SECL has launched the ‘Digi Vidya’ initiative to promote digital learning. A tripartite MoU was signed between SECL, the Anuppur District Administration, and EdCIL India Limited for a ₹13.73 crore project.

By Shuhaib T

In a significant boost to community development, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India under the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has sanctioned ₹170 crores for various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for the financial year 2024-25. These projects aim to enhance health, education, and skill development infrastructure across coalfield regions in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

This allocation significantly exceeds SECL’s statutory CSR budget of ₹99.76 crores for FY 24-25, underscoring the company’s commitment to social welfare. The approved initiatives, spanning the next two to three years, will be implemented through various agreements with government bodies and institutions.

Transforming Education: SECL Girls’ Hostel and Digi Vidya Initiative

One of the most impactful projects includes a ₹48.19 crore memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur, for constructing a 500-bed ‘SECL Girls’ Hostel.’ Funded entirely by SECL, this initiative will provide a secure and comfortable living space for female students, encouraging women’s higher education. The foundation stone for the hostel was laid by Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on January 21, 2025.

Additionally, SECL has launched the ‘Digi Vidya’ initiative to promote digital learning. A tripartite MoU was signed between SECL, the Anuppur District Administration, and EdCIL India Limited for a ₹13.73 crore project. This initiative will establish 265 smart classrooms and 84 science laboratories across 84 government higher secondary and high schools in Madhya Pradesh’s Anuppur district, aiming to modernize the education sector.

Healthcare Revolution: SECL Ki Dhadkan and TB Elimination Drive

Recognizing the urgent need for improved healthcare, SECL has expanded its flagship initiative, SECL Ki Dhadkan, an extension of Coal India Ka Nanha Sa Dil, aimed at providing life-saving cardiac care to children. On February 14, 2025, in conjunction with World Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Day and Coal India Limited’s (CIL) Golden Jubilee celebrations, SECL and Sri Sathya Sai Sanjivani Hospital, Raipur, hosted the ‘Gift of Life’ ceremony. SECL’s Director (Personnel), Biranchi Das, announced that the initiative has already facilitated 60 surgeries for children suffering from CHD.

With an initial assessment identifying 57 CHD cases in Balrampur, SECL has approved ₹4.71 crores to fund surgeries for 300 more children across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Thirteen children have already been treated under the project’s second phase. SECL aims to ensure that no child in these states is denied critical cardiac care due to financial constraints.

In line with the government’s 100-Day Intensified Campaign for TB Elimination, SECL has partnered with RK HIV & AIDS Research and Care Centre, Mumbai, for a ₹3.82 crore initiative. This program will conduct tuberculosis screenings for 50,000 individuals and provide medicines and nutritional kits to 300 patients in Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur, Raigarh, Surajpur) and Madhya Pradesh (Anuppur).

Boosting Skill Development and Employment

To enhance vocational training opportunities, SECL has signed a ₹3.12 crore MoU with the Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), Gurugram. This programme will train 400 underprivileged youths in apparel and textile industry skills, creating self-employment opportunities. Participants from various SECL operational areas can opt for either residential or non-residential training.

Furthermore, SECL has approved several key projects to enhance healthcare and skill development:

• Advanced Medical Equipment: A 3.0 Tesla MRI Machine worth ₹28.08 crores will be installed at the Late Bisahu Das Mahant Memorial Medical College in Korba, improving diagnostic capabilities.
• Malnutrition and Anemia Screening: SECL has allocated ₹30.92 crores to support the Vidisha District Administration in Madhya Pradesh to combat malnutrition, stunting, anemia, and sickle cell anemia.
• Multi-Skill Development Institute (MSDI): A ₹6.87 crore partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will establish a cutting-edge training center, benefiting 1,260 youths in SECL’s operational areas.

SECL’s Commitment to Sustainable Growth

SECL’s CSR initiatives reflect the company’s long-term commitment to holistic and sustainable community development. With projects focusing on healthcare, education, and vocational training, SECL aims to improve the overall quality of life for residents in coalfield regions.

These initiatives not only demonstrate SECL’s dedication to social welfare but also reinforce the company’s role as a responsible corporate entity, ensuring that the benefits of industrial growth are shared with local communities.