New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal, in collaboration with Coal India Limited (CIL), has launched a Comprehensive CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies, the first sector-specific CSR framework since the introduction of statutory CSR provisions under the Companies Act, 2013.
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The framework was launched at an event in New Delhi that also marked major milestones under CIL's flagship healthcare CSR programmes — Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) and Nanha Sa Dil. The initiatives have together facilitated more than 1,050 bone marrow transplants and 1,500 corrective cardiac surgeries for children.
Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey and Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Vikram Dev Dutt, attended the event along with senior government officials, medical experts, implementing partners and beneficiary families.
The CSR framework has been prepared by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and is intended to provide a structured approach to outcome-oriented CSR interventions across the coal sector. It aims to ensure that CSR programmes undertaken by coal companies are aligned with local requirements, measurable outcomes and the development needs of communities in and around mining areas.
The framework is expected to strengthen planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CSR initiatives, with greater emphasis on transparency, accountability, scalability and measurable impact.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Rupinder Brar said CSR interventions should be rooted in local needs and supported by measurable outcomes. She said the new framework would help make CSR initiatives across the coal sector more structured, transparent and impact-oriented.
CIL's Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, which provides treatment support to children suffering from Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia, has expanded from an initial network of four hospitals to 21 empanelled hospitals across India.
Under the programme, financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh per patient is provided directly to empanelled hospitals for bone marrow transplantation. The scheme has an overall outlay of Rs 130 crore across four phases.
More than 1,050 bone marrow transplants (BMTs) have been completed under TBSY so far, with the majority of treated children reported to be leading normal and healthy lives.
CIL is the only Central Public Sector Enterprise to have undertaken a healthcare initiative of this scale for rare genetic blood disorders such as Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia, according to the Ministry of Coal.
The scheme is being implemented in coordination with Thalassemics India, with monitoring guidance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
CIL's Nanha Sa Dil initiative addresses Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), which affect an estimated 2.4 lakh newborns in India every year. The programme was launched in March 2024 across four districts of Jharkhand and has since been expanded through CIL subsidiaries South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL).
The initiative has so far screened more than 2 lakh children using modern diagnostic tools and facilitated over 1,500 corrective cardiac surgeries.
The surgeries, including associated travel and hospitalisation expenses, have been provided entirely free of cost to beneficiary families.
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Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy highlighted CIL's sustained CSR investments in healthcare, education, livelihoods and community development over the past decade. He particularly cited TBSY, Nanha Sa Dil and SECL's Sushrut initiative as examples of CIL's healthcare-focused CSR interventions.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts involving central and state governments, implementing agencies and parents' associations to support children affected by Thalassemia and congenital heart disease. He assured support for the educational needs of beneficiary children.
Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt highlighted the impact of CIL's CSR programmes in providing life-saving healthcare to children and families. He also underlined quality-assured care, real-time case tracking, transparency, accountability and scalability as key elements of the initiatives.
The event featured the release of a book on TBSY, screening of films showcasing CIL's healthcare CSR initiatives, felicitation of doctors and distinguished guests, and interactions with beneficiary families.
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