The Bastia Memorial trust  was established by the workers of Rourkela Steel Plant at Sector 6, Rourkela, in the memory of late Trade Union Leader Dhuliswar Bastia (1923-1966), who was a pioneer in establishing Rourkela Majdoor Shabha. A unique feature of this Organisation is built by small donations of the worker with the initiative of Rourkela Mazdoor Shabha a large Educational Complex. It embodies a working class perspective in the pursuit of knowledge and participatory culture. Its motto is education, culture and integration it solicits workers involvement and participation in all its objectives, so that their mind is directed, towards service to the society. the trust started its work earnestly after its building was opened by, then Governor of Orissa, Sri C. M. Poonacha in 1980 for the service of the nation.

OBJECTIVES

Its main objective as laid down in the Trust Deed:

1. To put up a building to perpetuate the memory of late Dhuliswar Bastia.

2. To establish a labour and research library for general purposes.

3. To establish workers training centre and other allied institutions for the spread of education among the weaker sections of the society including workmen belonging to industries, agriculture and other sectors. It is gradually growing to be a big non formal education centre.

The following institution is affiliated to the trust :

• Asian workers Development Institute (AWDI)   13.07.1980
• Shramik Vidyapitha (SVP)                             02.05.1983
• Nabakrushna Choudhary Library (NKCL)           23.11.1984
• Employment Training Centre (ETC)                16.08.1988
• Rourkela Industrial Training Centre (RITC)       08.04.1989
• Centre for Computer Education and Services   02.12.1989
• Centre for Continuing workers Education        27.02.1995
• Nirmal Munda Tribal Development
  and Research Centre                                  04.10.1994

DHULISHWAR BASTIA

Bastiaji hails form peasant family of an obscure village, 'KUSINGA' in Jagatsinghpur Police Station of Cuttack district in Orissa, born on 19th October 1923. After passing M. E. School Examination from Kaduapara School, he was admitted to the Sri Krishna Academy, Jagatpursingh. The organising capacity of Bastiaji was revealed from his school days. that was the period when the freedom movement was shaking the country. The freedom struggle, the call for self-sacrifice for the mother-land had a lasting impact on Bastiaji's mind. He took to spinning and persuaded others to follow suit. He vehemently opposed the practice of untouchability. He cut off his family surname 'Basant Ray' which was denominational and instead called himself "Bastia".

He enjoyed the Christ College where he was recognaised as a successful student organiser. His sincerity, devotion to duty, self sacrifice, indomitable spirit of organising the students did not escape the notice of the then leaders of Orissa.

After independence, the socialist ideals were very attractive to the youth. When the Socialist Party came into begin under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan, Surendranath Dwivedy and other veteran leaders of the country. The young Bastia with other friends like R. K. samantrai and other joined the socialist camp.

He became very active in organising industrial workers. He was a full timer on behalf of the party to organise the Mines workers in the Talcher Coal Minesarea. His untiring efforts, heart touching speech, simple and human behaviour and organising capacity created magic in the field of labour movement, some thing very little known in Orissa during pre Bastia period.

He could not survive long to see the flourishing of Rourkela  Mazdoor sabha which he nourished from its very infancy. He died at the age of 43 in a road accident under tragic circumstances.

ASIAN WORKERS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (AWDI)

AWDI aims to provide management education in various streams at the postgraduate level, research in the field of management and consultancy to organizations. It has committed itself to build a line of competent and confident managers who would be able to take up the challenges thrown by the industrial and service sectors which are undergoing radical transformation due to challenges of globalization and on going liberalizations process, it stands for discipline and sense of commitment. AWDI aims to provide continuing education and training to the working executives. The institute has provided education and training to sources of young graduates and postgraduate who have been suitably employed in different public and private sector organizations over the years. The facilities of campus, library and teaching provided by the institute are second to none in the realm of management studies. It has got

1. Computerized Library

2. System Laboratory

3. Seminar and Workshop

4. Summer Training

5. Training and Placement Cell

6. Residential Facility

7. Publication