The Valedictory Ceremony of the Oil and Gas Conservation Month (OGCM)– Saksham 2017 was held in Training Centre on 15.2.2017. Shri SP Kamath, GM – Process welcomed the gathering and explained the significance of OGCM activities under the light of Climate Change and Global Warming. Shri Ravishankara K gave the overview of various activities carried out during the month. Then the experiences of Steam Leak Survey were shared by our Engineers Mr Raghavendra HS and Mr Roshan Dhakate. Mr Raghavendra had visited IOC Guwahati and Mr Roshan had visited IOC Gujarat as Steam Leak Auditors as a part of OGCM campaign. Smt. Veena Shetty, Manager - CSR gave the company’s CSR viewpoint with respect to the Smoke Free Campaign during the month.

Shri Koppalkar KS, GGM I/c Refinery spoke on the occasion and said that we should use more and more LED lamps and Solar power and minimize the usage of Oil and Gas. He shared the vision of our previous Petroleum Minister that India should aim at ‘Zero’ import of Crude Oil. Latest researches have found Fossil fuel reserves under the ocean bed which means it is not the end of fossil fuel, but still we need to conserve them, he concluded.

Shri Y Ravindranath, CVO spoke on the occasion and said that we need to explore other sources of energy. He expressed his happiness over improvement in reduction of steam leak in our Refinery. By the end of year 2035 our dependence on fossil fuel will come to a naught and electrical vehicles will replace all the existing gasoline vehicles, he concluded.

Shri M Venkatesh, Director Refinery said that we have been winning the Jawahar Lal Nehru Energy Conservation Award for last few years continuously till the time our Phase 3 was commissioned. He encouraged the team MRPL to aim for it next year. We are still the least operating cost Refiners because of the efforts of all the stakeholders, he said. He applauded the Technical Services Department for carrying out various activities during the month. God has given us opportunity to serve our people and we will do it through our company with full honesty and integrity, he concluded.

The ‘Stone Age’ was not over due to scarcity of stones, opined Shri V Nanda Kumar, DGM – Tech Serv. drawing a comparison while proposing Vote of Thanks. Shri Mannu Jha, Engineer – Tech Serv. compered the event and Shri Navinchandra Pai, Chief Manager – Tech Serv. conducted the prize distribution ceremony for the winners of different competitions.

MRPL’s Kaushal Vikas Kendra, was inaugurated and Smoke free village campaign was launched on 12th February 2017 at MRPL Employees Club by Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel, Hon’ble MP, Dakshina Kannada, in the presence of Shri Mohiuddin Bawa, Hon’ble MLA Mangalore North and Shri H Kumar, Managing Director. Director (Ref) Shri M Venkatesh, Director (F) Shri A K Sahoo, members of Team MRPL, other elected representatives and invited dignitaries, villagers of adjoining villages of Chelairu and Soorinje were present on the occasion.

As a part of Oil and Gas Conservation Month, MRPL has identified villages under four Grama Panchayats in its surroundings and decided to make them smoke free. Under this campaign, families in BPL (below poverty level) category have been identified and are given free LPG kits and gas stove. So far, these families have been using firewood or kerosene as fuel which will be replaced with LPG. MRPL is bearing the cost of the gas kit as well as the gas stove which is provided to these beneficiaries free of cost. In the first phase, about 200 families from Soorinje and Chelairu grama panchayats have been distributed the free kits. In the second phase on 15th February 2017, villagers from Permude and Jokatte grama panchayats will be given the free LPG kits.

The Presidents of Soorinje and Chelairu Grama Panchayats declared their villages namely, Cheliaru, Madhya, Soorinje & Delantabettu as ‘Smoke free’.

Inaugurating the program, Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel emphasized the need to light the lamp of prosperity and knowledge in every home and every village drawing from the vision of Gandhiji, Father of the Nation and Swami Vivekananda who pointed out every person as a unit for Nation Building. Complimenting MRPL on launching MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra, he said that this is a wonderful opportunity for talented youth to further their career. He pointed out that Central government under Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi is committed to building and transforming India and therefore the emphasis on many schemes such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Skill India, Digital India, Start-up India and Make in India. He complimented MRPL for its efforts towards Smoke Free Villages and Kaushal Vikas Kendra. He said that he will support all such initiatives of MRPL which are aimed towards development of the surrounding areas.

Shri Mohiuddin Bawa said that he will wholeheartedly support MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra (MRPL KVK) as it will generate more job opportunities to the unemployed youth in the region. He promised help in sanctioning 10 acres of land for setting up the MRPL Kaushal VIkas Kendra for the benefit of people of Dakshina Kannada.

Shri H Kumar, Managing Director, said MRPL is committed to support the National development schemes of Government of India and Smoke free village campaign and MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra are testimony to its commitment. He elaborated on the Skilling Programme announced earlier. ‘The First Batch of 60 youth will be trained in partnership with NTTF in two trades: Industrial Electrician and CNC Operator-Turning’, he said. All expenses including food, lodging, tutorial expenses, clothing in the form of uniform, will be borne by MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra (KVK), he said. On successful completion, Certificate will be issued and candidates with no mobility constraint will be placed by NTTF, he said. He also announced that MRPL has got the approval to launch a start-up fund of Rs.10 Crores which will be used to support the new ventures/ startups of the youth.

Earlier, Shri BHV Prasad, GM I/c HR welcomed the gathering. Shri Mahesh MP, Sr Mgr-HR briefed about the MRPL’s Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Shri Ravishankara K, Sr Mgr – Process Engg gave details on Saksham and Smoke Free Campaign of MRPL. Shri Harish Baliga, DGM-CSR proposed the Vote of Thanks and Smt.Veena Shetty, Mgr – CSR compered the programme.

Vice President of D.K.Zilla Panchayat, Presidents, PDOs and members of Soorinje and Chelairu grama Panchayats and MRPL employees participated in the program.