There is no formal arrangement for consultation by members of public in relation to policy formulation or implementation thereof. As a business organization working on commercial lines, BSP is neither expected nor required to consult the members of the public in this regard.
However, with regard to implementation of peripheral development schemes or other general measures for the general public, informal discussions are held with the people’s representatives including MLAs, MPs etc., to ascertain their views as well as that of the public whom they represent. Feedback on the implementation of peripheral development schemes and other community development programmes is also given to them.
The organization also takes note of the public view as reflected in the local media and assessed through informal interactions of the management collective, specially the Communications wing of the Public Relations department, with cross-sections of the residents of Bhilai township, and takes effective steps to ensure that these are given due cognizance while formulating and implementing scheme/ programmes that affect the common populace.
Creating Societal Value
BSP has been discharging its organizational social responsibility beyond statutory requirements with the belief that its existence as an organization depends upon long term sustainability and has always pursued CSR as a part of organization’s commitment to society. BSP has long realized that its operations have major impact on the communities in the nearby areas. The needs and expectations of various stakeholders are captured through regular interactions led by the top management at SAIL/BSP level. All CSR projects and activities are finalised at the plant-level by the CSR Apex Committee.
In 1963, the Community Development department was started which ran a Bal Mandir (crèche) for workers’ children, MahilaMahavidyalaya and Adult Literacy Centre. In 1978, the department was expanded to Community & Peripheral Development and the coverage was increased to a radius of 8 km around the centre of township encompassing 31 villages and then later in 1983, the radius became 16 km with 136 villages.
Thus BSP started sharing its prosperity with neighbouring villages through constructing additional rooms in village schools, making roads, bridges, culverts, Panchayat Bhawans, Community Halls, Cultural stages, digging bore well, deepening villages tanks/ponds, making ghats in the ponds for safe bathing and other such activities. Subsequently, activities involving community health, such as eye camps, and general OPD camps were taken-up.
Apart from these activities, BSP organized the 1st Chhattisgarh Lok Kala Mahotsav in 1976 which is now an annual affair and Chhattisgarh’s most prestigious folk arts and culture platform. The 41st Lok Kala Mahotsav was organised in October 2017. Lok Kala Mahotsavs are also organised at Rajhara, Nandini and Hirri Mines from time to time. Every year GrameenLokotsavas are organized in peripheral villages. Inter Model Steel Village(MSV) sports event is organized for school-children every year.
After formation of separate Corporate Social Responsibility department in 2006 BSP has developed 21 peripheral villages as Model Steel Villages (MSVs) in Durg district and 71 Mines Buffer Zone villages (49 in Rajhara Mines area and 22 in Rowghat Mines area) with an emphasis on education of tribals and BPL population, construction activities, medical & health services, animal husbandry & veterinary camps, sports & cultural activities, and above all by livelihood generation/ skill generation of women and weaker sections of the society. A BPL school – BhilaiIspatVikasVidyalaya was started in Sector-6, Bhilai in 2007, and in Khursipar area in 2011. Since 2009, BSP has been supporting the government’s mid-day meal scheme by providing financial support to Akshaya Patra Foundation (Rs 2.75 per meal for a maximum of 25,000 meals per day) in approx. 200 government schools in Bhilai-Durg area. A senior citizen home - BhilaiIspatSiyanSadan was set up April 2010. Honhar Scheme for highly meritorious students from Model Steel Villages was introduced in 2011. BSP believes that it has a role to play in the development of the state of Chhattisgarh by supplementing development activities of the government like SwachhVidyalayaAbhiyan, malnutrition eradication, medical and digital education facilities, etc.
In 2014-15, SAIL Board of Directors approved the SAIL-CSR Policy in line with Section 135 of Companies’ Act, 2013, and CSR Rules, 2014. The Board Sub-Committee (BSC) on CSR & Sustainability has three Independent and three functional Directors. The Board of the company takes into account the recommendations of the BSC, approves the CSR Policy for the company and ensures that the company spends, in every financial year, at least two per cent of the average net profits of the company during the three immediately preceding financial years.
Overview of BSP’s CSR Activities
BPL Education
BSP with an objective of fulfilling its social obligation and upliftment of the down trodden population, has started a separate English Medium CBSE Primary School ”BhilaiIspatVikasVidyalaya” for the children of “Below Poverty Line” families of urban area of Bhilai, extending free facilities like education, supply of school kit including books, uniform, mid-day meal, to &fro transport facility in 2007. A similar school has been started in Khursipara Area in 2011-2012.
Tribals’ Education
- Under CSR Scheme for education of Tribal Students, every year 20 tribal students from Rowghat area (Kanker and Narayanpur Districts) & Rajhara area (BalodDistt) of Chhattisgarh are admitted in class-6 since 2002-03. All the students are provided free education, lodging and boarding facilities at Gyanodaya Hostel, Rajhara Mines Township. From 2014-15, 30 tribal students are being adopted. For Class XI & XII, these tribal students and 10 Honhaar Scheme students from MSVs are admitted at Gyanoday Hostel Bhilai, where they are provided free education, lodging and boarding facilities including free coaching for professional examinations by reputed coaching institute. Tribal students after passing class 12th are provided scholarship @ Rs 2000 p.m. for higher education.
