Tata Steel signs MoU for construction of model schools in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government for constructing 30 Model Schools in different non-educationally backward blocks in Odisha.

The MoU was signed by Sunil Bhaskaran, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel and Ratnakar Rout, State Project Director, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan in the presence of School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra and department secretary Ranjana Chopra.

Tata Steel, in consonance with its philosophy and social responsibilities, will construct the 30 model schools in 30 blocks in the districts of Jajpur, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal. The company aims to bring quality education infrastructure for students in far-flung areas of the state.

Facilitating the process, the state government would be identifying minimum 5 acres of suitable and encumbrance-free land in the respective blocks and hand over the same to Tata Steel for the construction of the schools. Upon taking over the land, Tata Steel would start construction work of the school buildings as per the drawings provided by the Government of Odisha.

Tata Steel would also provide necessary furniture and accompanying infrastructure for the schools. Upon completion of the construction work, the state government would take charge of the operations and maintenance of the schools including the infrastructure.

The company would commission and hand over the schools progressively on completion.

School and Mass Education minister said the initiative of Tata steel should go a long way in promoting quality education in Odisha.

Sunil Bhaskaran of Tata Steel said that the company is committed to inclusive growth of the society and will take much more such initiatives in the state in the coming days.

As part of this initiative, Tata Steel has already initiated construction of Schools at various blocks like Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal, Danagadi in Jajpur, Nayagarh etc. which are fast nearing completion.