All those who have some knowledge of the business world are familiar with the fact that one hundred year old Tata House of Business never shirked from its responsibilities in social concerns. The doyens of Tatas were particulary conscious about it and their successive descendents carried forward that spirit like the soul of their endeavour.
The great grandfather of Ratan Tata started the Tata endeavour in 1870 as the founding father, guide, spiritual leader, entrepreneur, embodiment of benevolence and patriotic fervor. He set up first indigenous textile mill and challenged the monopoly of British. Thus, he set an example that Indians could be indepentent of the dependence on British textiles by producing their own material from their own raw material, cotton.
Earlier Tatas spared money for social services and charity generously. They drew plans for the employees welfare schemes that were unheard of and even England had not envisaged them. Provident fund for workers, safety of their children, educational facilities for them, play grounds and parks plus trees were their ideas. In 1908, Jamshedpur was developed as steel town on war footing. As Jamshedji had envisaged the town had green areas, parks, tree lined ways, playgrounds, wide roads and other facilities.
Tatas spent 40 million dollars on it. In the modern context Tatas showed their old spirit when the steel plant was modernised and it became necessary to retrench the employees as less employees were required. The employees who accepted to retire voluntarily before time were promised full salary upto the age of 60 plus health care for life etc. Tata Steel spends crores of rupees each year on education, health and agriculture that benefit 800 village around the town.
Sidhya Kudhar is a village for example. It was in a dusty area with stone houses having thatched roofs. The people depended on a low quality rice crop and earning a meagre 30-40 rupees a day by collecting wood from the hilly region. The funds provided by Tata enabled the area to have irrigation system. Now the villagers grow quality rice and vegetables for better and healthful life.
In the hill areas thousands of Mahogani and Sagwan trees have been seeded to realise the dream of a green treasure that should become a rich source of incomes when it is fully forested. Alongside trees Ratanjot bushes have been planted. It is a spice item and its seeds yield chemical oil that can be used as biofuel. The children now go to newly constructed school. There are television sets in the village that work on solar energy. The same energy is used for light at night and for clocks. Thus, Ratan Tata and his Group are fullfilling their social responsibilities in an exemplary way.
