PROLOGUE
Though mother India has witnessed a tremendous advancement in the field of technology in the current era of the 21st century, she is still home to roughly one-third of all the under privileged inhabitants in the world. Hence, our motto “Meeting the challenges of Time & Technology” not only translates into meeting the rapidly changing needs of the society, but also embraces our commitment towards fulfilling our responsibility to the society and making it a better place to live in.

It is with this devoir that TPL started spreading its humane wings through its “Corporate Social Responsibility” unit. Revolving around the company’s core value of “Good Corporate Citizenship”, the direction of our CSR group is exemplified through a part of our Mission statement – “To uphold the TATA Group’s cherished value of contributing to society to improve the quality of life”. This has been possible through a dedicated team of employees and their families, as they strive to voluntarily serve the communities around them to better the lives of the tenants.

Over the years, the Corporate Social Responsibility group has matured into Corporate Sustainability & Affirmative Action as we undertake and implement various initiatives aimed at providing sustenance to the communities we serve. The company has teamed up with Various NGOsaimed at providing Employability Skill Training to the under privileged youths/ school drop outs. As part of its mission to help the common people benefit on the fundamental right of “Education for All”, the company has supports Various schools adopted a school at Hyderabad /Projects Sites/ RICs and are providing its students with the necessary accessories required for them to fulfil their dream of becoming a part of educated India. At group level, we are effecting various initiatives under the aegis of Tata Council for Community Initiatives (TCCI) working towards the welfare of the disadvantaged communities.

As we are a project based company and most of our projects are undertaken mostly in the remote areas of the country, we have adopted a policy of improving the quality of life in and around its areas of work. Our site personnel conduct periodic studies through various listening posts (one to one contact) and based on this study, the various critical needs of the local community are identified. These needs are categorized under the following which have been identified as our core areas of organizational involvement and support:

1. Employability Skill Training
2. Primary Education
3. Safe Drinking Water
4. Community Based Initiatives

Channelizing the energy of youth is vital for the development of any nation. We assist the under privileged/ disadvantaged youth of the communities in and around our project sites and regional offices in “getting and keeping fulfilling work”. Employability skills are being imparted in welding, fitter, carpentry and electrical trades offering long term employment prospects in the industry.

The Process:

Salient Features:

• Clear-cut process for identifying students
• Fully residential course for 3 months
• Accelerated training program
• Emphasis on practical skills-294 hours of training in arc/gas welding
• Emphasis on personal development and communication skills
• On the job training for 3 months with stipend
• Employment assurance for at least 6 months thereafter

Prospective candidate:

• Must be male between ages of 17 to 25 years
• Must be physically fit to perform skilled jobs
• Must have attended school till class VIII (We also consider school drop outs)
• Must have oral and written proficiency in at least one language

Certification:

• Certified by the Training Institute at the end of the course
• Further certified by TPL clients at the project sites on successful completion of On-the-job training
• Students also certified to Modular Employable Skill Trades (MES) test being conducted by the Govt. of India to have a wider acceptance of the training being imparted by TPL

The Imprint:

• Students attain skills for better employability and thus better earnings & enriched lives
• Enhanced family income
• Experience resulting in better placement opportunities

Prospective candidate:

• Must be male aged between 17 to 25
• Must have attended school till class VIII. We also consider school dropouts
• Must be interested in pursuing a career in welding/carpentry/fitter/electrical
• Must have oral and written proficiency in at least one language

Results:

• Till date, 293 students benefitted by the welding course, out of which 96 students have been trained during 2008-09.
• 70 students identified for training program at various project sites.
• On the job training imparted to about 29 students at various project sites
• Computer training program imparted to economically backward students

Primary Education:

The importance of education and literacy cannot be undervalued today. It is the key that allows people to move up in the world, seek better jobs, and ultimately succeed fully in life. Unfortunately, a great many children today are denied their basic right to attend even primary school. We want to make sure that no child is deprived of a basic education and thus, we attempt to assist in providing access to the not so fortunate children within our reach to the vast treasures of knowledge. We aim to fulfil our goal by being a connecting link between those who desire to learn and those who are willing to teach.