- One English Medium School started in association with DAV College Management Committee at Antagarh in September 2015 exclusively for tribal children from 22 Mines Buffer Zone villages of Rowghat area.
Nursing Education of Tribal Girls
20 Tribal girls are sponsored by CSR BSP every year at PG College of Nursing, Bhilai / Apollo College of Nursing, Anjora-Durg for B.Sc. (Nursing) / ANM / GNM courses, with option to pursue higher studies (M.Sc. (Nursing)).
Medical & Healthcare
- Antagarh&Dandak Van Dispensaries: A permanent dispensary has been opened at Antagarh in Rowghat area on 30/07/2013, and Dandak Van Dispensary aided by BSP opened in 2014.
- • BhilaiIspatKalyanChikitsalaya was established in Aug. 2007 in Bhilai Township for free and quality treatment of poor and needy, especially those belonging to BPL category. It provides free OPD facilities. In view of the demography in and around Bhilai-Durg, it benefits people from the disadvantaged sections of the society in large numbers. In November 2016, it was granted 5S certification by QCFI, Secunderabad for a period of three years.
- Medical Camps:Regular health/medical / eye camps in Rowghat, Rajhara, Hirri Mines areas and 21 medical camps per month in Model Steel Villages (MSVs) are being organised. Sizeable population belong to disadvantaged sections of the society are getting benefited by these medical camps. Critical patients are referred to JLNHRC, Bhilai for free specialised treatment.
Rural Infrastructure developmentin 71 Mines Buffer Zone Villages and Peripheral Areas in Balod, Kanker, and Narayanpur districts & 21 Model Steel Villages in Durg district in a radius of 16 km of Bhilai is being done. It includes Approach road & Street cementing, Borewells& Solar-powered-pumps-cum-filtration units, Construction of cultural stage, addnl. classrooms, Cremation shed, entry/exit gates, Ghat of Pond, Swayam-siddha Bhavan for women empowerment, Construction of community toilets and toilets under SwachhaVidyalayaAbhiyan, Construction of Dalli-Rajhara-Rowghat Rail Line Project through Railways besides many approach roads in the region, Solar home light/Street light in Rowghat areas
Skill Development
- BSP is supporting Livelihood College at Antagarh in association with state government which is imparting vocational training to unemployed youth (mostly tribals) in the Rowghat region.
- Vocational Training courses & Income Generation Courses are being provided through Vocational Training Providers (VTPs) and at BhilaiIspat Kaushal Kutir, Risali:
- Electrician & other trades at ITI, Bed Side Assistant training at PG College of Nursing, Bhilai, e-chetna (Computer awareness for house wife), Data Entry Operator, Candle making, Box Making, LMV driving, Stitching, Dari-making and Mushroom cultivation at Kaushal Kutir, Bhilai.
SAIL Khel Melais organised at Narayanpur since 2006-07 every year wherein the population is predominantly ST (1500 to 2000 children of nearby villages) participate in different sports activities like Athletics, Kabaddi and Football etc. Based upon the performance in these games few deserving children are selected and provided coaching in these games by expert coaches from Sports Cultural and Civic Amenities Department of BSP so that they can excel further in the field of Sports and Games.
Support to Mid-Day Meal Scheme:Since 2009, BSP has been a partner in the Mid-Day Meal Scheme of government of India. Capital support was provided initially to Akshaya Patra Foundation to set up a kitchen in Old Dairy Building. BSP provides a subsidy of Rs 2.75 per meal for a maximum of 25,000 meals for school-children in 200 government schools in Bhilai-Durg area. All necessary support is provided from time to time for smooth running of the kitchen.
Senior Citizen Welfare:: BSP has started SiyanSadan in April 2010, a home with all facilities for stay and recreation for senior citizens. Festivals and important days are celebrated round-the-year. In Jan. 2017, a scheme for meals for senior citizens has been started from Akshaya Patra kitchen. BSP was honoured by Ministry of Social Welfare and Empowerment, Government of India’s with the prestigious VayoshreshthaSamman on 1st of October 2016 by Hon’ble President of India for its welfare activities for senior citizens.
Environment Conservationthrough 310 km Road Side / Block Tree Plantation and installation of solar powered pumping cum filtration systems has been taken up in different parts of the state of Chhattisgarh.
BSP also supplements government programsin the fields of education, medical and healthcare, malnutrition eradication, women empowerment, skill development and welfare of disadvantaged sections of the society from time to time depending on availability of resources.
Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan: 146 toilets have been constructed under in 2014-15 and 2015-16 in 103 government schools in five districts of the state of Chhattisgarh.
BSP is committedto providing employment to one member of 177 Rowghat Mines Project-Affected Families (PAF) after two-year skill development training. Till date 69 locals have been trained and joined BSP. The training and engagement of remaining candidates is in progress.
Employee Engagement in CSR is also one the focus areas.A number of groups / NGOs managed by BSP employees have ventured voluntarily into social service through their own resources. Muskaan is an excellent example of this voluntarism. This home for dyslexic children started by working and ex-employees is rendering yeoman service. Employees of R&SM have joined this school and celebrate birthdays of children. Other employee groups like Sai Aastha, Contact, etc. are also working in the social welfare field on their own.