Bhilai Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) was today honoured with the Prize for Independent Unit category of the first-ever ÔÇÿSustainability AwardsÔÇÖ instituted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The award was presented by the Union Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr Kamal Nath, to Mr R.P. Singh, Managing Director of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), at a glittering function held at Hotel Taj Palace here this afternoon on the occasion of the CIIÔÇÖs annual convention.
The Sustainability Awards have been instituted by the CII to recognise and reward excellence in social, economic and environmental performance of companies operating in India in the area of sustainable development. The essence of the award is to recognise companies that are growth-oriented and financially successful while demonstrating or progressing towards laudable economic, social and environmental practices. Bhilai was adjudged the best individual operating unit in the country by the CII for the award.
Six times winner of the Prime MinisterÔÇÖs Trophy for best integrated steel plant in the country, Bhilai Steel Plant has consistently promoted sustainability by "creating value for all its stakeholders, enhancing profitability, delivering world-class products, reducing cost of production, increasing operational efficiencies, contributing to a flourishing environment, propagating the culture of learning amongst employees and providing services to the community for social development of the region (Chhattisgarh)", said Mr R.P. Singh while receiving the award. BSP was also the first steel plant in the public sector to prepare and publish its Corporate Sustainability Report for 2004-05, the MD informed.
Since inception, the plant has been proactively involved in satisfying the social concerns of its operating environment. To meet the goals of social responsibility, BSP has provided educational support to more than 35,000 students through 51 schools and 1,300 teaching staff. The plant provides high-class medical services to more than 12 lakh patients in the region every year through its 1,000-bed hospital. BSP has also taken effective measures in the areas of resource and energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, etc. A consistent financial achiever, BSP supports 194 ancillary industries in the region with orders worth up to Rs. 85-100 crore annually.