The capacity building initiatives are aimed at strengthening the ability of the community and promoting community institutions for responsible development.

Among the most far reaching initiatives undertaken by TSRDS to empower the community are the creation of self-help groups, youth leadership programmes, encouragement of sports and education and providing market linkages to villagers and rural artisans.

Its work in rural areas has taught it many valuable lessons among which is the fact that villages have enormous resources and there is no dearth of material and natural resources. All the villagers need are the development tools. Therefore it helps them by lending a helping hand.

It shares the importance of
Village Level Institutions
Village Advisory Committees
Village Education Committees
Pani Panchayats
Self Help Groups Rural Schools and Teachers
Rural Talent Scouting for Sports
Support from Technical and Financial Institutions
  

West Bokaro: Covers 27 villages where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood. Lack of water and adverse land conditions has led to widespread economic deprivation. TSRDS engages in income generation opportunities by utilising their traditional skills, especially in rope making.

Sukinda/Bamnipal: 19 villages in Sukinda and another 11 in Bamnipal are assisted by TSRDS with the purpose of raising their standard of living through irrigation and animal husbandry.

Gopalpur: On the coastline of India in the state of Orissa, its proximity to the sea has been utilised to uplift people of the villages in the area. The result is evident in better sanitation, cleanliness and individual entrepreneurship.

Jamadoba: A coal mining belt, the emphasis has been on ensuring that the villagers find the means to bring about a positive change in their lives. One such initiative is to integrate them with the mainstream business.

Jamshedpur: The largest among the units, it covers 310 villages and a population of 232,390. Tata Steel’s initiatives focus on facilitating better use of the mineral reserves, rich soil, abundance of water and favourable climate to enhance income generation. Medical facilities, clean drinking water, education and skill development has effected an improvement in their standard of living.

Noamundi: Access to water has been the most remarkable change in the lives of the people, whether for cultivation or for consumption. Check dams, lift irrigation projects, water harvesting initiatives now dot the landscape. 20% of the area is covered by irrigation as against 2.8% before TSRDS stepped into the lives of its 39,000 people.

Joda: This area is experiencing an awakening after TSRDS began its activities. The mineral wealth and the natural beauty of the area are being used as growth agents.