By Our Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, January 21, 2015

Tata Steel will construct 30 model schools in 30 blocks across Odisha at a cost of around Rs 135 crore, thereby bringing quality education infrastructure to students in far flung areas of the state. Today the foundation stone of the first such school was laid by Prafulla Kumar Mallik, Minister, Steel and Mines, Labour and Employees’ State Insurance at Jantaribol of Kamakshyanagar block in Dhenkanal District.

To be built on 20.52 acres of land, the school at Jantaribol will include a two story school building of 25,000 square feet built up area. Along with the building, Tata Steel will also provide the required furniture for each school. After completion of the construction, the schools will be handed over to the state government. Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (JUSCO), a Tata Steel subsidiary company, will be constructing the schools. This initiative of the steel major is part of the grand plan of government of Odisha for setting up such Model Schools in each block of the state.

Present on the occasion amongst others were the District Collector, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Premananda Khuntia, State Project Director, Odisha Madhyamik Shiksha Mission, Sunil Bhaskaran, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, Ashish Mathur, MD, JUSCO, Pankaj Satija, General Manager, Operations, Ferro Alloys & Minerals Divisions, Sukinda, Tata Steel, Manikanta Naik, Chief Resident Executive, Tata Steel.

Speaking on the occasion Mallik commended this initiative of Tata Steel in education sector and hoped it will promote quality education in the state. Reaffirming the company’s commitment to partner in the progress of Odisha, Bhaskaran said that for inclusive growth of the society the company will take many more such initiatives in education and social sector in the state in the coming days.

Sahoo, and others on the dais also spoke at the function which was attended by hundreds of the local villagers, school students, government functionaries, officials of Tata Steel and media persons.