Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development

It was in 1980 that Tata Chemicals took a small step towards corporate sustainability and established the Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD). Twenty-nine years later, it has grown into a leading corporate NGO touching thousands of lives in and around Mithapur, Babrala and Haldia, where its facilities are located in India.

TCSRD helps communities achieve self-sufficiency in natural resource management, provides livelihood support, and helps in the building of health and education infrastructure. It believes in participatory development and involves the community at all stages of the process. It also partners and
networks with governments, development agencies, corporate bodies and NGOs to implement appropriate community development programmes. The initiatives are designed such that they are sustainable, replicable and scalable.

In natural resource management, the programmes focus on water harvesting and management of water resources, improvement in agricultural practices, improving animal husbandry and preserving the biodiversity of the region.

Its income generation programmes include various projects aimed at both self-help groups and individuals for the development of micro-enterprise through extensive training, helping identify enterprise opportunities and establishing linkages for finance and marketing.

In the area of health, education and infrastructure, TCSRD supports programmes such as Lifeline — Jeevan Rekha Express medical camp, Vision 20/20, Tejasvini and Spandan — for the mental and physical wellbeing of the people.

TCSRD gets involved

Pond management at Haldia:

The aim of the project was to encourage the use of ponds for income generation through pisciculture, and encourage integrated farming to replace traditional cultivation practices.

Tata Chemicals partnered with Nimpit Krishi Vikas Kendra and the Jan Sikshan Sansthan and identified three villages: Ariakhalli, Jhikurkhalli and Kumarchak for the pilot project. The Haldia Theatre Group was roped in to create awareness about the project. Demo ponds were developed at the Haldia plant for different stages of fish (spawn, fingerling and adult). Red tilapia, a variety of fish which is a prolific breeder, does not need a high level of maintenance and has high market potential, was chosen for the pilot project.

To propagate integrated farming with pisciculture, seasonal vegetables are grown along the banks of the pond. This helps in soil binding and the pond is protected from direct sunlight. The villagers have adopted this concept and are practising it successfully. The project now covers 23 villages.

Animal husbandry at Barrala:

The project was started in July 1994. Cattle are considered to be an important asset for people in the Uttar Pradesh region and a source of income for a majority of the people. Animal husbandry is related to agriculture (cattle are used for ploughing and draught purposes), milk production and biogas (an alternative clean source of fuel).

TCSRD provided information and training in different areas to reduce animal mortality and help increase milk yields. In 2003-04, the focus shifted to improving the genetic stock of cattle, by introducing highyielding milch breeds like ‘Murrah’ and improving the existing local breeds through cross-breeding. In addition, cattle health and vaccination camps, and anti-sterility camps are organised regularly in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, to enhance cattle healthcare practices.

Rural entrepreneurship development programme at Mithapur:

The project aims to equip youth and women from self-help groups with the skills needed to start small enterprises, which in turn may help create employment for others. The programme is organised in partnership with the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, Ahmedabad, which provides entrepreneurship training.

Over the years, a number of youth and women have successfully set up their own small enterprises in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, ice cream making, cycle repair, truck repair, paper bag making and others; more than 700 members have received general training and 540 have received technical training. Over 184 enterprises have been set up through this initiative.

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