OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2011. Tata Power, India’s largest integrated private power utility has been at the forefront of driving environmental sustainability awareness around its areas of operation. In continuance with its efforts, Tata Power organized an environment awareness campaign for the students of Mahul Village, Trombay.

“It is said that a real change happens through the focus at grassroot level.” Taking this thought forward, Tata Power’s Trombay Community Relations – Environment Volunteering Team conducted a session on environment care, with emphasis on garbage management, the plastic ban and using eco-friendly idols for religious functions.

The 37 students attending the session were aglow with delight on learning on how through minimal effort they can make their environment better. The session began with the help of a power point presentation in Marathi which highlighted in detail the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ of Garbage (Wet and Dry) Management at homes and office areas.

This was followed by a bi-lingual lecture (in Marathi and Hindi) which covered topics such as source of garbage, their types, need for management, effects on nature, segregation techniques, vermi-culture methods, statistics, etc. During this interactive session, the students also shared their own ideas towards environment conservation which found resonance with the instructors.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr Vijay Chourey, Head - Trombay Thermal Generation Station, Tata Power, said, “Tata Power believes that the youth are the harbingers of change and thus, influencing them to protect the environment is the best solution. Through this initiative, we expect small but significant changes on the way an average citizen can contribute towards saving the environment and their surroundings”.

Interaction is the most important facet of learning. It was ensured that the sessions were conducted in the local language for easy comprehension. The response from students was encouraging, with the children putting forth their suggestions, and they were enthusiastic about taking concrete steps towards making their environment better.

The purpose behind such interactive sessions on environment is to sensitize and inculcate environmental-friendly practices amongst children and proactively involve the community at large through them. A team of volunteers comprising of Tata Power employees conducted the session for the children. These volunteers regularly conduct such sessions for Tata Power employees, their families  and the neighbouring communities.

“A lot of ideas were unique to the kids like vermi-culture, garbage types and segregation techniques, plastic chemistry, decomposition periods, etc. But once they were told how it connects to them they could relate to it. The exchange of ideas during the interactive session and the discussions made the learning experience for the students and the faculty members enriching.” said Mr Nagesh Patel, a trainer.Tata Power expands its rural empowerment initiative

Adds capacity at the existing BPO at Khopoli; creates 100 new jobs for the youth of the region

Pune, Lonavla, Maharashtra: After the resounding success of the rural employment initiative from the youths of Khopoli and the adjoining areas, Tata Power, India's largest integrated private power utility, today announced the expansion of its rural BPO.

The Rural BPO inaugurated in September 2009, under the aegis of Mannat Foundation - the community initiative arm of the company - initially employed 47 call agents, which further grew to a capacity of 230 call agents in the last 20 months.

Post the encouraging feedback on the standards set by the BPO, Tata Power will add another 100 more call agents to the existing team during the coming fiscal, thereby taking the total to 330 call agents by the end of the current financial year.

Situated in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, in Khopoli, and close to the Tata Power Hydro Generation facility, the 330-seat call centre lends itself to provide alternative employment to the youth of rural India with an aim of creating self-sustained community development.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Mahesh Paranjpe, Head, Hydro stations, Tata Power, said, “Tata Power strongly believes in empowering community development through vocational training and opportunities. Our efforts have borne results and the expansion of this BPO is a testimony of this effort. The response of the locals is overwhelming and has also created a benchmark for others to follow.”

The call agents for the BPO are selected and hired from Maval and Mulshi region and the adjoining catchment areas. Youths with minimum education, ie, 12th Standard (passed), with the ability to operate a computer and understand English are considered eligible for employment.

The selected trainees undergo a month-long pre-process training, comprising of basic communication and confidence building skills and post process training which focuses on developing the capacity of youths as Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operators. These trainees receive certification after the completion of their training and are employed at the BPO.

The Khopoli BPO is the first venture of the Mannat Foundation and has tied up with Tata Business Support Services (TBSS). Mannat Foundation will be responsible for hiring and providing the infrastructure, whereas the role of TBSS is to train the employees, maintain the infrastructure with good ambience, provide a secured work environment and manage operations of the BPO. 

Through Mannat Foundation, Tata Power intends to leverage information and communication technologies for BPO services on a pilot basis and generate employment for the local populace. This will in turn provide exposure to the rural youth to hi-tech industry and assist them to eventually grow and build their careers. At the same time, it will also help develop a sustainable business model that is scalable and replicable.