Coal Ministry holds stakeholder consultation on sector-specific CSR framework for Indian coal companies

New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal on Tuesday conducted a stakeholder consultation at SCOPE Complex, New Delhi, to deliberate on the development of a dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework for Indian coal companies. The meeting saw participation from senior officials of the Ministry, representatives of Coal India Limited, NLC India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, and several private sector coal enterprises.

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The CSR policies of Coal PSUs are currently guided by the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014, and directives from the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). Over the years, coal sector PSUs have undertaken impactful initiatives in areas such as healthcare, education, environment protection, sanitation, and sports. However, with the increasing participation of private players, the Ministry has identified the need for a sector-specific CSR framework to promote sustainable and responsible practices across both public and private entities.

Addressing the participants, Ministry of Coal's Additional Secretary Rupin Brar emphasised the need for convergence between CSR, welfare, and sustainability initiatives. She urged companies to quantify their social and environmental efforts to gain green credits while ensuring community benefits. Highlighting the importance of a dedicated CSR framework for the coal sector, Brar stressed that CSR planning should be guided by local community needs.

Ms. Brar also underscored the significance of engaging credible third-party agencies for need and impact assessments to derive meaningful insights and ensure the effectiveness of CSR activities. She encouraged coal companies to collaborate, share best practices, and strengthen communication efforts to enhance visibility and awareness about their CSR contributions.

During the consultation, both public and private sector representatives welcomed the Ministry’s initiative and shared valuable suggestions for shaping the proposed framework. Participants highlighted that community benefit must remain the central objective, with an emphasis on genuine engagement with local populations to understand their developmental priorities.

The deliberations also underlined the importance of integrating best practices, ensuring transparency and accountability in CSR implementation, and aligning initiatives with broader sustainability frameworks such as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Stakeholders further proposed the inclusion of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for CSR budget formulation, measures to ensure the sustainability of created assets, a focused approach from implementing agencies, and an effective outreach strategy to strengthen CSR impact.

The consultation marked a key step towards formulating a robust CSR framework for the coal sector, generating valuable insights and identifying priority areas to enhance community impact, sustainability, and accountability in coal companies’ social initiatives.

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