New Delhi: In a significant move towards community development, Union Minister for Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, unveiled new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by Coal India Limited (CIL) during an event held at the Ministry of Coal today.
Under the first initiative, CIL is extending its commitment to quality education by commissioning smart classrooms in 70 government schools. This project, valued at Rs. 2.42 crores, follows a similar initiative launched for 11 districts in Jharkhand on January 31, 2024. EdCIL (India) Limited, a Miniratna PSU of the Government of India, will execute the project. The initiative aims to enhance learning outcomes among students and bridge the digital divide between government and private school students.
Another noteworthy CSR scheme introduced by CIL is the ‘Coal India Lok Sewa Protsahan Yojana.’ This scheme intends to provide financial support of Rs. 1 lakh per candidate to SC/ST and Female/Third Gender candidates from coal mining districts of Coal India Limited who clear the preliminary round of Civil Service/Forest Service Examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from 2024 to 2026. The application process will commence after the declaration of results of Civil Service/Forest Service preliminary examination 2024 by the UPSC. The application process will be conducted through a dedicated portal developed by Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDI), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.
Project ‘Nanha Sa Dil’ was launched in Jharkhand as a comprehensive initiative to make surgeries for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) affordable for needy families. The project aims to screen approximately 18,000 children in four districts of Jharkhand through village/block-level and district-level camps. With an investment of Rs. 9.37 crores, the project will provide support for surgeries to children with confirmed diseases. The initiative will also include the training of doctors and paramedical staff in pediatric cardiology. The project is being carried out through Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust (SSSHET), which has extensive experience in providing free healthcare services.
The ‘Nanha Sa Dil’ project builds on the success of CIL’s flagship project, the ‘Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana,’ which recently achieved a significant milestone of 500 Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT). Coal India Ltd became the first PSU to support curative treatment for Thalassemia through BMT operations in 2017. The project has a total investment of Rs. 70 crores and has garnered recognition, winning the internationally renowned ‘Green World Environment Award’ in the CSR category.
Coal India Limited, through its CSR initiatives, has consistently emerged as one of the largest corporate spenders in the country. Over the nine-year period from FY 14-15 to 22-23, including its subsidiaries, the company has spent more than Rs. 5000 crores under CSR. The focus areas of the initiatives include Healthcare, Sanitation & Nutrition, Education & Livelihood, Rural Development, Promotion of Sports, Environment Conservation, and Disaster Management. The company’s CSR endeavors aim to bring joy and improvement to the lives of the underprivileged, and the thematic focus reflects its commitment to holistic community development. Pralhad Joshi commended the team at the Coal Ministry for their dedication to high-impact projects in health, education, skilling, and sports, contributing to an improved quality of life for beneficiaries.
