“Ask not what your country can do for you — rather ask yourself what you can do for your country."- JOHN F KENEDDY

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the “Maharatna” steel manufacturing enterprise is one of the fastest growing public sector units in India owned and operated by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. Ever since its establishment on 24 January 1973, it has been among the top 20 largest steel firms in the world. SAIL is celebrating the epic Diamond Jubilee Year in 2022 with a legacy of fifty decades 2022 which in itself is a testimony of the company’s determined efforts, commitment, and developmental initiatives in ensuring significant contribution to nation-building over the years for a strong, resilient and self-reliant India of the future.

Our first Hon'ble Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru referred to SAIL as the 'Temple of modern superpower India'. Owing to the quality, strength, value, and performance of steel, it has significantly contributed to the Country’s key projects in every sector like Railways, Defence, Automobiles, Hydro-electricity, space programs, Agricultural equipment, Construction, Engineering, Transportation, etc. and has been the most trusted partner which has touched every Indian’s life in one way or the other. It is well evident in its tagline i.e. 'There's a little bit of SAIL in everybody's life'

1) SAIL AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS

• Steel has been an integral part of the cars we drive, the buildings we work in, the homes we live in.
• It has been a part of many significant government initiatives like ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, and ‘Skill India’
• Significant role in key projects of national importance like the Statue of Unity (tallest statue in the World), India's longest bridge - Dhola Sadiya, the Sardar Sarovar project, major Expressways, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and the Commonwealth Games village, etc.
• Supplied steel for various Indian defense projects like Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), INS, and ''Dhanush'' of the Indian Army and in Indian space vehicles like Chandrayaan,
• Supplied rails to Indian railways which can circumnavigate the earth more than 12 times.
• It has reached India’s remote corners in the form of infrastructures like buildings, skyscrapers, bridges, reservoirs, metro rail, rail infrastructure, and thermal and hydroelectric plants.

2) SAIL AND INDIAN ECONOMY

According to the Ministry of Steel, the steel sector contributes around 2 percent of the country's GDP by generating employment, taxation, innovations, and exports.

It has the highest growth potential and boosts the economic recovery in terms of affordable housing, railway network expansion, domestic ship ports, and growth in the automobile sector with rising demand for Electric Vehicles.

India has already overtaken Japan as the World's second-largest steel producing Nation and also aims to emerge as a strong force in the global steel market in the future.

Indian steel demand is expected to rise to 170 MT by 2025 and 300 MTPA steel production capacity for India by 2030 as envisioned in "National Steel Policy 2017" is the immediate plan.

3) SAIL AND CSR ACTIVITIES

Crucial role in the development of a sustainable society and achieving sustainable development goals by 2030 with its diverse Corporate Social Responsibility CSR initiatives in the form of health, education, nutrition, sanitation, skill development, sports, arts & culture, and environment.

The book titled Touching Lives- There’s a Little Bit of SAIL in everybody’s Life has been proof of its rich legacy to mankind.

The launch of a new commemorative logo is the spirit of fifty years of vision, determination, compassion, strength, and manpower which was launched by Smt. Soma Mondal, Chairman, SAIL on 23rd May, 2022.

4) SAIL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

SAIL being the largest steel producer in India with a turnover of more than Rs 47,000 crores is an employment-intensive sector currently employing 1.2 lakh employees with its major plants in Bhilai, Bokaro, Durgapur, Rourkela, Asansol, and Salem.

It also nurtures talent in the form of various sports and extends financial support for their preparation at the world level. Shri Sushil Kumar, Beijing Olympics bronze medalist wrestler & quarter-finalist Shri Yogeshwar Dutt are the burning examples.

It has created Model Steel Villages in various states with facilities of free education and free health facilities and camps befitting the underprivileged.

5) SAIL AND CONTRIBUTION TO ENVIRONMENT

• It has taken all sustainable measures to restore and renew the degraded ecosystem, by maintaining biodiversity.
• It has laid out eco-friendly technology along with the adoption of energy methods with zero emission and carbon benefits to fulfill its responsibility towards current and future generations.
• Ozone-depleting substances have been phased out and utilization of renewable sources of energy was given the top priority.
• A special drive for plantation with more than 4.42 lakhs of saplings plantation
• Proper disposal of non-biodegradable wastes and application of 4Rs (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, and Recovery)

6) SAIL AND ACHIEVEMENTS

It has received numerous awards and recognition with special mention due to its excellent efforts and performances, transparency and accountability, and for being a responsible sector in nation-building.

FICCI Award on 'Rural and Community Development Initiatives', presented by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India.

'Shram and Vishwakarma Awards' by SAIL employees

SCOPE Gold Trophy for 'Excellence & Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Management' for 2006-07.

Best Employer - 2007 amongst PSUs by CNBC TV -18

ICWAI National Award for Excellence in Cost Management 2007 in the manufacturing sector- first position among PSUs.

SAIL's Quality teams won eight Gold, two Silver & two Bronze medals at the International Convention of Quality Circle 2007, Beijing - the highest number won by any Indian company

7) SAIL AND INITIATIVES

The trust-building has boosted the confidence among the stakeholders and has given impetus to new business initiatives by MoUs and Joint Venture agreements with Public-Private and public-public partnerships for several strategic initiatives.

Various initiatives like ''SAIL Uday'' for improvement in the areas of Raw Materials, Logistics, Operations, Sales, and marketing and "Gaon Ki Ore" for the growth of steel in the rural construction sector to name a few.

Effects Of The Pandemic

The pandemic taught many things in fact in a positive way like the virtual medium helped in connecting to the world and it prompted its manpower to be tech-savvy enough for better discipline and team effort in terms of timeline and trading.

SCOPES IN FUTURE

‘The Great Indian Steel Dream’ is still the striving dream and the roadmap to success will involve more commitment with the pious dedication of hardworking and focused team effort along with much-targeted policy decisions.

It's time to refresh a work culture that is more flexible, responsible, profitable, ethical, and productive with a process of sustainable modernization and product expansion.

The greener cleaner and cheaper steel is expected to make India Atmanirbhar in steel. The future seems brighter with the post-pandemic economic recovery and production and consumption are highly positive for filling up the socio-economic development of a country

The dream of being a world-class organization is not far away as it has the power to add value to people's lives.

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