South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, has marked a significant milestone with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ‘SECL Ke Sushrut’. It is the first and only CSR scheme of any coal PSU under the Ministry of Coal to be featured on the Government of India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal.

Significance of DBT Integration The DBT initiative aims to reform the delivery of government benefits by ensuring direct fund transfers to beneficiaries, reducing leakages, and improving resource utilisation. The DBT portal currently hosts approximately 325 schemes from 55 ministries, covering key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and social welfare.

About ‘SECL Ke Sushrut’ Launched in 2023, this flagship educational CSR initiative provides free medical coaching for 40 students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The scheme primarily supports meritorious and underprivileged students from the coal belt regions of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, equipping them with essential resources and mentorship to pursue careers in medicine.

Impact and Achievements In the first batch (NEET 2024), 39 out of 40 students successfully qualified, with:

11 students securing MBBS admissions 2 admitted to BDS 2 to BAMS 2 to BPTH 2 selected for veterinary courses in government colleges across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

Future Outlook With its listing on the DBT portal, ‘SECL Ke Sushrut’ will now offer greater transparency, efficiency, and accessibility, allowing eligible students to avail coaching support seamlessly. This initiative reinforces SECL’s commitment to social impact by fostering educational aspirations among youth in its operational areas.