Later, employees, their families and children gathered at the Community Mandap to pay floral tribute and remember Zubeen’s life and music. Speaking on the occasion, Arnab Maitra recalled the singer’s role in carrying Assam’s language, emotions and identity to audiences across generations. The gathering featured memories shared by employees and children, with Zubeen’s songs played as part of the commemorative programme.

एनटीपीसी बोंगाईगांव स्पोर्ट्स काउंसिल द्वारा आयोजित इस समारोह में एथलेटिक्स मीट, साइकिल रेस और तैराकी प्रतियोगिताएं शामिल रहीं। कार्यक्रम की शुरुआत हॉकी के जादूगर मेजर ध्यानचंद के चित्र पर पुष्पांजलि अर्पित कर हुई। एनटीपीसी बोंगाईगांव के महाप्रबंधक (ओ एंड एम) श्री अनुराग गुप्ता और बर्दवी शिकला लेडीज क्लब की अध्यक्ष श्रीमती कस्तूरी मैत्रा ने खेल आइकन को श्रद्धांजलि दी।

श्री अनुराग गुप्ता ने खेल और फिटनेस को रोजमर्रा के जीवन का अभिन्न अंग बनाने पर बल दिया। इस अवसर पर स्पोर्ट्स काउंसिल के अध्यक्ष श्री बोन्थु बालाजी, महासचिव श्री सौविक सेन और उप महाप्रबंधक (एचआर) सुश्री देबलीना दास सहित कई वरिष्ठ अधिकारी उपस्थित रहे।

समारोह के मुख्य आकर्षण में स्थानीय युवाओं और कोकराझार जिला खेल संघ के सहयोग से एनटीपीसी की सीएसआर पहल के तहत समर्थित टीम “पावर वॉरियर्स” के बीच आयोजित एक फुटबॉल मैच रहा, जिसने स्थानीय खेल प्रतिभाओं को बेहतरीन मंच प्रदान किया।

The event commenced with floral tributes to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand by Shri Anurag Gupta, GM (O&M), and Smt. Kasturi Maitra, President of Bardwi Shikla Ladies Club. Addressing the gathering, Shri Anurag Gupta emphasized integrating fitness into daily life and praised the active involvement of employees, families, and local youth in building discipline and community spirit. Key officials including Shri Bonthu Balaji, Shri Souvik Sen, and Ms. Debaleena Das attended the function.

Highlights included a special football match involving local youth and “Power Warriors,” a CSR-supported team in collaboration with the Kokrajhar District Sports Association (KDSA), promoting local talent and extending sportsmanship to neighboring communities.

Highlighting the station’s operational performance, Shri Maitra said NTPC Bongaigaon generated 1,763.86 MUs at 72.59% PLF with 99.34% availability as of August 13, 2026. Unit-1 recorded its best-ever 468-day continuous run and remained free from Boiler Tube Leakage for over 905 days, while Unit-3 crossed 250 days of continuous operation. The station also recorded its highest-ever annual ash utilisation of 17.94 lakh metric tonnes in FY 2025-26, exceeding 180% utilisation.

The celebrations featured vibrant cultural performances, tricolour balloon release and recognition of excellence, with HOP Meritorious Awards presented to 32 employees and Health Champion Awards to seven employees. The station also highlighted the adoption of AI/ML-based Advanced Pattern Recognition (APR) for predictive maintenance and equipment reliability. Senior officials, employees, families and community members participated in the celebrations, which concluded with a renewed commitment to innovation, safety, environmental responsibility and NTPC’s larger vision.

NTPC Bongaigaon hosted an interactive session with representatives from print, electronic, and digital media to present the achievements and social impact of its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission. Addressing the media, Shri Arnab Maitra, Executive Director and Head of Project at NTPC Bongaigaon, detailed the journey of the national initiative.

Since its launch in 2018 across three projects with 392 participants, the program has grown into one of India’s largest residential empowerment initiatives, benefiting over 16,000 girls nationwide. Aligned with the central government’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, the initiative focuses on building leadership, self-confidence, and life skills among young girls from rural backgrounds.

