For the third time since 2009, NatSteel Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Steel, is sponsoring the NatSteel-SPD Education Bursary Award in partnership with the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD).

This year, NatSteel is sponsoring a total of $91,200 in bursary awards to 129 students with physical disabilities or disabled parents. Since 2009, NatSteel has given close to $210,000 to the Bursary Award, which has benefited more than 280 students from Primary to tertiary levels.

The NatSteel-SPD Education Bursary Award is part of NatSteel’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, called ‘Building Beyond Borders’.

“NatSteel is committed to doing our part for the society through our CSR programme, Building Beyond Borders, which seeks to empower the disadvantaged children, youth and elderly. The NatSteel-SPD Bursary Award is an extension of this belief. We are pleased to partner SPD for the third time in this worthy cause of supporting the education of students with disabilities and students with disabled parents,” said Mr Vivek Kamra, President and CEO of NatSteel.

SPD is an adopted charity of NatSteel under its Building Beyond Borders programme. In addition to the Bursary Award, NatSteel staff have also been volunteering regularly at SPD since 2008.

Launched in 2007, the Building Beyond Borders programme reflects NatSteel’s aspiration to be the global steel industry benchmark for value creation and corporate citizenship. The programme has two main anchor causes – (1) education of the disadvantaged children and youths as well as (2) elderly care. In the process of serving the community, the programme aims to raise social awareness and promote volunteerism and selfless giving among NatSteel staff. Besides SPD, NatSteel currently has two other adopted charities – the St Joseph’s Home and Fernvale Gardens School. NatSteel is also an active supporter of other charity drives, such as the President’s Challenge.

The SPD Education Programme Awards Ceremony is held on 28 January 2011 at the SPD Ability Centre.