Sir Dorabji Tata laid the foundation for economic freedom: Sanjiv Paul

Tata Steel celebrates 163rd birth anniversary of its first Chairman

Jamshedpur, Aug 27: Tata Steel today celebrated the 163rd birth anniversary of Sir Dorabji Tata with a lot of fervour across its plants, mines and offices in the country.

As part of the celebrations, homage ceremonies were organised in the plant premises located at Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar and Meramandali. Senior officials, and employees of Tata Steel offered floral tributes to Sir Dorabji Tata. Similar homage paying ceremonies were held at the offices located across the country as well as in the mining locations and downstream facilities like Khopoli and Sahibabad.

Sir Dorabji Tata was the first Chairman of Tata Steel, who infused the Company with standards in corporate governance that were way ahead of its time. He introduced first-ever initiatives like 8-hour day work, maternity leave, provident fund, accident compensation, free medical aid and many more welfare measures, long before they became legal obligations.

In Jamshedpur, the day’s celebrations started with homage ceremony at Sir Dorabji Tata Park.  Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Safety, Health and Sustainability, Tata Steel, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour for the occasion was Shahnawaz Alam, Vice President, Tata Worker’s Union (TWU). The event was graced by the presence of Dr J J Irani, Former Managing Director, Tata Steel.

On this occasion, Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Safety, Health and Sustainability, Tata Steel, said “Sir Dorabji Tata, son of illustrious father, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, translated his father’s dreams by setting up the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO, now Tata Steel) in 1907, Indian Institute of Science in 1909, and Tata Hydro Electric Power Supply Company Limited (now Tata Power Company Limited) in 1910. In the process, he laid the foundation of economic freedom when India was under the British rule. Tata Steel and India are greatly indebted to Sir Dorabji Tata for his invaluable contributions.”

Shahnawaz Alam, Vice President, Tata Worker’s Union, said, “Sir Dorabji Tata is the architect of industrial relation in India. During his leadership as the Chairman of Tata Steel, many labour welfare schemes were introduced like eight-hour working day, free medical aid, leave with pay, maternity leave, to name a few. For the citizens of Jamshedpur, he ensured quality of services like wide roads, houses, markets, hospital, parks and gardens, water supply, etc. We will forever be grateful to this man of steel.”

The homage ceremony was also attended by the senior management of Tata Steel, former senior executives of Tata Steel, office bearers of Tata Worker’s Union, members of Citizen Advisory Council, and Heads of Company from Tata Steel group companies.