Managing Director, OMC, Balwant Singh received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at a specially organised function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

With the encouragement and support of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, towards sports and by following his visionary statement “Sports for Youth, Youth for Future”, OMC has supported the Sports and Youth Services Department for the overall development of sports in the state. It has contributed significantly to Hockey India over the past five years and committed for the next ten years towards the immediate and long-term development of hockey in India. Another impactful initiative is the contribution of 3% of its net profit to the Sports and Youth Services Department for sports development in Odisha.

The corporation has also given employment to 12 sportspersons, supported budding athletes, facilitated infrastructure development across the state, and nurtured talent within local communities.

The ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ is awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to corporate entities in the private and public sectors, Sports Control Boards, NGOs, and sports bodies at the state and national levels, recognising their visible role in sports promotion and development.

Spreading over 6 Acres of land, this platinum rated green building will be a new landmark of the city. The design of the building has been very attractive and will add value to city’s beautiful landscape. Besides the new office building, the CM also laid foundation for the Drill Core Library.

The Chief Minister also laid foundation for 5 Odisha Mining Adarsh Vidyalayas. He inaugurated 7 Quality Control Labs, 10 Sample Processing Units, one Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant of OMC. He also flagged off 6 Mobile Health Units.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Patnaik congratulated the OMC for leading by example in not only contributing to the economy but also to sustainable mining and spreading happiness amongst the people through its various people-centric development and welfare activities.

He said that be it sports, health, education or be it periphery development, OMC has always put its’ best efforts in serving society.

He congratulated the Odisha Mining Corporation for the new address of its Corporate Office which will soon come in the city.

Expressing happiness over OMC’s welfare initiatives in mining areas, the CM said that OMC has set up five CBSE-affiliated fully residential schools for the students of the mining periphery. The Mobile Health Unit is an excellent initiative and will play important role in providing health care facilities at the doorsteps of the villagers around the operational areas of OMC, he added.

The Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant at South Kaliapani and the Quality Control Laboratories at different operational areas will play in important role in adopting more transparency and quick dispatch of quality raw materials to the user industries, he added.

Speaking on OMC’s achievements in mining sector, he said that Odisha is on the fore-front of adopting cutting edge technology and sustainable mining practices. The CM appealed to all in the mining fraternity of the state to put more efforts for sustainable mining by adopting new initiatives of international benchmark.

He said that OMC has produced more than 30 million ton ores in the last fiscal with a turnover of over Rs. 14 Thousand Crore. The Corporation is marching ahead, and today, it’s the 4th largest mining company in the country, he informed.

The CM also appreciated OMC’s commendable support during the Covid pandemic.

He wished the OMC to touch new heights of excellence and establish itself as a globally acclaimed organization.

Speaking on the occasion, Steel & Mines Minister Shri Prafulla Mallick praised the CM for his visionary leadership in taking Odisha to a new level with fast past paced transformation process.

Addl Chief Secretary, Steel & Mines, DK Singh delivered the welcome address. MD OMC Balwant Singh proposed the vote of thanks.