Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) of the Odisha government to develop urban habitats for low-income groups and improve access to welfare schemes.

The initiative aims to address urban inequality by creating inclusive, sustainable housing models and ensuring that government support reaches marginalised communities. Officials described the collaboration as a step towards making cities fairer and more accessible for economically weaker sections.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during the state-level celebration of Local Self-Governance Day on Sunday.

As part of the partnership, TSF and H&UDD will work to develop scalable and replicable models of inclusive urban development, enabling other regions to adopt similar frameworks in future. The collaboration is expected to bridge socio-economic divides and support long-term community upliftment through better access to housing, basic services, and social welfare schemes.