CSR Watch: SECL spends over Rs 260 crores in Chhattisgarh in last 5 years

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has spent more than Rs 260 crores via CSR on various sectors in the state of Chhattisgarh between FY'2018-19 and FY'2022-23. The coal behemoth has been actively contributing to strengthening government infrastructure in key areas such as Healthcare and infrastructure in rural areas through its CSR activities. These activities have played a key role in connecting the tribal communities living in some of the remotest parts of Chhattisgarh to mainstream development.

The company has carried CSR activities in a wide range of areas to create greater impact in the lives of people. In the past five years company has channeled its CSR expenditure into key areas such as ensuring environmental sustainability, education, promoting healthcare, rural development projects, sanitation and providing support to flagship government programs like Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat Mission, Clean Ganga Mission etc.

In the healthcare sector the company has provided CT scan and MRI Machines to Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur, and a CT scan machine to Govt. Medical College, Ambikapur. These machines have greatly strengthened healthcare infrastructure in these cities and people don’t have to travel far and wide to avail these facilities.

Jaya Binkar, a resident of Devri Khurd village (located 23 kms from Bilaspur) who had come to get her CT scan done at CIMS Bilaspur said, “The hospital has good facilities for CT Scan and MRI. Because of this we don’t have to travel far and we can avail these facilities along with doctor’s consultation under one roof. These services are completely free and we have greatly benefitted from it.”

The company has done tremendous work in developing education infrastructure in government schools in Chhattisgarh by renovating and rebuilding schools, building hostels, developing smart-classes and providing desk and benches for children.

For empowering Divyangjans, it has built a Skill Development Training Centre with a 100-bed hostel in Bilaspur which is allowing them to develop vocational skills and secure job opportunities. For skilling youths the company has undertaken training programs for around 1000 youths though Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET) Korba. Youths after getting trained here are getting employment opportunities in private and public sector companies.

CSR activities of the company are impacting the lives of people living in the villages of Chhattisgarh. The company is taking up projects where it is building roads for easy commute, pipelines to supply water from mines to nearby villages facing water scarcity, building toilets, etc.

In addition to these company has also implemented and supported projects in the areas of Drinking water, Livelihood enhancement project & Skill Development, Protection of national heritage, art and culture, sports training to youths, Welfare of the differently abled /SC/ST/Women/Orphans /Armed Force Veterans & Ex-servicemen.

Disclaimer: This story is a press release and is being published without any editing, except the headline, by the PSU Watch desk.

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