Steel Minister visits SAIL on second anniversary of Swachh Bharat
Steel Minister says, steel industry should be a brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Steel industry should aim for zero waste
Hon'ble Union Minister of Steel, Shri Birender Singh visited Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) head quarters today and reviewed the cleanliness activities undertaken by the company on second anniversary of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Secretary Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma, Joint Secretary, Shri Sunil Barthwal, Joint Secretary, Smt Urvilla Khati, Joint Secretary, Shri T. Srinivas and other senior ministry officials also accompanied the Minister. On this occasion, Shri Birender Singh administered the "Swachhta oath" to SAIL collective including SAIL Chairman Shri PK Singh and all directors and participated in a symbolic cleaning.
Praising the initiatives undertaken by SAIL, the Minister said, "Cleanliness is a habit and comes only with conscious practice." Recalling his recent visit to Bokaro Steel Plant he praised the clean environs of the Plant & township and said that steel industry should be a brand ambassador for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. "A clean environment not only provides healthy working conditions but also improves the output of each employee" he added. Underlining the importance of clean and hygienic working environment in industrial set up and plants, the Minister said the plant and mines surroundings must be kept clean so that the employees get a better working environment. He said, By partnering with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, SAIL is trying to reach out to its own employees and the communities settled in and around its Plants making it a citizen's movement.
Secretary Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma said, "Steel industry should target zero waste and also try to further reduce their carbon footprints." She added that the slag generated in the process of steel making can be reused for other secondary processes like road construction etc.
Seeking to give impetus to Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', SAIL regularly undertakes cleanliness drives across all its Plants and Units in country. The thrust of activities pertaining to "Swachh Bharat" in SAIL, are majorly centered in and around SAIL townships, Plants and peripheral villages. As part of "Swacch Bharat Abhiyan" the company has initiated a number of activities for employees across all its units. SAIL Board earmarked an amount of Rs. 29 crores to be spent during 2014-16 on this campaign. Also, SAIL has constructed 672 toilets across country under the "swachh vidyalaya abhiyan" in the schools falling within the periphery of its Plants & Mines, as per the allocations made by Ministry of HRD.
Chairman, SAIL Shri PK Singh thanked Hon'ble Minister for sparing time to review SAIL's swachhta initiatives. He also said that Minister's gracious presence has boosted up the resolve of every SAIL man to adopt cleanliness to a way of their lives. He said, "A mass pledge administered by Hon'ble Minister to all employees has encouraged each one of us to be a part of this movement by contributing to "Swachhta Activities" both at home, and at the workplace." The Minister also visited various rooms of Udyog Bhawan and the MOIL office at CGO complex.