Coal Secretary inaugurates Smart Classrooms under CIL’s CSR initiative

New Delhi: The Ministry of Coal's Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt virtually inaugurated digital classrooms in government schools of Jharkhand under the ‘Digi Vidya’ initiative, a CSR project by Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries. The initiative aims to enhance education for students in mining regions across eight states, aligning with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat.’

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In the first phase, 272 government schools have been equipped with smart classrooms, with plans to expand coverage in future phases. Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) implemented the initiative in 79 schools in Dhanbad at a cost of Rs 10.69 crore, benefiting over 1,00,000 students and 400 teachers. Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) extended the project to 193 schools across Jharkhand, including Chatra, Bokaro, and Ranchi.

Dutt highlighted the transformative potential of digital classrooms, providing students in remote areas access to quality education and global knowledge. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, emphasized the initiative’s role in bridging the rural-urban education divide.

In addition to Digi Vidya, various subsidiaries of CIL launched other impactful CSR initiatives. BCCL sponsored ICT labs and digital classrooms, benefiting rural students. Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) signed an MoU with Sambalpur district to provide 20,617 dual desk benches for 809 elementary schools at a cost of Rs 22.51 crore, benefiting 40,000 students annually. Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) renovated infrastructure in three schools in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, at a cost of Rs 1.46 crore. Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) launched the Happy School project, redesigning five government schools in Nagpur under the innovative Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) concept, benefiting over 1,000 students.

Coal India's Chairman PM Prasad reiterated the company’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education, ensuring quality resources reach underserved regions. These initiatives underscore CIL’s dedication to the social development of communities in mining areas.

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