South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Chhattisgarh-based coal PSU, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust to establish a state-of-the-art Healthcare Skill Development Centre at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The project will be supported through a financial assistance of ₹35.04 crore.
The proposed institute aims to provide free, job-oriented healthcare training to youth from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those from coalfield regions of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Training will focus on key healthcare domains such as nursing assistants, technicians and allied healthcare professionals, with the objective of improving employability while strengthening healthcare delivery systems in underserved areas.
The campus will feature academic blocks, hostels, staff residential facilities and allied infrastructure. As part of the long-term social commitment, preference will be given to candidates from SECL’s operational districts. At least 20 per cent of the annual intake will be reserved for these districts for a period of 25 years, with the provision for extension based on performance.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Biranchi Das, Director (HR), SECL. It was executed by C. M. Verma, General Manager (CSR), SECL, and Vivek Narayan Gour, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust.
SECL and the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust are already collaborating under SECL’s flagship healthcare initiative ‘SECL Ki Dhadkan’, which provides free corrective surgeries to children suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD). Under this programme, more than 180 life-saving surgeries have been successfully conducted, significantly improving access to advanced healthcare for underprivileged families in coalfield areas.
SECL has emerged as a major catalyst for social development in its areas of operation and has spent over ₹850 crore on CSR initiatives across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh over the years. These initiatives span healthcare, education, skill development, infrastructure and community welfare.
With the establishment of the Healthcare Skill Development Centre at Nava Raipur, SECL further reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth, capacity building and sustainable development, aligning its CSR initiatives with national priorities in healthcare and human resource development.
