Sterlite Copper announced six community schemes at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore for Thoothukudi on Friday.
The company had earlier offered to invest ₹100 crore in welfare schemes for Thoothukudi residents before National Green Tribunal, when its plea against the closure of the plant was heard. The NGT, in its order, had asked the company to use the amount for the welfare of inhabitants within a period of three years.
The six promised schemes include a ‘world-class’ multispeciality hospital with 100 beds and an operation theatre, maternity wards and intensive care facility for children. Around 1.5 lakh people would benefit annually, an official release said.
The company also promised to open a school with emphasis on skill building with 1,500 students on rolls annually and provide safe drinking water to 15 villages surrounding the plant. An overhead tank and a water purification plant would also be set up.
Further, a scheme aimed at boosting women entrepreneurs with provision of micro credit and skill building for the benefit of 5,000 women, another scheme aimed at making as many youth employable through skill training and a scheme to plant one million tree saplings in Thoothukudi over a period of three years have been announced. The company had spent ₹564 crore in CSR activities so far, officials said.
Addressing an event to announce the schemes here, Vice-President of Sterlite Copper D. Dhanavel said some of the schemes were long-term projects, while the setting up of a school and hospital would take at least 12 months. He said the schemes were formulated after taking the opinion of people during their interaction with the CEO in a community connect initiative held in December.
Associate Vice-President A. Sumathi, Head of Community Relations A. Sarveshan and a number of industry representatives were present.
