CSR News: Smart Classrooms inaugurated under Coal India’s CSR initiative

Government schools in Jharkhand now boast of digital classrooms, all thanks to a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Coal India. The digital classrooms were inaugurated by Coal Ministry Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt on Saturday in a virtual ceremony. The smart classrooms have been installed under ‘Digi Vidya’, a CSR initiative of Coal India subsidiaries.

The purpose of Coal India’s CSR programme ‘Digi Vidya’ is to ensure that students of schools situated in mining areas of eight states where CIL’s subsidiaries operate should get quality education. In the first phase, 272 government schools were upgraded under Digi Vidya with Smart classrooms. More schools will be added in upcoming phases. Coal India Limited Chairman PM Prasad termed the initiative as an effort to ensure inclusive and equitable education focusing in remote areas.

Addressing the gathering, Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal said that the digital classrooms enable students in remote and under privileged areas to access quality education resources. “In the coming days, exposure to digital tools in the classroom prepares students for a technology-driven future. The teachers and students can access global knowledge and stay updated with the latest education trends.”

CSR of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL)

Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) has implemented Smart Classrooms and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs in 79 schools of Dhanbad district, with an investment of over Rs. 10.69 crores. It aims to enhance the education landscape, benefitting more than 1,00,000 students and 400 teachers by providing them with personalised, engaging and technology-driven learning experience.

Digi Vidya – CSR of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), another Jharkhand-based subsidiary of Coal India, is implementing Digi Vidya in 193 schools, situated in Chatra, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Pakur, Hazaribagh, Latehar, Ranchi and Giridih.

CSR of CMPDI

Under the CSR initiative of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), 20 students sponsored by CMPDI, Ranchi, successfully completed the two-year Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant Program at LNJP Paramedical Institute, Bahera.

CSR of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL)

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), as part of its CSR initiative, has launched “Project Sambalpur Sikshotthan – MCL Ke Shayog Say” to significantly improve the educational infrastructure in Sambalpur district. In this connection, an MoU was signed between MCL and the District Administration, Sambalpur, marking the commencement of the project.

Under this initiative, 20,617 dual desk benches will be provided for 809 elementary schools in the district. This project, valued at Rs 22.51 crore, will directly benefit over 40,000 students annually by providing proper sitting arrangements.

CSR of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has launched a project worth Rs. 1.46 Crore in the operational district of Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh) covering the renovation of infrastructure of three schools.

CSR of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL)

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has launched The Happy School project at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Government School. The project aims to redesign Government Schools using the innovative Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) concept. As a pilot, five Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) schools were selected for the project benefiting 1,055 students.