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[June 2009]
Social Responsibility Award Conferred on Tata Refractories
Tata Refractories was conferred the prestigious TERI Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2009 by the President of India on 5 June 2009 at an event organised by TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute) held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Dr Chattopadhyay, Managing Director of Tata Refractories, received the award from Ms Prativa Devisingh Patil, President of India. Tata Refractories was selected for the award for its outstanding contribution to combating congenital deformities such as cleft lips and cleft palates under its Operation Khushi programme (‘khushi’ broadly translated as ‘happiness’), which is one of the many CSR initiatives being taken by the company.
After receiving the award, Dr Chattopadhyay said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, for half a century, Tata Refractories Limited has been working relentlessly to improve the quality of life of the community around it and has set standards in corporate social responsibility. This award is a recognition of the exemplary work undertaken by Tata Refractories in surgical correction of a lifelong physical deformity like Cleft Lip/Cleft Palate, which also causes a lot of social stigma. To see these people smile gives a special khushi to all of us”.
Tata Refractories, a pioneer in undertaking community development and social welfare work in the region, has identified the 70 villages in the Lakhanpur Block of Jharsuguda District as its key community. Consistent with the Group Purpose, Tata Refractories has launched many focused CSR initiatives in the areas of health & sanitation, education, self employment & entrepreneurship development, women empowerment, creating social awareness, infrastructure development & support etc.
TRLs involvement towards correcting cleft lips and cleft palates dates back to the early part of 2004 when the organisation realised that the deformity was rampant in this region and there was no treatment available. The company launched a programme named Operation Khushi and got the correction surgery carried out at Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur at company cost. TRL continued to do so till 2008. In October 2008, the company’s JG Hospital at Belpahar got accredited by the Smile Train of USA, an international NGO working for the cause of correction of cleft lips and cleft palates worldwide. So far more than 400 cases have been operated free of any charges under this programme.
ENDS