Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: Recognising its exemplary contribution to improving rural water access and sanitation, Jindal Steel has been conferred with the Rotary India National CSR Award 2025 (Eastern Region) in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Mega Category.
In a grand programme held in Kolkata on October 23, Jindal Steel’s President and Group Head (CSR & Education), Prashant Hota received the prestigious award from Flt. Lt. Rtn. K.P. Nagesh, Director, Rotary International, in the presence of Padma Bhushan Usha Uthup, renowned actor Rituparna Sengupta, and other dignitaries.
The honour celebrates the company’s transformative work through the Jindal Foundation, which has enabled safe drinking water and hygienic living conditions for millions across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Imbibed with the vision of inclusive development of Naveen Jindal, the Chairman of Jindal Steel, the company’s sanitation and hygiene initiatives in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand have transformed the local communities via watershed management and WASH programs. The watershed development activities, implemented through Village Watershed Committees, significantly enhanced groundwater recharge, resulting in improved soil moisture, increased agricultural productivity, and sustainable water availability in the project area.
Thanking the Jury members of Rotary India National CSR Award ( eastern region ) Shallu Jindal, the Chairperson of Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel said, "We believe that ensuring access to safe water, proper sanitation, and hygienic living is not just a developmental goal but a shared responsibility—and through our WASH initiatives, we remain committed to transforming lives and building healthier, more resilient communities across India."
Through different water management activities, Jindal Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel, has ensured safe drinking water for 12.5 million rural and tribal community members in over 3,400 villages across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand and other parts of India . The Angul Watershed Model, developed by Jindal Steel in collaboration with NABARD, integrates socio-economic and environmental development to enhance community's resilience to climate change.
Expanding its success to Kasia mines area in Odisha and Raigarh district in Chhattisgarh, the company has pioneered solar-powered, technology-driven safe water systems, promoting climate-resilient and sustainable access to clean water in underserved regions.
To cater to the sanitation and multi-dimensional hygiene needs of the Local Community, the Jindal Foundation has built more than 5000 toilets in collaboration with the Govt and has been promoting the use of sanitary napkin by millions of women and girls as a measure to ensure reproductive hygiene .
