total and this year again on the occasion of Centenary, it hosted the Life Line Express in Joda in Keonjhar district of Orissa which makes it the 13th time that Tata Steel is supporting this noble cause. Prior to this, the Company has hosted Lifeline Express four times in Orissa namely at Gopalpur, Bamnipal, J K Road and Meramundali. This is the 5th Life Line Express that is being sponsored by Tata Steel in Orissa. More than 75,000 patients had benefited from the Life Line Express initiative of Tata Steel. Life Line Express (Hospital on Rails) in India provides medical services to the rural populace in interior areas that have railway connectivity.

*The Company is proposing, subject to market conditions and other considerations, an offer on a rights basis of its equity shares and cumulative convertible preference shares and has filed a Letter of Offer with SEBI and the stock exchanges. The Letter of Offer is available on the website of SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in and the respective websites of the BRLMs at www.jmfinancial.in , www.citibank.co.in and www.dspml.com ”