Our Endeavors

• Adoption of schools at Kandlakoya & Sutariguda, Hyderabad and providing bags, uniforms, books, shoes etc. to its students
• Launch of the TCCI Initiative “Nerchu Nerpinchu”- Volunteer to Teach
• Education camp organized for families below poverty line around our project sites
• Donation of uniforms for under privileged students around our project sites
• Celebration of Independence Day every year at the underprivileged schools near Daman & Trichy Inspection Centres and at TMU-Nagpur. Books, stationery and sweets are distributed on this occasion.
• Electrification of schools in Giral project site as well as provision of furniture and other facilities
• Construction of classrooms and provision of furniture to students at Chamoli project site

Safe Drinking Water:

Over one billion people lack access to safe drinking water worldwide. Safe drinking water has become a precious commodity and remains a distant dream for many of our fellow citizens. We realize that more water cannot be created; however, by managing the sources and distribution systems, we can maximize the amount of available water and make the most out of every drop. In order to provide a viable low cost potable drinking water solution to the water contaminated areas, we designed Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant with the help of our in-house team. This RO plant helps in converting contaminated water into potable drinking water. We identify several areas where there is shortage of safe drinking water and installs RO plants or provides water distribution system based on the requirements. About 8 RO plants have been installed during the period 2005-08.

TPL, with its in-house expertise, has also developed a solution for Defloridation of water. The first Defloridation (1000 LPH) unit was installed in 2005 at Chinnakandukur in AP.

Community Based Initiatives:

TPL takes up several activities in the communities within its reach bringing a silver lining to the cloud.

Health
Under this initiative, we organize medical camps for the underprivileged at Kandlakoya school, HO and various sites, covering contract laborers, school children and villagers in and around the sites.

Environment

Environmental issues like Global Warming are a dramatically urgent and serious problem. Each one of us can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle starting from little, everyday things– the only reasonable way to save our planet before it is too late. We are contributing towards the fight against Global Warming by planting trees, encouraging renewable sources of energy, conducting climate change awareness programs for school children etc.

World Environment Day is observed every year in our HO and project sites with a different theme each year. This year, we joined hands with TCCI and ITC launching the “Go Green” campaign. Our employees joined the crusade of door to door awareness on WoW (Wealth out of Waste) and Global Warming at Hyderabad.

Blood Donation Camp
Timely unavailability of blood to those in need has been the driving motive behind the launch of blood donation camps. Blood donation camps are organized every year at our HO, Regional offices and project sites when employees voluntarily come forward to be a part of this noble cause.

Rose day
This is a much awaited day amongst our employee volunteers when they get to visit cancer hospitals and distribute roses and sweets to the patients. Our volunteers often visit Old age homes, Orphanages etc. and spend some quality time with the inmates distributing food & sweets.
 
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The company has adopted the Affirmative Action Policy aimed at promoting equal opportunity to one and all regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. Our focus ranges from employment and education to community based initiatives. The impetus towards Affirmative Action is twofold: to maximize diversity in all levels of society and to redress perceived disadvantages due to overt, institutional, or involuntary discrimination.

TPL recognizes that diversity in the workplace positively impacts business and hence ensures equal employment opportunities & provides training to develop the socially disadvantaged. With its resources, the company provides training to the extent possible to improve employability of weaker sections in the society and encourages business entrepreneurs from socially challenged communities.

HIGHLIGHTS AND PICTORIAL GLANCE:

• Visit to needy—visited home for the aged—Nirmala shishu bhawan and Missionary of Charity were among them.
• Volunteers visited Indian Institute of Cerebral Palacy where they screened a film, organized a magic show and distributed snacks.
• ASHA DHAN in Mumbai
• School for deaf and dumb in Jharsuguda
• Moreover volunteers visited some backward areas in and around Jamshedpur, Bhusawal, Kundankulam, Billa village near Chanderia, etc.
• World Environment Day—
• Rose Day—