Coal India’s First All-Women Operated Central Store Unit Inaugurated at SECL Korba

In a major step towards promoting women’s leadership in core industrial sectors, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), today inaugurated the company’s first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at its Central Workshop, Korba.

The initiative, launched under the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, follows SECL’s earlier achievement of establishing Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, and reflects the organization’s sustained commitment to Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti.

The new Central Store Unit will oversee spare parts supply and inventory management, entirely managed by a dedicated team of eight women officers and staff led by Ms. Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The facility leverages a modern SAP-based digital platform for efficient and transparent record management.

The inauguration ceremony commenced with the traditional lamp-lighting, followed by the formal ribbon-cutting by Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL. The event was graced by Shri N. Franklin Jaykumar, Director (Technical/Operations); Shri Biranchi Das, Director (HR); Shri R.C. Mahapatra, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects); and Shri Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, SECL. Outstanding women employees of the workshop were felicitated on the occasion.

Speaking at the event, CMD Shri Harish Duhan said that the initiative marks a progressive step towards inclusive growth within Coal India. “Following the success of the women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, we are proud to see women taking charge of a core operational unit at Korba. Such initiatives resonate with the vision of Union Minister of Coal, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, who emphasizes enhanced participation and leadership of women in the coal sector,” he added.

The establishment of this all-women Central Store Unit represents another milestone in Coal India’s journey towards gender-inclusive and self-reliant industrial operations, embodying the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat.