Subhechcha Ganguly 
Over the years, Prashant Ahluwalia has been the mainstay of the KJS Ahluwalia Group, leading it with aplomb and guiding it through choppy waters. As the Group started with Iron ore & Manganese operations, it then diversified into Iron & Steel Plants, Power Plants, Cement Plants, Logistics & Transportation, and also played a key role in Media (Sadhna News Channel). Jagannath Steels & Power Ltd is an integrated steel plant that produces primary steel using state-of-the-art technology.
Prashant Ahluwalia is credited with carrying ahead the highly valued legacy of the Late Shri KJS Ahluwalia who founded the Group in 1971.
Prasant credits it to his visionary brother Kamaljeet Singh for his true business acumen. His legacy has taken the group’s business to a new level. Yet, Prasant feels the culture of a business supersedes any position. One of the revelations that emerged from the interview is that despite running such a diversified business entity, the Ahluwalias have never sought any loan. This stands out at a time when banks are saddled with humongous bad debts of top corporates and some of the loans being written off after failed recovery.
“In business, we never hanker after short-term profit, our goal is long-term and sustainable business”, he quips.
For him, the employees’ satisfaction and their trust count and nothing can replace them. “We are always focused on our employees’ welfare. Their problem is always a heavy loss to the organisation. It is wrong to assume the employees depend on us- rather as a business legacy, our business depends on their work.’’In four decades, the group has now diversified into Cement, Prefabricated Concrete, TMT, Hotels & Resorts and Township Development.
KJS Concrete incorporated in 2011 is a green field venture of KJS Group which recognizes the imperative of Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy and a Green Planet. Its corporate vision based on Triple Bottom Line is focused on Social and Environment Responsibility as an integral aspect of Business growth.
Beyond business rigour, the Ahluwalias are known for their high stakes in social responsibility. The group runs and maintains a Saraswati Sishu Mandir at Gualdi, Barbil. Over 300 children are served mid-day meals every day and also provided all facilities for ensuring a healthy learning ecosystem. They have also been taking care of an orphan home for the past couple of years where more than 100 children study. “We are ready to convert into a permanent orphanage if we are given a patch of land. I plea to the local government to make necessary arrangements so that we can build a lovely orphan home for the underprivileged”, said Ahluwalia.
KJS Ahluwalia Group has created educational opportunities for local communities in Odisha and also in New Delhi. More than 250 students under poverty levels are being benefited. The Group is committed towards the monthly contribution to the school. We provide school uniforms, school bags, books and stationeries to the student. The Group has also adopted a Village to support and facilitate and has initiated to supply of fresh water, Electricity, Education and Medical facilities. The focus is on Medical health care. Every year, they organize a Blood donation camp in our Mines and Plant and at the Administration office. Under CSR Initiative every month KJS Ahluwalia Group organize Health Camp in collaboration with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) at Block/ Sub-Block level.
