~ 100 women received improved cookstoves; 550 more to receive shortly
Kalinganagar: 100 women from tribal households in the Danagadi and Sukinda blocks of Jajpur district of Odisha received improved cookstoves during an event organised at a hotel in Danagadi on Thursday. This initiative, a collaborative project between Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) and TM International Logistics Limited (TMILL), aims to significantly improve the lives of local communities.
In the second phase of the program, another 550 women will receive the cookstoves in the coming week, expanding the project’s reach and impact.The initiative aims at reducing fuel consumption and smoke emission, improve health outcomes by minimizing indoor air pollution, decrease the time required for wood collection and promote environmental sustainability by reducing deforestation and carbon emissions.
Tribal families in the 24 panchayats near Kalinganagar, who predominantly use firewood and biomass for cooking, were targeted for improved cookstove distribution. A selection process, including random sampling, door-to-door surveys, and verification, ensured priority was given to households with members suffering from respiratory problems.
Mr Atanu Basu, (Chief IWML, CSR & Sustainability), TMILL adds, “Aligned with Tata Group’s commitment to social responsibility, this project tackles health and environmental issues through efficient cookstoves, offering economic relief as well by reducing fuel expenses. We are happy to have Tata Steel Foundation as our implementing partner for this project”.
Debanjan Mukherjee, Cluster Head, Tata Steel Foundation, Kalinganagar, adds, “Our endeavour at the Kalinganagar ecosystem is to ensure that our work brings equity for communities, especially tribal people that abound in our ecosystem. Providing improved cookstoves will not only find solutions to climate resilient cooking but also garner a sense of dignity for the tribal women.”
This initiative marks a significant step towards a healthier and more sustainable future for the tribal communities of Jajpur.
