Coal India Limited (CIL) will implement CSR projects worth Rs. 2 crores in Assam’s Darrang district, according to coal minister, Pralhad Joshi. The upcoming projects will focus on education and healthcare, and improve the quality of services and infrastructure in the region. The CSR initiative will help build additional classrooms in 19 government schools and will also include five projects that will specialize in improving infrastructure of government health centres in Darrang. The latest announcement is a part of the Centre’s push to make the North East a ‘driver of India’s economic activities’.
The coal minister stated, “The government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has taken significant steps to make North Eastern India a driver of India’s economic activities. Budget allocation to the North-East region has doubled in last seven years.”
CIL is already involved in the inclusive development of Assam. The coal company has taken up seven CSR projects worth over Rs. 23 crores in the state in the last five financial years, out of which four have been completed successfully. These include, financial assistances for setting up of solid waste management plant in Kamakhya, promotional and preventive healthcare through increased awareness in rural population, promotion of preventive healthcare through NILA and provision of water ambulance in Majuli.
The remaining three projects including signing of the MoU for financial assistance for setting up a 40-bed ICU facility at Government Medical Hospital in Silchar has been finalized.
Darrang is one of Assam’s aspirational districts under the Aspirational Districts Programme implemented by NITI Aayog. The programme was initiated under the Government of India’s direction to improve health and nutrition standards, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure in such districts.
CIL’s active participation in the development of the area is a welcome one. It will not only give impetus to the growth of the district but also provide its inhabitants with the means to raise their standard of living.
Mr. Joshi expressed his belief that aspirational districts should be competitive when it comes to development activities. “Darrang is one of India’s aspirational districts under the Aspirational Districts Programme launched under the visionary leadership of PM Modi. These CSR projects of Coal India Limited will help in providing better education and healthcare to the people of Darrang,” he asserted.
