About Elkem:  

Established in 1904 and headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Elkem is one of the world’s leading companies in manufacture of metals and materials. Elkem is a fully-integrated producer with operations throughout the silicon value chain, silicone specialties, specialty ferrosilicon alloys and carbon materials. Elkem consists of four business areas: Silicones, Silicon Materials, Foundry Products and Carbon.

Corporate Initiative:

The outbreak of the virus,  the ongoing lockdown and the freezing of the interstate boundaries have shown the spotlight on the hard life of the seasonal migrants. Due to the shutting of various industries this segment of country’s migrant and daily wage earners had to face crisis. The loss of income proved to be catastrophic on several fronts.

Elkem committed to the business to behave ethically and contribute to the social wellbeing while improving the quality of life of the “migrant workers” and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.

Despite being under Lockdown, Elkem was very proactive in dealing with the Migrant crisis and offered to provide their warehouse premises as a Shelter home for Migrant workers. This would not have been possible without coordinated efforts and collaboration with Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the Local police and Sahyadri Sanstha, an NGO. The Authorities had well-meaning intentions to provide a home away from home for the Migrant workers and Elkem is glad for the opportunity to partake in this positive effort for the social well-being. The Elkem Team comprising of Mr. Sanjay Bedekar, Mr. Parag Gokhale, Mr. Kamlesh Ganorkar and Mr. Dushyant Pathak and the Authorities comprising of Dr. (Mrs) Ranjana Lade, Dy. Commissioner and Shri Pramod Khobragade, Manager, Urban Shelter Home of Nagpur Municipal Corporation along with Mr. Hemant Kumar Kharabe, Sr. Police Inspector & Police Station In-charge MIDC Nagpur were instrumental in Managing the project along with Mr. Devendra Kumar Kshrisagar, Project Co-Ordinator Sahyadri Sanstha, the NGO and Mr. Vikas Patil- Project Manager, Migrant Shelter Home, Hingna Rural Nagpur got together to provide the necessary arrangements elucidated more in brief below and this proved to be a great example of a successful Public-Private partnership for the common good. This was a very nice collaborative effort for a very noble cause. All Government officials complemented Elkem’s initiative and were very happy to see the arrangements and coordination amongst the various agencies.

The following activities were carried out for the welfare of the migrant workers at the Nagpur plant.

• Warehouse converted to a shelter home.
• Healthy food provided.
• Safe stay arrangements done.
• Hygiene maintained during the stay.
• Health checkup camps arranged.
• Yoga sessions conducted during the stay, to upkeep the mental and physical health.
• Working closely with the Government and the local NGOs and following the norms set up by the Government.