Union Minister Inaugurates Transformative CSR Initiatives by Coal India Limited

New Delhi:  In a significant stride towards realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Digital Bharat’, the Union Minister of Coal, Mines, and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, inaugurated three pioneering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives undertaken by Coal India Limited (CIL) in collaboration with Educational Consultants Limited (EDCIL), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and TATA STRIVE.

The ceremony, held on January 31, 2024, witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including Secretary, Ministry of Coal Shri Amrit Lal Meena, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Ms. Rupinder Brar, and other esteemed guests.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between CIL and EDCIL to provide digital education through smart classrooms and computer laboratories for schools up to the 12th standard in Coal Bearing States. This initiative is set to benefit approximately 200 schools, with an estimated CSR expenditure of Rs. 27.08 Crores. Already, a thousand smart classrooms have been established under the government coal companies’ CSR initiatives.

CIL entered into a MoU with NSDC to establish multi-skilled development institutes in each subsidiary of CIL. The primary objective is to equip youth in coalfield communities with essential skills based on market requirements. The institutes will initially be launched in Central Coal Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) during the pilot phase in 2024-25, with plans to scale up operations in other CIL subsidiaries.

In an effort to provide gainful employment to 655 unemployed youth in the coal mines’ peripheral areas, CIL signed an MoU with TATA STRIVE. The collaboration aims to offer training in various domains, including assistant electrician, Commis Chefs, F&B Steward, Housekeeping & Front office associates. Training centers will be established in Nagpur, Varanasi, Kamrup-Assam, and Chindwara. A pilot program conducted with TATA STRIVE has already demonstrated a 100% employment assurance for the trainees.

Expressing his commendation for CIL’s commitment to societal development, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi lauded the company for being a responsible partner in the growth of Bharat and empowering communities. The initiatives are set to play a pivotal role in fostering education, skill development, and employment opportunities in the coal-bearing regions, aligning with the broader vision of a developed and digitally empowered India.