Bhubaneswar: Such was the personality of Ratan Tata that even business competitors were left mesmerised by his charisma, vision and dedication towards the nation.
As the whole country is mourning his demise, it is time to acknowledge the indelible mark the architect of India’s global business empire left on Odisha and recognise how his work impacted the state.
While Ratan Tata was celebrated globally, his initiatives had a profound effect on Odisha, from industrial growth to community welfare and disaster relief.
A host of leaders from across the political spectrum in Odisha, including Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and ex-CM Naveen Patnaik, expressed deep grief over the demise of industry icon Ratan Tata, Tata Group’s chairman emeritus.
From transforming Odisha’s industrial landscape through Kalinganagar steel plant in Jajpur to being a part of Jaga Mission in Ganjam and the Gopalpur project, Ratan Tata changed millions of lives in the state.
The business tycoon, who visited Odisha several times, had come to the state in December 1995 for Gopalpur steel plant. The then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had laid the foundation stone for the ambitious project.
One of Ratan Tata’s most significant contributions to Odisha was the establishment of Tata Steel’s plant in Kalinganagar in Jajpur. This not only spurred industrial growth but also provided thousands of jobs and contributed to the socio-economic development of the region. Tata Steel has also been instrumental in setting up schools, hospitals, and vocational training centres around its plant.
Tata Steel had signed an MoU with the Government of Odisha in 2004 for a new plant, which eventually turned out to be the company’s unit in Kalinganagar. Recently, Tata Steel commissioned India’s largest blast furnace at the Kalinganagar facility with a total investment of
Rs 27,000 crore. This investment will take the unit’s total capacity from 3 MTPA to 8 MTPA. Besides this, Tata Steel also has capacities at Meramandali (5.6 MTPA) and Gamharia (1 MTPA).
Later in 2008, Ratan Tata joined hands with the Odisha government for Jaga Mission project to provide house to slum dwellers in the State.
Besides, Tata Trusts, under the leadership of Ratan Tata, worked towards education, skill development and healthcare facilities in Odisha.
Tata Trusts, under Ratan Tata’s leadership, worked extensively to improve healthcare in Odisha, particularly in maternal and child health. The Trusts collaborated with the Odisha government to address malnutrition and support healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas.
Tata Trusts have also focused on improving education in Odisha’s rural areas, providing scholarships to deserving students and establishing schools to ensure access to quality education. In addition, skill development programs were launched to help the local youth gain employment.
Ratan Tata’s generosity was especially felt during times of crisis. After the 1999 super cyclone and Cyclone Fani in 2019, Tata Trusts and Tata companies were among the first to offer disaster relief in Odisha, providing essential supplies and helping in the reconstruction of damaged communities.
Ratan Tata’s contributions to Odisha went far beyond business; his work has left a lasting legacy in the form of industrial growth, community development, healthcare, and education. As we bid farewell to this visionary leader, let’s take a moment to appreciate how his efforts uplifted many lives across our state.