In a landmark move toward gender empowerment in the coal sector, South Eastern Coalfields Limited has inaugurated Coal India’s first fully women-operated dispensary at its headquarters in Bilaspur. The Vasant Vihar Dispensary is now run entirely by a 14-member team comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists and support staff—all women—marking a decisive shift in promoting female leadership within traditionally male-dominated domains.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director Harish Duhan presided over the launch, joined by Director Technical (Operations & Project/Planning) N Franklin Jayakumar, Director (HR) Biranchi Das, Director (Finance) D Sunil Kumar, Chief Vigilance Officer Himanshu Jain and senior officers. Duhan described the initiative as a source of pride for SECL and aligned it with the vision of Minister of Coal G Kishan Reddy, who advocates increased participation and leadership opportunities for women in the coal industry.
The dispensary provides a wide range of healthcare services, including OPD consultations, casualty and emergency care, ECG diagnostics, injection and dressing facilities, blood sample collection for pathology tests and a dedicated pharmacy. It is designed to offer enhanced quality and sensitivity in healthcare delivery while serving as a model of women-led excellence.
This pioneering effort underscores SECL’s commitment to progressive workplace policies and inclusive public service, reinforcing the broader mandate to drive female representation and dignity in infrastructure and community-facing institutions.
