As per the National Steel Policy, 2005, the growth in the steel sectors has been anticipated to reach 100 million tonnes by 2019-20 from the level of 38 million tonnes in 2004-05.
Among the Eastern States, Odisha is one of the prime movers of industrialisation on account of its vast mineral resources, long coastline, an emerging educated middleclass and a large working class willing to change their livelihood patterns. The Government of Odisha, in the year 2001, announced the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) that intended to mark a paradigm shift in the State.
In the late 1960’s, the Rourkela Steel Plant succeeded to a good extent to cater to the local aspirations of employment. Now, the large industries, because of technological advancement and also on account of environmental compulsions, have become more and more capital-intensive. Absorption of manpower, proportionate to such capital intensification, will not be possible, but there is huge potential in employment generation in upstream and upstream units.
It is widely felt that the industry sector alone in Odisha has high potential to generate employment. Fragmented landholding, vagaries of monsoon and frequent cyclonic spells are factors inhibiting flow of private investment in agriculture.
large industries have limitations in their capacity to absorb local aspiration for employment. But they can consciously work towards skill building of local youths so that the skilled local youths can become self-employed or become employable in downstream industries.
Examples of positive developments have been coming from industrial houses like Jindal Steel & Power ltd (JSPl), Angul. In the first phase, the JSPl is setting up a 6-MTPA plant along with a 900-MW power generation facility. Two units of the power plant are already commissioned.
There are about 2,500 people working with JSPl on regular roll and about 11,000 on contractual roll. locals constitute above 90 per cent of employees. The JSPl has provided jobs to all the project-displaced families in terms of the Odisha R&R Guidelines, 2006 In its CSR mission, it has facilitated skill/ITI training for over 2,700 local youths. Many of them are self-employed and have secured jobs in other industries. Facilities at the OP Jindal Community College for such training can be replicated by other large industries. The JSPl is also evolving itself mothering micro enterprises through its rural livelihood-focused CSR projects. The Industrial Park projects, for which an MoU has been signed with the State Government, has the potential to provide 30,000 direct and indirect employments. The second phase of the JSPl project will immediately generate huge employment. The company has also envisioned establishing a coal-to-liquid project, which will further add to employment.
Around 1,800 acres of land has been acquired for its next phase of construction. However, the JSPl is facing interference in its possession of the land. As the first part of the project is nearing completion, there is a need to utilise the workforce in other areas. Through its CSR activities, the JSPl has contributed significantly towards development of health, education, rural infrastructure and livelihood for people in its periphery villages.
The path of responsible industrialisation pursued by responsible corporate entities can have a perfect outcome if the Government machineries provide the critical enablers to such large industries for full-scale operation and the industries pursue a policy to induct vocational skill in local youth, promote ancillaries and micro and small enterprises in the vicinity with a conviction that without local prosperity, industrialisation cannot improve the index of happiness in the local communities.