Tata Steel today celebrated 100 years of discovery of iron ore at Joda in Keonjhar district of Orissa. The function was graced by Mr B Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel, as the chief guest and Mr H M Nerurkar, Executive Director, India and South East Asia, as the guest of honour. With this, Tata Steel covered another significant milestone in its journey.

While addressing the gathering, Mr B Muthuraman, “I laud the geologists and mining engineers for the hard work that has gone into positioning Tata Steel prominently in the global minerals arena. It has subsequently led to wealth creation for the community. The discovery of iron and chrome ore has not only impacted Tata Steel but also the country as a whole. Tata Steel, needless to say, has played a pioneering role in the mining and steel sector. Geologists have always been fundamentally important to the prosperity of Tata Steel and India.” Addressing the gathering Mr H M Nerurkar, Executive Director (India & South East Asia), said that this occasion was emotionally touching as well as a proud moment in the history of Tata Steel and the State of Orissa.

Iron ore at Joda was first discovered by Mr S N Sarma, a geologist with Tata Steel in the year 1909. From discovery to a sustained holistic development, the saga of Joda has been eventful and dynamic. When iron ore was discovered there were no geological data available till Tata Steel set up a Prospecting Department in 1915. Post independence, the Geological department set up by the government depended on the date developed by Tata Steel.

History has witnessed the Joda dream gradually giving way to pragmatic reality. Tata Steel’s involvement in the minerals development of Joda is dotted with several milestones, which are now part of the rich pages of its history. The presence of Tata Steel in Joda has turned the Vision and plans of turning Joda into a modern township with all civic amenities into reality. With the creation of employment opportunities for the people, Tata Steel has effected a positive change in their lifestyle and outlook.

The Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) was set up here to ensure a wholistic development of the local population. The township in Joda, today, enjoys facilities like club, schools, market complex, cooperative society, recreational activities and much more. What began as a venture for Tata Steel has transformed into a success story for Joda, thereby entrenching the State of Orissa firmly on the international map. The Company’s philosophy of giving back to the community what it has received by several folds, continues to enrich the lives of many.

About Tata Steel
Established in 1907 as Asia's first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group (including Corus) is today the world's sixth-largest steel producer with an annual crude steel capacity of over 28 million tonnes. It is now the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 29 billion in FY '09, has over 82,700 employees across five continents and is a Fortune 500 company. Tata Steel India is the first integrated steel plant in the world, outside Japan, to be awarded the Deming Application Prize 2008 for excellence in Total Quality Management.