New Delhi, 11 July (H.S.): The Ministry of Coal has officially notified South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ‘Sushrut of SECL’, in the Gazette of India.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the coal company said that the initiative, launched in 2023, provides free residential coaching to meritorious students preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical courses. The Ministry of Coal has issued a Gazette notification enabling Aadhaar authentication for beneficiaries of the scheme.

Under the notification, beneficiaries will receive the scheme’s benefits through voluntary Aadhaar authentication, ensuring transparent, efficient, and targeted delivery. At the same time, beneficiaries who do not wish to use Aadhaar will continue to have the option of verifying their identity through alternative government-approved identification documents.

South Eastern Coalfields Limited stated that the Gazette notification formally recognises the initiative. It is the first such step taken for a CSR programme in the coal public sector, reflecting the growing role of coal companies in promoting social development across mining regions.

SECL Chairman and Managing Director Harish Duhan said, “This notification is a significant recognition of an initiative that is transforming the aspirations of young people in coalfield regions into opportunities. It is aligned with the Government’s vision of inclusive and transparent development.”

Notably, SECL’s flagship CSR initiative has become the first CSR scheme to receive a Gazette notification, enabling transparent, efficient, and technology-driven delivery of benefits. The initiative had earlier become the first CSR programme in the coal sector to be listed on the Central Government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar