• Jyoti Fellowship Awarded to Students by Hon’ble Minister of Steel & Mines, Transport & Commerce, Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Jena
• 745 Students from Class 7 to First Year of Graduation Receive Rs 73 Lakh Fellowship
• Workshops Organized for 300 Women Self-Help Group Members
Berhampur, February 11, 2025: Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) has organized Arunima 2025, a two-day conclave at the Biju Patnaik Auditorium, Berhampur University. The event was graced by Shri Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, Hon’ble Minister of Steel & Mines, Transport & Commerce, Government of Odisha, as the Chief Guest. Manikanta Naik, Managing Director of Tata Steel Special Economic Zone, joined as the Guest of Honour.
The Jyoti Fellowship Award Ceremony, held on the first day, celebrated the academic excellence of students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This year, 745 students—including 350 new beneficiaries from Class 7 and first-year undergraduate students—received financial assistance. A total of ₹73 lakh was directly deposited into the students’ bank accounts to support their higher education.
The event also saw the presence of Dr. Ambika Prasad Nanda, CSR Head, Tata Steel Foundation, and Professor Geetanjali Dash, Vice Chancellor, Berhampur University.
The theme of the conclave, “Building a Culture of Climate Resilience through Disaster Risk Reduction,” set the stage for discussions on education, women empowerment, and disaster preparedness.
The second half of the day focused on women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender narratives, and leadership. Around 300 women, including self-help group members and young girls from nearby villages, participated in discussions on entrepreneurship development, gender rights awareness, and leadership training.
Eminent speakers, including Dr Ratna Sahu, Retired Professor, Women Rights and Dr Sasmita Behera, Head of the Home Science Department, Berhampur University, shared their insights.
The conclave to conclude with a farmer-scientist conference focusing on promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
