Under the corporate social responsibility initiative of SAIL-BSL, twelve new children from the Birhor tribe have been welcomed into the Gyan Jyoti Scheme. These children, adopted by BSL, were handed over by the welfare officer of Gomia Block to representatives of the BSL-operated Birhor Children's Residence and Trainee Hostel. The event saw the presence of Bokaro district administration representatives along with BSL officials including C.R.K. Sudhanshu, General Manager (L&A), Ashok Kumar, Deputy Manager (CSR), Bahadur Singh, Hostel Warden (CSR), Gaurav Ranjan (CSR), and other officers.
Under the Gyan Jyoti Scheme, Bokaro Steel Plant provides these adopted children with free quality education from primary to ITI level, along with uniforms, accommodation, meals, and other daily necessities. This year, the newly adopted Birhor children are likely to be enrolled in Class 1 at DAV ISPAT Public School. The new batch is expected to complete their education up to the 12th grade or ITI by 2036.
It is noteworthy that the first batch of Birhor children was adopted by SAIL-BSL under the Gyan Jyoti Scheme in 2001 and graduated in 2012-13. Following this, a second batch of 15 Birhor children was adopted in 2011, who are on track to complete their education by August 2024.
