WOWED BY WOMEN
 
To measure the success of a woman by a man’s yardstick is doing her a great disservice! After all, her aspirations, her achievements and therefore her yardstick and successes are completely different. But yet she more than readily accepts the gauntlet of success thrown to her everyday. In fact, by man’s own admission she plays a pivotal role in his success! Remember the cliche, “behind every successful man is a woman!” In the past couple of months, women at Tata Steel have notched up remarkable achievements, each worthy of celebration.
 
Still batting
strong after a double century
Dr and Mrs Jamshed J Irani at the 200th Domestic Management celebrations with senior officials of the company and union.

Over the past several years Tata Steel has, due to the efforts of a group of very committed women, been spearheading a unique initiative. While in most organisations it is only employees who are the focus of attention, the “management of change” at Tata Steel - a corollary of the rapidly changing business environment- includes the spouses of employees as well.

Christened Domestic Management Programme, through awareness it strives to empower the lady of the house to manage home and hearth more judiciously. With the help of experts in a variety of areas, and through experience sharing, over 19000, have since been through 200 programmes and helped their husbands cope with changes in their work place. Each module of this programme covers everyday compulsions such as household budgets, interpersonal relations, health and safety of the family and positive thinking; and social issues such as drugs and alcohol addiction and AIDS. It also includes a visit to the Steel Works. Many of the wives learn to appreciate the rigors and stress of steelmaking and have, after attending the programme, consciously made an effort to provide a more congenial home environment for their husbands. The biggest beneficiaries have, naturally, been their children.

Guests show great interest in the handicrafts on display

On September 7, 2003 a special function was organised to commemorate the completion of 200 such programmes. The function was attended by Dr Jamshed J Irani, during whose tenure the programme was initiated; Mrs Daisy Irani, who conceived of it and nurtured it as its Founder Patron; Mrs Sumathi Muthuraman who took over from Mrs Irani and has, as its current Patron, taken it from strength to strength through the Basera Trust; as well as M/s Niroop Mahanty, Vice President HRM, R B B Singh, President, Tata Workers Union, Sanjay Choudhry, Head Corporate Communications and Mrs Chandra Sharan, Convenor, Basera Trust and Manager, Corporate Communications, all of who have been responsible in providing impetus and support to this effort.

A publication developed by Basera, especially for women, was also launched at the function by Dr Irani.
 

A butterfly who stings like a bee
The song is about the greatest boxers in history. But Jamshedpur too has a fleet-footed butterfly who has learned to sting like a bee. Through sheer hard work, grit and determination Aruna Mishra, a boxer with the Tata Steel Boxing Training Centre, has become a shining star in Indian Sports.
Aruna Mishra

She came to Jamshedpur to become an international athlete however destiny did not will it so. But soon she was blessed with the opportunity to punch her way into a different sport altogether. The cross training opportunities available at Jamshedpur, because of the world-class training facilities established by the company at its JRD Tata Sports Complex, prompted Aruna’s coach to encourage her to consider boxing. She took to it like a natural and her hard work saw her find a berth in the Indian Senior Women Team. Aruna has not looked back since. She won the country a gold medal at the 2nd Asian Women Boxing Championship held at Hisar, Haryana, from November 19 to 22, 2003.

Earlier, Aruna competed at the World Championships at Cuba and won laurels for India.

 

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