New Delhi, October 5
In a major step towards promoting women's leadership in core industrial sectors, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), on Sunday inaugurated the company's first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at its Central Workshop, Korba, according to the Ministry of Coal release.
The initiative, launched under the Government of India's Special Campaign 5.0, follows SECL's earlier achievement of establishing Coal India's first all-women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur and reflects the organisation's sustained commitment to Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti.
The new Central Store Unit will oversee spare parts supply and inventory management, entirely managed by a dedicated team of eight women officers and staff led by Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The facility leverages a modern SAP-based digital platform for efficient and transparent record management.
The inauguration ceremony commenced with the traditional lamp-lighting, followed by the formal ribbon-cutting by Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL. The event was graced by N Franklin Jaykumar, Director (Technical/Operations); Biranchi Das, Director (HR); RC Mahapatra, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects); and Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, SECL. Outstanding women employees of the workshop were felicitated on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, CMD Harish Duhan said that the initiative marks a progressive step towards inclusive growth within Coal India. "Following the success of the women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, we are proud to see women taking charge of a core operational unit at Korba. Such initiatives resonate with the vision of Union Minister of Coal G Kishan Reddy, who emphasises enhanced participation and leadership of women in the coal sector," he added.
The establishment of this all-women Central Store Unit represents another milestone in Coal India's journey towards gender-inclusive and self-reliant industrial operations, embodying the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great step forward for gender equality in industrial sectors. Hope this becomes a model for other PSUs across India. The SAP-based digital platform is also a smart move for transparency.
While this is a positive development, I hope this isn't just tokenism. The real test will be whether these women get equal opportunities for career growth and leadership positions in the long run.
As someone from Chhattisgarh, it's heartening to see such progressive initiatives in our state. Women breaking stereotypes in traditional sectors like coal mining - this is real development! 🇮🇳
Wonderful to see IIT alumnae like Sapna Ikka leading such initiatives. This shows how quality education combined with opportunities can transform sectors. More such stories needed!
Impressive to see India making such strides in gender inclusion in heavy industries. The combination of women leadership and digital transformation is a winning formula. Hope to see more such units across the country.
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