In a landmark move towards advancing gender inclusivity in the coal sector, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, inaugurated the company’s first fully women-operated dispensary at its Vasant Vihar headquarters in Bilaspur.
The newly inaugurated Vasant Vihar Dispensary will be staffed entirely by a 14-member team of women professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and support personnel. This initiative, the first of its kind in Coal India, is a step forward in promoting women’s participation and leadership in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
The dispensary was formally inaugurated by Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL, in the presence of N. Franklin Jayakumar, Director Technical (Operations & Project/Planning), Biranchi Das, Director (HR), D. Sunil Kumar, Director (Finance), Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, and other senior officials.
Speaking at the event, CMD Harish Duhan expressed pride in the initiative, stating, ‘It is a matter of great pride that Coal India’s first fully women-operated dispensary has been launched at SECL. This step reflects our commitment to encouraging women’s leadership and participation in every sphere of our operations.’
The move aligns with the vision of Union Minister for Coal, G. Kishan Reddy, who has emphasized the importance of enhancing women’s roles and leadership opportunities across the coal sector.
Equipped with a range of essential healthcare services, the Vasant Vihar Dispensary will provide OPD services, casualty and emergency medical care, dressing and injection rooms, ECG facilities, a blood collection centre for pathology tests, and an OPD pharmacy.
The initiative is expected not only to improve the quality and responsiveness of healthcare services at SECL but also to stand as a model for empowering women and fostering inclusive workplaces in the mining and energy sectors.
