In a significant step towards women empowerment and sustainable livelihood creation, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ACIC IIT (ISM) Foundation at Coal Bhawan Headquarters on Monday.
The MoU is aimed at implementing a flagship CSR project titled “Empowering Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for Sustainable Livelihoods by Revitalizing Handicrafts: A Community-Centered Approach.” The project, with an estimated cost of ₹85 lakh, will be implemented at the Belgadia Rehabilitation Township over a period of two years.
Empowering 100 Women Through Skill and Market Linkages
The initiative seeks to empower at least 100 women from local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities through manufacturing and marketing bamboo and jute-based handicraft products.
The project will focus on:
- Skill development and capacity building
- Income generation and entrepreneurship
- Economic self-reliance and social empowerment
- Long-term sustainability through assured market access
A key feature of the project is the buy-back assurance, under which ACIC IIT (ISM) Foundation will procure a minimum of 40 percent of the products manufactured, ensuring stable income and market security for the participating women.
Dedicated Facility at Belgadia Township
The project will operate from a newly constructed building at Belgadia, being developed by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA). Once operational, the facility will serve as a dedicated hub for production, training, and coordination.
The ultimate objective is to enable participating women to become economically independent, skilled artisans capable of sustaining livelihoods beyond the project duration.
MoU Signing Ceremony
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Surendra Bhushan, Head of Department (CSR), BCCL, along with members of the BCCL CSR team. The ACIC IIT (ISM) Foundation was represented by Dr. Akanksha and her team.
BCCL’s Commitment to Inclusive Growth
This collaboration reinforces BCCL’s commitment to inclusive community development, aligning corporate social responsibility with innovation, academia, and grassroots empowerment. By revitalizing traditional handicrafts and linking them with modern market systems, the initiative aims to create sustainable, women-led livelihood models in coal-bearing regions.
