Possible

It is possible. If we can clock 9% growth in GDP why not similar thing happen in other development index. All that we need is to show our concern for the same. We have the capability of formulating a decent plan, mobilizing resources and executing them. We have smart young Indians taking corporate India to newer glories. This is what they can achieve when they show their empathy for the poor and underdeveloped. From today's economic times.

TRIBAL TUNES
HOW THE STEEL WAS TEMPERED
Tata Steel Helps Families At Kalinganagar Achieve Millennium Goals
Nageshwar Patnaik BHUBANESWAR


THERE is something to cheer for the families displaced by the Tata Steel project at Kalinganagar. These families have achieved zero-dropout rate at elementary school level, sustainable environment, poverty eradication, increase in literacy rate, gender equality and empowerment of women.
The achievers of these challenging Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are not highly educated or extraordinary urban people, but ordinary members of self-help groups (SHGs) residing in rehabilitation colonies at Kalinga Nagar in Orissa’s Jajpur district. Helped by Tata Steel, the self-help groups called Tata Steel Parivars (TSPs) have successfully ensured that all children living in the colony went to school. Tata Steel is setting up a 6-mtpa integrated steel plant at Kalinganagar Industrial Complex.
“The noteworthy achievement of TSPs at Kalinganagar is that those families have achieved the target of 100% elementary education with zero-school dropout rate,” said Sukanta Rout, an educationist, who played a crucial role in motivating the children, mostly tribals, to go to school.
As many as 159 tribal children have been enrolled in the residential schools in Jajpur. Similarly, 50 children have got the opportunity of studying in one of the premier schools of the state — Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) — here. As many as 213 children are studying in schools as day scholars. Simultaneously, there has been a significant jump in literacy levels of the TSPs to 65% in 2010 from 45% in 2005.
Most significantly, there has been an incredible and drastic change in the will power of women in these relocated families. The empowered women community are now selfemployed and are going overboard for what they are doing. They have engaged themselves in poultry farming, gardening, stone carving, saura painting and in setting up small industries like phenyl and pickles.
“A few years earlier, we were quite poor, we did not even have the money to buy food, let alone send our children to school. Now with our own income, we are not only meeting our day-today expenses but also supporting our school and college-going children,” said Jamiti Mahanta, head of an SHG.
While child and maternal health parameters are not encouraging in the country, the SHGs here have achieved zero-infant mortality.
“All we did to reduce the infant mortality rate is that we emphasised on institutional births. Women in advanced stages were taken to hospitals where they delivered healthy babies,” said Sabita Jamuda.
Ms Jamuda, who is the leader of at least 100 SHGs operating in the area, added that due to 100% institutional delivery and regular medical checks-ups, the zero-infant mortality rate target was achieved.
The survey showed that in TSPs, out of the 92 child births last year, only two children were delivered with low weight (less than 2.5 kg). However, no death was reported from those families last year. Among the over 300 babies delivered over the past five years, only one death occurred due to congenital anomaly.
Further, as a measure to combat HIV/AIDS, the self-help groups have taken steps to create awareness taking them to Red Ribbon Express with a proper campaign. This apart, they have developed a green sphere around them through massive plantation, thereby getting closer to the environmental sustainability.