NALCO urged to help in Orissa’s HRD development
May 15th, 2008
Following is from a report in Pioneer. (See also this tathya.in article.) (Note: NALCO’s response to this is at https://www.orissalinks.com/orissagrowth/?p=1333)
Chairman and Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) Shriram Upadhyay seems more concerned for educational and social development of Orissa than his counterpart in National Aluminium Company (Nalco) Chitta Ranjan Pradhan.
Upadhyay is eager to provide fund for establishment of a medical college at Talcher. Pradhan, though an Oriya, on the other hand, has till date not shown any interest in investing in human resource development of the State in a big way.
Interestingly, Nalco’s medical bill per annum is around Rs14 crore, and if this Navratna public sector undertaking (PSU) takes a bold step, it could save the huge medical expenses for its employees by investing in setting up of a medical college and hospital.
Lack of interest at the top management level of Nalco to fund in social sector of the State has irked the leading non-resident Oriyas (NROs) and educationists. While major private investors have been providing funds for development of the educational sector, PSU Nalco’s shyness to develop Orissa as an educational hub has resulted in a sorry state of affairs, lamented Professor Chitta Baral, who teaches at the Arizona State University.
Prof Baral has asked the Nalco chief to fund a medical college at Damanjodi (Koraput), an engineering college at Angul and a topnotch management institute in Bhubaneswar. He said that this is high time the Nalco authorities were forced to invest in the social sector in a big way.
Owing to political pressure, Nalco is funding few projects in Koraput and Anugul, alleged an educationist. He said that Nalco must take cue from MCL and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in taking initiative for investment in the social sector. CCL, it may be pointed out, is funding an engineering college in Jharkhand, its area of operation. Similarly, the Bokaro Steel Plant is also funding a medical college in Jharkhand.
… As Nalco has applied for another bauxite mines in Orissa, it is high time the State Government pressurised the PSU to fund liberally in the educational sector of the State, he said.
Following is Sambada’s tongue-in-cheek take in its Sunday magazine article on City Politics.
Entry Filed under: Anugul-Talcher-Dhenkanal area (7),Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri- Khurda area (1),From mineral resources to human resources,Koraput-Jeypore-Sunabeda area (5)
2 Writeup
1. kishore Das | May 15th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Yesterday, I had gone through the same article published by the Tathya. I also echo the same view of all and urge NALCO authority to invest sizeable amount for creation of talent by establishing educational institutions in Orissa. This is absolutely required as NALCO has its manufacturing unit in Orissa only and going to invest around Rs.8000 Cr. for an Aluminum Smelter plant and a CPP at Jhasuguda.
As we are aware, various corporate houses spend huge money for setting up Hospital and Medical College as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programs. The recent announcement of Chairman of Coal India Ltd. to consider the request of Chief Minister of Orissa for converting the existing 100 Beds to 400 Beds Hospital and setting up a Medical College at Talcher is nothing but an effort to fulfill its social obligations; it owes to the nearby areas, where it has its own business operation. Thus, NALCO should take the cue from Coal India Ltd and invest money for setting up various educational institutions as suggested by some NROs.
This apart, I would like to inform all concerned that TATA has done little in this direction; though it has sizeable business operation in Orissa. TATA has set up a number of Educational & Medical institutions in and around Mumbai & Pune. Recently, it has announced for setting up second campus of TISS at Hydrabad ignoring Orissa. This may be suitably taken up with TATA through CMO.
NTPC may also be urged upon to set up a Hospital and Medical College at Jarsuguda, where it is planning to put up a mega Power Plant. RSP, Rourkela may also be impressed upon for converting its general Hospital to a full fledged one and take appropriate steps for setting up Medical College there. Besides, Orissa Govt. should take appropriate steps by way of a clause in the agreement for setting up educational institution, while selling its share of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd to SAIL..
In addition, major Private Players, who are entering to the Steel sector like Posco and Mittal may be impressed upon subsequently to set up Hospital and Medical College in their respective districts viz. Jagatsinghpur & Keonjhar. This can be pursued, when these Plants starts construction of their project. As we are aware, a large number of Steel Projects are being set up/ conceived at Dubri, notably TATA Steel & Mesco. These companies should come forward to set up Hospital & Medical College either at Dubri or nearby ares. or areas like Baripada/Balasoe. Small Steel Companies may be pursued for setting up Engineering College or any professional institutions viz. ITI any where in Orissa as per their choice. Since setting up Engineering College will not entail much financial implication compared to setting up Medial College, the above suggestions would be workable. Rgds -KCDAS
2. PRABIR KUMAR MOHAPATRA | May 2nd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
we should help the poorer section of our society & state to improve their life style . the good established company of our state of ORRISA should atleast develop their area’s peoples EDUCATION, HOUSE,