**Summary:**
Coal India Limited (CIL) is actively implementing initiatives to enhance the participation and leadership of women in the coal sector. Key efforts include the establishment of women-led healthcare facilities, such as the Vasant Vihar Dispensary in Bilaspur (South Eastern Coalfields Limited - SECL), and similar facilities in Ranchi (CCL), Dhanbad (BCCL), and Nagpur (WCL). CIL has also launched "Jyoti - Rising Together, Leading the Way," a five-month women's leadership program through the Indian Institute of Coal Management (IICM) to prepare female executives for higher responsibilities.
Other initiatives include revising dependent employment policies to include female dependents regardless of marital status, mandating female representation on all committees, and establishing a centralized technical center for LED and solar equipment repair operated by women technicians in Dhanbad (BCCL). Women employees are also being sent for underground mining training to acquire Mining Sirdar Certificates of Competency and are encouraged to participate in rescue work, with 19 female employees from WCL and 9 from MCL having received training in rescue and recovery.
To ensure a safe working environment, Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) have been established under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. NLC India Limited (NLCIL) is also actively participating in this initiative, employing 190 women in its mining operations, with 48 in executive positions, including key statutory roles like surveyors and mining sirdars.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of Coal and Mines in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on August 18, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Coal India Limited: A major coal producer in India, undertaking various initiatives to promote women's participation.
South Eastern Coalfields Limited: A subsidiary of Coal India Limited where the first women-managed dispensary was inaugurated in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Indian Institute of Coal Management: Apex training institute of Coal India Limited that launched the Jyoti Rising Together, Leading the Way, a flagship Women's Leadership initiative.
Jyoti Rising Together, Leading the Way: A women's leadership initiative by Coal India Limited to prepare female executives for higher responsibilities.
Bharat Coking Coal Limited: A subsidiary of Coal India Limited that inaugurated a centralized technical center for LED and solar energy equipment operated by women in Koyla Nagar, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Western Coalfields Limited: A subsidiary of Coal India Limited, from which 19 female employees have been trained in Rescue and Recovery work.
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited: A subsidiary of Coal India Limited, from which 9 women employees have been trained in Rescue and Recovery work.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013: An Indian law under which Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) have been constituted in Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries to address sexual harassment.
Ministry of Coal
Women in coal mining
Posted On: 18 AUG 2025 2:41PM by PIB Delhi
Coal India Limited has inaugurated its first dispensary operated and managed entirely by women at Vasant
Vihar Dispensary, Bilaspur in South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) on dated 14th July, 2025. The
dispensary is staffed by an all Women team delivering comprehensive healthcare.
Various significant women-led initiatives have been implemented to further our commitment to gender equity
and institutional excellence and to enhance participation of women in the coal sector and the creation of
leadership opportunities for them across the country in diverse field such as healthcare, technical, planning
units, etc.
i) The all women led initiatives implemented and functional across different subsidiaries of CIL are as below:
Vasant Vihar Dispensary, Bilaspur, SECL.
(cid:108)
Rajendra Nagar Dispensary, Ranchi, CCL
(cid:108)
Koyla Nagar Hospital (Morning shift), Dhanbad, BCCL
(cid:108)
Sadbhavana Colony Dispensary, Patansaongi, Nagpur, WCL
(cid:108)
Condition Based Monitoring Laboratory at Central Excavation Workshop, Gevra, SECL.
(cid:108)
Centralised Technical Centre for LED & Solar Equipment at Dhanbad.
(cid:108)
Cost & Budget Cell at NCL HQ, Singrauli, NCL.
(cid:108)
ii) Coal India Limited (CIL) through its apex training institute, the Indian Institute of Coal Management
(IICM), has launched “Jyoti – Rising Together, Leading the Way”, a flagship Women’s Leadership initiative.
This is a structured five-month women leadership journey designed to prepare female executives for higher
responsibilities within CIL by strengthening competencies in communication, decision-making, emotional
intelligence, negotiation skills, personal growth and leadership readiness. The programme also provides
exposure to best practices, networking opportunities, mentorship and institutional support, thereby creating a
strong pipeline of women leaders in the coal sector.
iii) Female dependents are now considered for dependent employment upon death of the employee
irrespective of their marital status which was not so earlier in the Coal India Limited.
iv) In order to encourage the increased participation of women in organizational matter and broader
commitment of Coal India Limited towards gender sensitivity, equity and inclusiveness, it has been
made essential in all Committees to include one representative of woman.
v) Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has inaugurated its first centralized technical centre for the
repair and maintenance of LED and solar energy equipment operated entirely by women
technicians. The centre, based in Koyla Nagar, Dhanbad marks a pioneering step in bringing
women into core technical operations traditionally dominated by male staff.
vi) Furthering its commitment to gender equity and institutional excellence across Coal India Limited & its
subsidiaries, women employees are sent to underground training for acquiring Mining Sirdar Certificate of
Competency.
vii) Women are encouraged to participate in rescue works and also imparted training in Rescue and
Recovery work. Till date, 19 female employees from Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and 9
women from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) have been imparted training in Rescue and
Recovery work.viii) To safeguard women employees, Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) have been
constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and
Redressal) Act, 2013, (POSH Act). The committees are functioning for preventing, prohibiting, and
addressing sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
ix) Further, NLC India Limited (NLCIL) is actively participating in this initiative and employed women
inside its Mines. In NLCIL’s mining domain, 190 women are employed, with 48 holding executive
positions. For the first time in its history, NLCIL has integrated women into core mining operations,
marking a milestone in the company’s commitment to gender inclusivity. Women have been
employed in key statutory positions such as surveyors, mining sirdars and overmen across nine
statutory posts.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in
Rajya Sabha today.
****
Shuhaib T
(Release ID: 2157436)