Bokaro: ESL Steel Limited on Monday launched its ambitious ‘Millet Mission’, an initiative designed to promote climate-resilient farming across 500 acres in its operational areas. The programme combines sustainable agriculture with nutrition, higher farm incomes, and women-led rural entrepreneurship, marking another significant step in the company’s community development efforts.

The programme encourages farmers to adopt millet cultivation—an environmentally sustainable crop that requires less water, is highly nutritious, and is resilient to changing climatic conditions. As part of the initiative, ESL Steel will provide technical guidance, capacity-building training, and market linkages to help farmers achieve better productivity and sustainable returns.

A key highlight of the Millet Mission is the active participation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which will be engaged in millet processing, packaging, and marketing, creating additional livelihood opportunities while strengthening women’s economic empowerment.

The initiative was formally launched at the ESL Skill School in the presence of Kunal Daripa, Head-CSR; Aakarsh Pandey, Project Lead, WADI & CLAP; Ved Prakash Singh, Project Coordinator, Gramin Seva Sangh; and Anjani Kumar Sinha, Trainer under WADI & CLAP.

Addressing the gathering, Ravish Sharma, CEO and Whole-Time Director of ESL Steel Limited, said the Millet Mission reflects the company’s commitment to building self-reliant rural communities by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that improve livelihoods while conserving natural resources.

Through the Millet Mission, ESL Steel aims to strengthen sustainable agriculture, enhance food and nutritional security, and create long-term livelihood opportunities for farming families, further reinforcing its commitment to inclusive rural development across Jharkhand.