THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
ATHAGARH,
MARCH 8, 2026
Marking the spirit of
International Women’s Day, Tata Steel Foundation’s Athagarh unit organised a
vibrant community celebration on the eve of the occasion at the Dhurusia High
School ground near Tata Steel’s Ferro Alloys Plant (FAP), Athagarh. The
programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 200 women
representing neighbouring villages, reflecting a strong collective commitment
towards empowerment, leadership, and social progress.
As part of the
celebration, Tata Steel Foundation felicitated several women leaders from
communities surrounding FAP Athagarh and the nearby Power Plant. The
recognition honoured their valuable contributions to community development and
encouraged other women to step forward and take up leadership roles in social
and economic initiatives.
Sushree Deepam Rout,
Deputy Collector at the Office of the Sub-Collector, Athagarh, attended the
event as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, she emphasised the
transformative role women play in shaping families, communities, and society at
large. She urged participants to continue striving for excellence and to
support one another through collaboration, solidarity, and shared growth.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Padhy, Education Officer at the Regional Directorate of the Dattopant Thengadi
National Board for Workers Education and Development (DTNBWED), Jamshedpur,
delivered an insightful session focusing on women’s empowerment and social
participation. He encouraged women to actively engage in decision-making
processes and contribute significantly to the socio-economic advancement of
their communities.
Natasha Jha, Head of
FAP Athagarh, joined the programme as Guest and appreciated the resilience,
determination, and achievements of women in the region. She reaffirmed Tata
Steel’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and creating
opportunities that enable women to learn new skills, grow professionally, and
emerge as leaders in various fields.
The gathering also
benefited from the insights of Akshay Bhatta, Block Project Manager of the
Odisha Livelihood Mission, Athagarh. Interacting with the participants, he
shared valuable information about various government schemes and support
systems designed to strengthen Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) and enhance their
livelihood opportunities.
The programme was
coordinated by Ashutosh Kumar Das, Unit Lead of Tata Steel Foundation,
Athagarh, who played a key role in bringing together community members and
stakeholders for the celebration.
Adding to the festive
spirit, several competitions were organised during the event, including
business idea contests, Pitha-making, and Rangoli. Winners were felicitated for
their creativity, innovation, and enthusiastic participation, encouraging women
to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial potential.
Further inspiring the gathering, two successful women entrepreneurs—Kabita Sahoo, Secretary of Maa Tarini Shilpa Samavaya Samiti, Cuttack, and Nirlipta Ojha of Dharitri Udyan Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneswar—shared their entrepreneurial journeys. Their stories of perseverance, innovation, and self-belief deeply resonated with the participants and motivated many to explore entrepreneurship and alternative livelihood opportunities.
The event concluded with a collective message of unity, resilience, and continued empowerment, reinforcing the shared vision of enabling women across the Athagarh region to lead, innovate, and shape a brighter future for their communities.
