Meramandali, 14 March 2026: Tata Steel Foundation organised the third edition of Arunima at Meramandali with the aim of creating a transformative platform for women entrepreneurs, youth, and adolescents to explore opportunities for personal development, leadership, and community engagement. The initiative focused on nurturing entrepreneurship, strengthening collective institutions, and encouraging holistic community development at the grassroots level.
The event brought together experts, practitioners, community leaders, and enthusiastic participants to exchange knowledge, inspire action, and promote collaboration. Through a combination of informative sessions, interactive discussions, and cultural performances, the program highlighted the interconnected relationship between entrepreneurship, empowerment, and sustainable community development.
The program was graced by several distinguished dignitaries including Bhagat Shamal Kalyanrao, IAS; Uday Kumar Mohapatra, ADM, Angul; Prasanta Kumar Nanda, CHRO, Tata Steel Meramandali; Kapil Modi, Chief Mills and Downstream, Tata Steel; Prakash Sanjay, Chief Security, Tata Steel Meramandali and Uma Sankar Das, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies (DRCS) who addressed the gathering and spoke about the role of cooperative institutions in enabling socio-economic empowerment among women.
A key highlight of the event was the participation of around 250 women shareholders of Gruhalaxami Cooperative Society, representing villages from the core-peripheral regions of the Meramandali unit. The Annual General Body meeting of the cooperative society was held during the program where the President and Board of Directors shared the vision, goals, and achievements of the cooperative since its inception.
Four grassroots women leaders Simarani Prusty, Smita Biswal, Rashmita Sahu, and Subhadra Nayak were felicitated as “Women Changemakers”, in recognition of their inspiring journeys and contributions toward community upliftment and women empowerment. They also shared their experiences of personal growth and collective progress, motivating other women in the community.
The program also recognised academic excellence through the Jyoti Fellowship Scholarship, under which 211 meritorious students from the SC and ST communities were awarded.The scholarships were distributed in the presence of dignitaries, encouraging students to continue their educational journey with confidence and determination. In addition, youth achievers and sportspersons from the community were also honoured during the event.
The event featured cultural performances by youth groups, interactive knowledge sessions, and networking opportunities that fostered dialogue between community members, government representatives, and development practitioners.
With Arunima, Tata Steel Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to building inclusive platforms that empower women entrepreneurs, nurture young talent, and support community-led development. The initiative is expected to continue evolving as a catalyst for leadership, opportunity, and sustainable empowerment in the region.
