THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BRAHMAPUR,
OCTOBER 24, 2026
In a concerted effort
to promote environmental conservation and responsible citizenship, the Tata
Steel Foundation organised an employee volunteerism drive at Gopalpur Beach,
bringing together employees, community representatives and social development
stakeholders to address coastal pollution and encourage collective
responsibility for protecting the environment.
The initiative
brought together employees of Tata Steel’s Ferro Alloys Plant (FAP), Gopalpur,
the Tata Steel Foundation and community changemakers associated with the RISHTA
Project. The programme sought to strengthen community participation in
environmental protection while fostering a culture of volunteerism and
sustainable practices.
The drive was led by
Sushanta Kumar Mishra, Executive-in-Charge (EIC), Ferro Alloys and Minerals
Division (FAMD), Tata Steel, and Dr Jayant Kumar Tripathy, Unit Lead, Tata
Steel Foundation, Gopalpur.
Conducted from 6.30
a.m. to 8.30 a.m., the beach clean-up drive saw the participation of 34
employees from Tata Steel FAP, Gopalpur, 23 employees from the Tata Steel
Foundation and 10 Saathiya (community changemakers) associated with the RISHTA
Project. Each volunteer devoted two hours to the initiative, contributing to
efforts to keep the coastal stretch clean and raise awareness about the
importance of environmental stewardship.
The volunteers
cleaned approximately one kilometre of the tourist beach stretch, removing
litter accumulated due to the high footfall of visitors. The waste collected
during the drive was handed over to the Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC)
authorities for appropriate management and disposal, ensuring that the clean-up
effort was complemented by responsible waste handling.
Addressing the
participants, Mishra underscored the importance of employee volunteerism in
contributing to society and protecting the natural environment. He emphasised
the role of collective action in addressing environmental challenges and
encouraged participants to adopt responsible practices in their daily lives.
The participants were
also sensitised to the principles of responsible citizenship, community
participation and the need to reduce plastic pollution to safeguard marine life
and preserve fragile coastal ecosystems. The initiative highlighted the
importance of sustained public participation in keeping tourist destinations
clean and ensuring the long-term health of coastal environments.
The programme also
saw the participation of representatives associated with RISHTA — Regional
Initiative for Safe Sexual Health by Today’s Adolescents — a Tata Steel
Foundation-enabled initiative that promotes sexual and reproductive health
awareness among adolescents through community engagement and informed health
practices. The involvement of community changemakers reflected the broader
emphasis on strengthening grassroots participation in social and environmental
initiatives.
Following the clean-up drive, the volunteers took part in a yoga session aimed at promoting physical fitness, mental well-being and a healthy lifestyle. The session complemented the programme’s focus on holistic well-being, reinforcing the connection between a clean environment, individual health and community welfare.
The programme concluded with the volunteers reaffirming their commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible citizenship and community service. Through initiatives of this kind, the Tata Steel Foundation continues to encourage employee participation and collaborative action to address local environmental concerns, promote sustainable practices and contribute to the development of cleaner, healthier and more sustainable communities.
