The Ministry of Coal, along with Coal India Limited (CIL), today celebrated key milestones under its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives — the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) and Nanha Sa Dil — and launched the Comprehensive CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies, at an event held at New Delhi.

The event was graced by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines, and Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, along with Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Coal, in the presence of senior officials, medical experts, implementing partners, and beneficiary families.

Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY)

Launched to address the treatment needs of children suffering from Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia — rare genetic blood disorders — TBSY has grown from an initial network of 4 hospitals to 21 empanelled hospitals across the country. CIL is the only Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India to have undertaken a healthcare initiative of this scale for rare genetic blood disorders such as Thalassemia and Aplastic Anemia. Under the scheme, up to Rs. 10 lakh per patient is extended directly to empanelled hospitals for Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), against a total outlay of Rs. 130 crore across four phases. To date, more than 1,050 BMTs have been completed, with the overwhelming majority of treated children now leading normal, healthy lives. The scheme is implemented in coordination with Thalassemics India, with monitoring guidance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Nanha Sa Dil

Addressing Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), which affect an estimated 2.4 lakh newborns in India annually — of whom only about 5 percent receive timely treatment — Nanha Sa Dil was launched by CIL in partnership with the Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust. Beginning with four districts of Jharkhand in March 2024 by CIL, the initiative has since been scaled up through CIL's subsidiary companies SECL, CCL, NCL and WCL. Over 2 lakh children have been screened using modern diagnostic tools, and more than 1,500 corrective surgeries have been completed, entirely free of cost to patient families, including travel and hospitalisation expenses.

Comprehensive CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies

Marking a significant step towards outcome-oriented CSR, the Ministry of Coal launched CSR framework for coal sector, the first sector specific CSR framework since the advent of statutory CSR under the Companies Act, 2013. The framework has been prepared by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and serves as a guiding framework for an impactful and outcome oriented CSR for benefit of people residing in the coal mining areas.

 

 

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines highlighted Coal India’s sustained CSR commitment over the past decade on healthcare, education, livelihoods and community development. He lauded key initiatives including the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, Nanha Sa Dil and SECL’s Sushrut. He asserted the importance of whole of society approach including from central and state governments, implementing agencies and parents’ associations for benefit of children suffering from Thalassemia and Congenital Heart Disease. He also assured support for educational needs for brighter future of beneficiary children.

 

Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey,  said that every child should have access to better treatment, essential healthcare facilities and the opportunity to lead a dignified life. He appreciated the efforts of Coal India Limited (CIL) through its CSR initiatives to support thalassemia treatment and affected families.

 

Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, in his address highlighted the transformative impact of Coal India’s CSR initiatives in bringing life-saving healthcare to children and families in need. He appreciated the selfless contribution of doctors, empanelled hospitals and partner organisations, and highlighted quality-assured care, real-time case tracking, transparency, accountability and scalability as key strengths of these initiatives.

Delivering the welcome address Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, highlighted that the true spirit of CSR lies in touching lives, empowering communities and creating opportunities for those who need them the most. She underlined the importance of ensuring that CSR interventions are rooted in local needs, backed by thoughtful planning and measured through tangible outcomes. The new framework, she noted, is an important step towards making CSR more structured, transparent and impact-oriented across the coal sector, ensuring that every initiative translates into real benefits on the ground and contributes to stronger, healthier and more empowered communities.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shantanu Sen, Head of Transplant Unit, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai highlighted that more than 10,000 kids in India are born with Thalassemia every year. He said that their entire life is spent getting blood transfusion. Despite this, he said that many of these kids won’t survive for long. The only cure existing for this is Bone Marrow Transplant, he added. Biggest challenge parents of these kids face is the expensive nature of BMT. He thanked Coal India on behalf of the medical fraternity for making this very expensive treatment available through this very innovative, lifesaving and unique program, called Thalassemia Bal Seva Yojana.

 

 

 

The beneficiary children and their families also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Coal India Limited, the Ministry of Coal, the doctors, hospitals and partner organisations for the support extended to them. Sharing their personal journeys, the children spoke about how timely treatment had given them renewed hope, confidence and an opportunity to look forward to a brighter future. Their words and smiles reflected the real impact of CSR—not merely in numbers or projects, but in lives transformed, dreams restored and futures made brighter.

 

The event also featured the release of a book on TBSY, screening of short films on CIL's CSR initiatives in health sector, felicitation of doctors and distinguished dignitaries, and interactions with beneficiary families.

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Shuhaib T/Prajith Kumar

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