Tata Steel’s OMQ Division at Joda organises Goonj 2019 during National Youth Day

Joda:16/1/19:Tata Steel’s Ore, Mines and Quarries (OMQ) Division at Joda organised “Goonj 2019” during National Youth Day on January 12-13, 2016. Various programmes were organised under “Goonj 2019” with the theme ‘the voices that conquer’. The main objective of the event was to create a platform to address the challenges of adolescence and develop sensitivity among them to utilize their full potential.

During the first day of the event, an inter-school Kabaddi Meet was organised. Nine high schools in Joda block where Tata Steel has implemented its RISHTA (Regional Initiative for Safe Sexual Health by Today’s Adolescents) project participated in the Kabaddi Meet. The platform was created with the thought to give them an opportunity to discover how sports play an integral role in their holistic development. Around 200 children participated in this Kabaddi Meet. Mr G P Sahu, Head, FAP, Tata Steel, Joda inaugurated the Meet and encouraged the adolescents with his words of wisdom. After the sports meet, the day continued with “Design for Change” workshops. The programme was designed for adolescents with an aim to address the problems of magnanimity with small steps which they can take themselves.On the second day of the event, Tata Steel in association with Ummeed Foundation organised a workshop on life skills of the adolescents. Mr Rajesh Kumar, Chief (Joda), Tata Steel graced the occasion as Chief Guest and urged the youths to take their learnings back from these two days to their communities. Ms Salony Priya, Founder Director of the Foundation along with Counsellor, Ms Payel Chatterjee, were present in the participative workshop with the youth on life skills of the adolescents. The workshop emphasized on five steps to deal with any problem: Learn, Change, Adapt, Cope and Develop. Also, case studies based on real life incidents were given to the youths to test their approach towards these situations. At the end, winning team and runner-up team of the Kabaddi tournament were felicitated by Chief Guest. The winners and runners up for the Boys Kabaddi tournament were St Teresa School and Bamebari High School respectively. While, Basudevpur Kanyaashram and Joda High School were the winners and runners up respectively in the Girls Kabaddi tournament. Tata Steel Rural Development Society, the CSR wing of Tata Steel organised the programmes successfully. The event witnessed huge gathering from all sections of the society and was applauded by the community.