South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has launched India’s first all-women operated dispensary at its headquarters in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. This marks a historic step in women empowerment in the coal sector.
Key Highlights
- Dispensary Name: Vasant Vihar Dispensary, Bilaspur
- Team Composition: Entirely managed by 14 women, including: doctors, Nurses, Matron, Support staff, Pharmacists
- Services Offered:
- OPD Consultations
- Casualty & Emergency Services
- Dressing and Injection Room
- ECG Facilities
- Blood Collection Centre for Pathology
- OPD Pharmacy
- Significance:
- Promotes gender-inclusive leadership and enhances the sensitivity and quality of healthcare services.
- Aligns with the vision of inclusive growth and leadership opportunities for women in public sector undertakings.
About South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL)
- Status: Miniratna Category-I CPSE under Ministry of Coal
- Headquarters: Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
- Operational Spread: 92 Mines across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh
- 70 Underground mines
- 21 Opencast mines
- 1 Mixed mine
- Parent Company: Coal India Limited
Notable Mines:
- Gevra Opencast Mine:
- Production FY 2023–24: 59 million tonnes
- Capacity: 70 million tonnes/year
- Started: 1981
- Kusmunda Opencast Mine:
- Production FY 2023–24: >50 million tonnes
- Ranking:
- Gevra – 2nd largest coal mine in the world
- Kusmunda – 4th largest coal mine in the world (WorldAtlas 2024)
Other Key SECL Initiatives
- Miyawaki Plantation Drive (2023):
- Implemented around Gevra coal mine
- Aimed at forest regeneration and improving ecological balance
- AMRIT Pharmacy Initiative:
- Bilaspur Centre inaugurated in 2023
- SECL became the first coal company to operate 4 AMRIT pharmacies
- Offers affordable generic medicines, implants, and surgical consumables
- Part of a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (2015)
Key Facts
- Coal India Limited (CIL): Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Coal
- AMRIT Pharmacies: Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment initiative
- Miyawaki Method: Dense afforestation technique developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki