In a bid to reinstate health awareness amongst the contract labourers, Tata Steel today unveiled a HIV/ AIDS awareness programme at its Steelenium Hall inside Steel Works.

The programme has been rolled out with the determination to educate and promote awareness about the maladies of HIV/ AIDS amongst the contract labours at work places. Additionally, focus is also to enable the contract labourers to promote similar awareness amongst their family members in particular and society around them in general.

Present to grace the occasion were Mrs Surekha Nerurkar, chief guest; Mr Raghunath Pandey, President, TWU and guest of honour; Mr Sanjiv Paul, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel and Management Representative of SA 8000 committee, Union office bearers and others. This is a first of its kind programme wherein contract labourers will be encouraged to participate in health awareness programme and be enlightened about a serious issue as AIDS.

Tata Steel has been proactively involved through its welfare arms like Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation, Basera and others in creating awareness amongst the general masses on AIDS. This time, it is extending this programme to all its contract labourers on duty. Plans are on to hold awareness sessions every Friday at different canteens inside Works such that all its contract labourers may be covered and hence its aim achieved.

Addressing the gathering, Mrs Nerurkar threw light on the different traditional aspects in India society like tattooing using contaminated needles which has become a primary source of AIDS transmission. She stressed on the need to remove social stigma attached to this deficiency and help others who are victims of HIV. Mr Pandey, in his speech, assured the programme committee of all possible help from the Union to make this awareness session a success and reach out to all contract labourers. He also suggested use of several ways like distribution of pamphlets and screening of small films to take this message across to all. Mr Paul encouraged the audience to share their thoughts and spread this message across to each of their family members.

A nukkar natak presented by a local group of Jamshedpur captured the attention of all present and helped in better understanding of this issue.