Tribal Cultural Society, a non profit voluntary organisation by Tata Steel organised the Award ceremony for Jyoti Fellowship and Moodie Endowment today at Tribal Cultural Centre, Sonari. The chief guest for the occasion was Shri. Dulal Bhuiyan, Honourable Minister, Land Reforms and Revenue, Government of Jharkhand and Mr. Raghunath Pandey, President – Tata Workers Union was the guest of honour. Also present for the award function was Mr. Satish Pillai, Chief, Corporate Sustainability Services, Tata Steel, Mr. Felix Ekka and Mr. Debdoot Mohanty.

Mr. Satish Pillai (Chief - CSS, Tata Steel) Mr. Raghunath Pandey (President TWU) Shri. Dulal Bhuiyan (Honourable Minister,Land Reforms and Revenue, Government of Jharkhand) Mr. Felix Ekka Mr. Debdoot Mohanty

This annual award function is a platform to promote the talent and knowledge of SC/ST students and youth in education who otherwise would not have the capacity to study further. Tata Steel triggered the wave of industrialisation in India, when it started its operations in the state of Jharkhand, 100 years ago. It was based on the foundation 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 in the area of upliftment and development of the tribals and communities in the areas in which it operates and this fellowship programme is one of the numerous attempts by Tata Steel to improve the quality of life of the people and communities in its areas of operation.

While addressing the gathering, the chief guest, Shri. Dulal Bhuiyan said, “Tata Steel and the tribals of Jharkhand have been working together amicably to develop the state and its people. These fellowships given to meritorious SC/ST students is a huge encouragement for them and Tata Steel should promote and take up more similar initiatives to support primitive tribes in the state of Jharkhand. The Government of Jharkhand is willing and eager to support Tata Steel in more such initiatives undertaken by the steel company.” Mr. Raghunath Pandey was also in praise of this effort by Tata Steel’s Tribal Cultural Centre where meritorious student from SC/ST were given a chance to fulfil and live their dreams and aspirations in life. According to one of the awardees/ student, Kumaresh Sardar (4th Year student of IIT, Kharagpur – electrical engineering), who has been getting this fellowship for the last 9 years, “This scholarship is extremely beneficial for meritorious SC/ ST students and I will encourage my fellow companions to avail this financial aid facility by Tata Steel”.

Jyoti Fellowship is a financial assistance programme for meritorious scheduled caste / scheduled tribe students that was initiated in 1990. The objective of the scholarship was to facilitate students from SC / ST families to continue their education who otherwise would have no option to study owing to their financial background. The fellowship is open to all SC/ST students who are permanent residents of Singhbhum (East and West) and Seraikella–Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand. Under this programme, the total value of fellowships awarded this year is Rs. 25 lakhs per annum which reaches out to 400 SC/ST students (240 at the school level and 160 at college level). For the professional courses, the awardees were selected on the basis of the last examination that they had passed. The total fellowship amount given away this year is Rs. 19,87,000/-. It includes school level (Class VII to Class X) 246 fellowships, College level (Inter, Graduation adn Post Graduation) 135 scholarships, Vocational courses 22 fellowships and renewal classes 139.

In addition this Jyoti Fellowship, TCC also has another financial assistance programme called Moodie Endowment. This is for meritorious SC/ST youths pursuing study in pure science of the three districts of Jharkhand (mentioned above) and three districts of West Bengal namely Purulia, Bankura and Midnapur district. The total grant of Rs. 12 lakhs annually for 56 fellowships and each award ranges from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 25,000. The total amount for disbursement under this programme was Rs. 11,02,500/-.

This is yet another ongoing initiative by Tata Steel which enables students from the weaker sections of society to pursue and follow their career aspirations and lead lives that are satisfying and motivating.