At the regional level, NTPC Bongaigaon introduced the program in 2022 and has since transformed the lives of 210 girls across four editions. The 2026 edition achieved a major milestone by expanding its batch size from 40 to 50 participants, allowing more children from surrounding communities to attend the month-long residential training. The holistic curriculum combines academics, spoken English, digital literacy, and health awareness with physical disciplines like yoga, self-defence, and sports. Additionally, ten percent of the participants earn free education at the NTPC township school based on independent evaluations, ensuring long-term academic support.

Expressing gratitude to employees, educators, medical staff, local administration, and parents for their support, Shri Maitra reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to further expanding the reach of the mission. He emphasized that empowering a girl brings progress to entire families and communities. Accompanied by Head of HR Shri Amit Kumar Asthana and senior departmental officials, the management reiterated its vision to invest in the education and leadership development of young girls to build a stronger and more inclusive society.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Jaikumar Srinivasan underscored that empowering young girls is fundamental to building resilient families and stronger communities. He highly lauded NTPC Bongaigaon for fostering an inspiring, protective environment and later inspected the residential amenities to interact directly with the participants. To encourage their independence and future educational journeys, Shri Srinivasan personally distributed bicycles to all 50 girls. Echoing this vision, Shri Arnab Maitra reaffirmed NTPC’s commitment to inclusive growth, defining GEM as a cornerstone initiative designed to groom confident, capable, and socially responsible future women leaders. The launch event also featured a vibrant cultural showcase, a documentary on the GEM journey, and moving success stories shared by the program’s 2023 alumni batches.

Running from July 4 to July 31, 2026, the comprehensive curriculum offers a life-enriching blend of academic learning, digital literacy, personality development, sports, creative arts, and emotional well-being. Since debuting locally in 2022, the Bongaigaon chapter has successfully empowered 210 girls, standout among which is a merit policy where the top 10% of performers—selected via independent external evaluation—receive fully sponsored free education at the township school. On a national scale, NTPC’s standard-setting GEM initiative has already transformed the lives of over 13,000 girls across India, firmly driving corporate social responsibility, gender equality, and sustainable grassroots development forward.

Equipped with essential medicines and emergency medical facilities, the three boat ambulances will operate in Khutabagra and adjoining riverine areas. Staffed by trained healthcare personnel, including medical staff and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), the boats will provide primary healthcare, maternal and child health services, immunisation, emergency medical response, and transportation for patients during floods and other emergencies when conventional road access is disrupted.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Derhasat Basumatary lauded NTPC Bongaigaon for introducing an innovative solution to one of the region’s most pressing challenges, while Smt. Moon Moon Brahma highlighted the importance of collaboration between public institutions and corporate organisations in strengthening rural healthcare. Shri Nilu Brahma said the boat ambulances would significantly improve healthcare outreach in remote villages. NTPC Bongaigaon reaffirmed that healthcare remains a key focus of its CSR programme and stated that the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring quality healthcare reaches every community, regardless of geographical barriers.

The facilities were officially inaugurated by Shri Nabam Vivek, Hon’ble MLA, along with Shri Takar Rava, ADC Balijan, school representatives, and NTPC officials. The newly established labs aim to nurture a scientific temperament, while the library will serve as an intellectual knowledge hub.

During the ceremony, officials emphasized that investing in quality educational infrastructure is a vital catalyst for social transformation and nation-building. Through this impactful initiative, NTPC Bongaigaon continues to demonstrate its corporate commitment to fostering inclusive growth, community welfare, and long-term academic excellence across the region.

This developmental milestone is strategically designed to provide students with access to modern learning tools, particularly in science and technology. The newly established science laboratories will offer hands-on, practical learning opportunities to cultivate a strong scientific temperament, while the upgraded library is set to serve as a vital knowledge hub that encourages reading, research, and intellectual growth. Additionally, the five new classrooms significantly strengthen the school’s overall academic capacity, helping VKV Balijan smoothly accommodate the growing educational needs of the region.

During the event, officials from both NTPC and VKV Balijan emphasized that investing in educational infrastructure acts as a powerful catalyst for long-term social transformation and nation-building. While NTPC representatives reiterated their corporate dedication to sustainable community impact, the administration of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya expressed deep gratitude, noting that these upgraded facilities will enhance the daily teaching-learning experience for hundreds of students. As a responsible corporate citizen, NTPC Bongaigaon continues to drive inclusive growth across the region through impactful CSR initiatives spanning education, healthcare, skill development, and environmental sustainability.