~Tata Steel’s initiative to provide financial aid to meritorious tribal students moves another milestone~

Tata Steel today awarded the Jyoti Fellowship Award to meritorious Schedule Tribe/Schedule Caste students at a ceremony held at Tribal Culture Center (TCC), Sonari. Crossing another milestone in supporting education, the Jyoti Fellowship was awarded to a total of 249 students.

The Jyoti Fellowship, in vogue since 1970’s and christened only in 2003-04, extends financial support to deserving students from East Singbhum, West Singbhum and Saraikela districts of Jharkhand. It has become an intrinsic part of Tata Steel ever since the Company embraced the Affirmative Action Policy in 2006. This initiative is taken to encourage the students of backward community to accomplish their educational and career aspirations. The fellowship is annually funded by Tata Steel Ltd and is granted to deserving candidates.

In the last seven years, a total of 3403 fellowships have been awarded. This year a sum of Rs 683000/- was disbursed among 249 qualifying students under this scheme. A total of 128 students from class VII - VIII received a sum of Rs 2500/- each and 121 students from class IX - X received Rs 3000/- based on their criterion and eligibility. Ms Salma Purty, a class VII student of Bara Botla Middle School, Sundernagar bagged Birsa Award this year by obtaining the highest marks in the merit test conducted by Tribal Cultural Society (TCS). She was awarded a sum of Rs 5000/- for her studies. Beside this scheme, Jyoti Fellowship also extends financial help to students from East Singhbhum, West Singhbum and Seraikela Kharsawan district. This year 556 students from 83 schools participated in the fellowship.

Addressing the gathering Mr Prawin Kumar Toppo, Tribal Welfare Commissioner, Government of Jharkhand said that initiatives such as this helps to provide required platform to meritorious students and sees to it that their education continues unhindered.

Tata Steel triggered the wave of industrialization in India, when it started its operations in the state of Jharkhand, more than 100 years ago. It was based on the principals laid down by its Founder, J N Tata, that in a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business, but is in fact, the very purpose of our existence. Following this ideal, Tata Steel has created benchmarks for tribal development and that of the communities in its operational areas.

Tribal Cultural Society(TCS) is a non-profit voluntary organization supported by Tata Steel. It came into existence with its registration in 1993 and has been working for the development of the marginalized communities. TCS works in the rural areas to provide academic assistance to the deprived children. Jyoti Fellowship is one of the many education programs undertaken by TCS to grant scholarship.