Women at the Helm: A New Era of Gender-Inclusive Operations in Coal India

In a landmark move advancing women’s leadership in India’s core industrial sectors, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), inaugurated the company’s first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at its Central Workshop in Korba, Chhattisgarh. This initiative, launched under the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, reinforces the national vision of “Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti” — empowering women as a driving force of the nation.

Key Highlights

The newly established Central Store Unit will manage spare parts supply and inventory operations, entirely led by a dedicated team of eight women officers and staff, headed by Ms. Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and an alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. Employing a modern SAP-based digital platform, the unit ensures efficient, transparent, and technology-driven management of all operations.

The inauguration was graced by SECL’s leadership, including Chairman-cum-Managing Director Shri Harish Duhan, Directors Shri N. Franklin Jaykumar, Shri Biranchi Das, Shri R.C. Mahapatra, and Chief Vigilance Officer Shri Himanshu Jain. The ceremony also recognized outstanding women employees, celebrating their contribution to operational excellence.

Fostering Inclusive Industrial Growth

CMD Shri Harish Duhan emphasized that the initiative represents a progressive step toward inclusive growth within Coal India. Following SECL’s previous success of establishing India’s first all-women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, this unit demonstrates women’s increasing participation in core operational functions of a traditionally male-dominated sector. The initiative resonates with the vision of Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, who advocates enhanced leadership and participation of women in the coal industry.

Significance and Impact

1. Breaking Stereotypes: Women are now leading critical operational units, challenging gender norms in the industrial and energy sectors.

2. Operational Excellence: The unit’s responsibilities—procurement, inventory, and supply chain management—are vital to SECL’s operational efficiency.

3. Technological Integration: SAP-based digital systems ensure transparency, accountability, and modernization.

4. Policy Alignment: Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat and supports inclusive, self-reliant industrial development.

5. Institutional Role Model: Provides a replicable model for other Coal India subsidiaries and PSUs to integrate gender inclusion in operational leadership.

Broader Governance and SDG Relevance

• Supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• Aligns with government initiatives promoting diversity in public sector undertakings, equal opportunity employment, and gender budgeting.

• Strengthens the narrative of women-led innovation and leadership in national industry, bridging social empowerment with economic development.

Conclusion

The establishment of SECL’s all-women Central Store Unit at Korba marks a transformative milestone in India’s industrial landscape. By placing women in strategic, core operational roles and integrating technology, accountability, and welfare, SECL demonstrates how public sector enterprises can be agents of social change. The initiative exemplifies “Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti”, driving inclusive, self-reliant, and sustainable industrial development, and sets a new benchmark for gender-inclusive operations across India’s energy and mining sectors.