Page 20 - August-2020-Issue

ARTICLE

Solidarity

in Dire Straits

D. Singh
CMD, IREL

REL (India) Limited, a Mini Country, besides commercial ap- are predominately inhabited by
Ratna, Category-1 CPSE un- plications such as doping agents the fishermen community with
Ider the administrative con- for enhancing performance. meagre literacy levels, the im-
trol of Department of Atomic The operating units are located mediate need was to reach out to
Energy (DAE) is a Multi-Unit- along the coastal tracts of Chat- the populace, create awareness
Multi Product Company with rapur, Odisha, Manavalakurichi, on the safe practices and match
the mandate to produce Atomic Tamil Nadu and Chavara, Kerala shoulder with shoulder to de-
Minerals, Rare Earths and other where these Atomic Minerals and velop confidence amongst the
Compounds of Strategic interest. Rare Earths are available. The Rare underprivileged section of the so-
The Atomic Minerals, also known Earths Extraction Plant (REEP is ciety to fight the unseen enemy.
as Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) located in Odisha while the sepa- The Company took a calibrated
are a suite of 7 (seven) minerals rated High Pure Rare Earth Plant approach to inhibit spread of
which interalia include Ilmenite, (HPRE) is located in Aluva, Kerala. the Pandemic around its operat-
Rutile, Leucoxene which are tita- IREL has constituted a subsidiary ing units. IREL engaged Public
nium bearing minerals, Zircon–a company, IREL IDCOL Limited Address System in the nearby
zirconium bearing mineral, Sill- to harness the Atomic Mineral de- villages and officials from the
imanite- a silicate of aluminium, posits in Odisha. District Administration, Sarpanch
Garnetiron - aluminium silicate, of the Village Panchayats, lo-
& Monazite which is a phosphatic IREL having a strong CSR base in cal leaders, active groups were
mineral of Rare Earths. these areas sprung into action post made the backbone of the drive to
Atomic Minerals are used for declaration of lockdown due to the spread awareness on the practic-
COVID-19 Pandemic, which has es promoted by the Government
a horde of applications span- including those of social distanc-
ning production of pigments, gripped the entire world with fear ing, frequent hand wash, wearing
titanium metal, plastics, aircraft on the uncertain future. While war face masks in public, avoid spit-
body parts, ceramics, welding impacts the economy of a Country, ting, etc.
electrodes, refractory bricks, waging war against an unseen
sand blasting, water jet cutting, threat strains the economy in leaps
abrasives, etc. Rare Earths are & bounds. The Company joined Self-help groups stitching
performance enhancing mate- hand with the Nation in its fight masks
rial having number of niche ap- against the COVID-19 by contrib- The local self help groups and
plications such as consumer uting Rs 1 (One) cr. to the Prime women welfare society of the
gadgets, electronics, renewable Minister’s Citizen Assistance & Housing Colony were activated
energy, defence, space, pollution Relief in Emergency Situations (PM to stitch masks, which were in
control, petroleum refining, etc. CARES) Fund from its CSR funds, short supply because of panic
The Strategic Compounds pro- while the employees contributed a buying. The masks were distrib-
duced by IREL find direct use in day’s salary for the cause. uted not only in the surrounding
the Atomic Power Programme, Operations of the Company be- villages, but also in areas where
Space and Defence Sectors of the ing in the Coastal areas which IREL does not have its footprint.

20 KaleidOscope May, 2020