NEW DELHI: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) a Chhattisgarh-based coal PSU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust for the establishment of a Healthcare Skill Development Centre at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. The project will be supported with a financial assistance of Rs. 35.04 crore.

The proposed institute will provide free skill-based training to socio-economically disadvantaged youth in key healthcare domains including nursing assistants, technicians, and allied healthcare professionals. The initiative is aimed at enhancing employability while strengthening healthcare service delivery, particularly in underserved regions.

The campus will include academic blocks, hostels, staff residential facilities, and allied infrastructure. Preference will be given to candidates from SECL’s operational districts, with at least 20 per cent of the annual intake reserved for these districts for a period of 25 years, extendable based on performance.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Biranchi Das, Director (HR), SECL, and was executed by C. M. Verma, General Manager (CSR), SECL, and Vivek Narayan Gour, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust.

SECL and the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust are already partnering under SECL’s flagship healthcare initiative ‘SECL Ki Dhadkan’, which provides free corrective surgeries to children suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD). Under the programme, more than 180 life-saving surgeries have been successfully completed, significantly improving access to advanced healthcare for underprivileged families in coalfield areas.

SECL has been a major contributor to social development in its areas of operation and has spent over Rs. 850 crore on CSR initiatives across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh over the years, covering healthcare, education, skill development, infrastructure, and community welfare.

With this initiative, SECL further strengthens its commitment to inclusive growth, capacity building, and sustainable development in Chhattisgarh, aligning community development efforts with national priorities in healthcare and human resource development.