A lighted archway in Jubilee Park decked up for Founder’s Day. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, March 2: Basic entertainment, healthcare and better civic amenities… the list is endless. Gifts are pouring on the steel city like rain this Founder’s Day.

The day, celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of founder of Tata Steel JN Tata, has a special significance this year as it coincides with the triple centenary celebrations — birth centenaries of JRD Tata and Naval H. Tata and the death centenary of founder JN Tata. The celebration this year will be a five-day affair beginning tomorrow.

The company has lined up several sops for the people. A permanent Iceland at Nicco Jubilee Amusement Park, the launch of an insurance scheme for non-employees at Tata Main Hospital (TMH), a laser show at the Jubilee Park, that may become a permanent affair if the response is good and an athletics academy at JRD Tata Sports complex are some of the items in the gift hamper.

“The year 2004 is momentous for Tata Steel and the city as we are celebrating the triple centenary. Like every year, this year too, we are celebrating the day, but with added vigour and enthusiasm,” said Sanjiv Paul, managing director of Jamshedpur Utility Services Company (Jusco), which looks after the non-core sectors.

According to Paul, the Iceland (with real snow) and the laser show (which can recreate visuals of any object) are the high points. “The laser show will be exhibited for the first time on Founder’s Day. We hope that people like the show. Depending on the response, we might make it a regular affair,” he said.

Healthcare facilities will also form a part of the gift package. The Tata Main Hospital (TMH) has entered into an agreement with the National Insurance Company Limited and TTK Healthcare Services Private Limited to start a health insurance scheme for non-employees of the company so that they can avail of the indoor medical facilities at the hospital.

The scheme will be launched on Founder’s Day tomorrow, said Manoj Prasad, general manager (medical services), Tata Steel.

The rural population will also not be deprived. The Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) plans to organise health camps on the outskirts of the city. The camps will be organised as part of the death centenary celebration of JN Tata on the 29th day of every month.

Citizens can now boast of good roads and can avoid congestion as extensive road widening work is in progress.

Chief of town services K. Midha said, at present, widening of road is being carried out at three places — Inner Circle Road near TMH, the road in front of Bengal Club in Sakchi and the road linking Sitla Mandir in Sakchi to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital.

Plans are also in the offing to widen the stretch between RD Tata School to Aakashdeep Plaza in Golmuri and Balichela Road in Sonari.