Looking at the future

Ground zero | Global community | Participatory development

The concept and practice of sustainability is at the core of all Tata Chemicals' activities, including its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Sustainable community development ensures benefits of a better quality of life now, as well as for future generations, and involves resolving the current needs of the community without jeopardising the development needs of future generations.

This concept is integral to Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) and therefore the key element that TCSRD brings to the community is knowledge – knowledge of new methods of agriculture, better management of land and water resources, social and human capital management, and other tools of empowerment.

Ground zero
Tata Chemicals established TCSRD in Mithapur in 1980 as a result of its need to engage, understand and address the needs of its neighbouring community. When the fertiliser plant at Babrala was commissioned TCSRD became active in that area; on TCL acquiring the Haldia operations, TCSRD started its operations in that community.

This has been a long journey for TCSRD. It started its work by following traditional philanthropy and welfare approach. It has since been continuously improving its philosophy and work by revisiting and reflecting on its approaches, the impact of its programmes and relating that with the needs of the community it serves. Today TCSRD has evolved its current Vision and Mission statements where the concept of sustainability has a central role.

Global community
As Tata Chemicals has grown and new companies and geographies have come within its global umbrella, the scope of TCSRD's operations has grown as well. In the recent past, TCSRD has become involved with the Brunner Mond group which has operations in Europe and Kenya.

Community leaders from Kenya have visited TCSRD programmes at Mithapur and taken back with them the concepts of community participation and participatory development. TCSRD has engaged with the community there by training them in various processes, especially in management of water resources.

Participatory development
Participatory development is the mantra for TCSRD along with working in partnership with all development agencies, be it the government, other non-governmental organisations or members of the community.

The key drivers at TCSRD are learning from others, and sharing and growing both in terms of reach and impact. In 2008, the 28th year of its inception, significant new initiatives have been started, including the setting up of rural BPOs and the Karjobi promotion at Babrala.

These are all steps in TCSRD's journey towards integrated sustainable development of all the regions that TCL operates in.