Tata Steel and Jamshedpur, today, paid tribute to JRD Tata, a legendary figure and doyen of aviation in India, on the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary. This day was also observed across all locations of Tata Steel.

At Jamshedpur, the momentous day began with the garlanding of JRD Tata’s portrait at JRD Tata Sports Complex. This was followed by the inauguration of a thematic exhibition and aero-modeling on J R D Tata, at the Sonari airport, by Mr. Partha Sengupta, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel. The exhibition traces JRD Tata’s life which was one of continuous and outstanding achievements for the cause of the Nation. It also showcases his passion for flying and his pioneering initiative to bring civil aviation into the subcontinent in 1932 with the launch of ‘Air India’.

Several other programmes marked the day. The different sections of Corporate Sustainability Services organised several awareness programmes to reiterate the noble thoughts and initiatives which JRD Tata had undertaken during his time.

Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation organised health check-up camps for women and children along with quiz to generate awareness. The camps included Ante Natal Check up, Post Natal Check up, Immunization and family planning schemes and services. A health camp cum infotainment programme was organized by project SAHAS, an adolescent reproductive health project at Babudih bustee which was attended by more than 200 children. Information on ARSH (Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health) was given through dance drama, the response of which was overwhelming. The day was also observed through project RISHTA – II (Saraikela Kharsawan), an adolescent health project run by the foundation, in government school at Murkum village in Ghamaria block of Saraikela Kharsawan. More than 250 students were informed on the importance of the day and contribution of Bharat Ratna JRD Tata on setting up the plant and city of Jamshedpur.

Tribal and Urban Services organised a football match to commemorate the day. A rural youth leadership programme aimed to empower the village boys and girls also concluded on this day. TSRDS team planted about 1000 mahogany saplings at Balrampur Village, Rajnagar Block, Saraikela-Kharsawan District. TFA & Sports observed JRD Tata’s birth anniversary with several rounds of cross country racing. An impressive number of 1400 students from 52 schools participated in the events. Mrs Surekha Nerurkar gave away the prizes to the winners at the end of the day’s events. Adding colors to the day’s celebration was the fact that children from Chhattisgarh were also a part of the events.

A similar array of programmes was also organised by Tata Steel’s Raw Materials locations like Noamundi today.

“Let industries established in the countryside ‘adopt’ the villages in its neighborhood; ...it is also clearly in the interests of industry that surrounding areas should be healthy, prosperous and peaceful.” These words of J R D Tata have formed the foundation of Tata Steel’s CSR policy and the Company has worked towards social development and welfare of the communities undaunted.