By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 25, 2025: SECRETARY, Ministry of Coal Vikram Dev Dutt today virtually inaugurated digital classrooms of government schools in Jharkhand, installed under 'Digi Vidya', a CSR initiative of Coal India subsidiaries.

PM Prasad, Chairman, CIL, Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, MoC, Ms Santosh, Deputy Director General, MoC, Samiran Dutta, CMD, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Nilendu Kumar Singh, CMD, Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and other senior officers of the ministry of coal and CIL and its subsidiaries were present at the occasion.

'Digi Vidya' aims to ensure students of schools situated in mining areas of eight states where CIL's subsidiaries operates get quality education and none of them are left behind in the journey of 'Viksit Bharat'. In the first phase, 272 government schools were upgraded under Digi Vidya with Smart classrooms. More schools will be added in upcoming phases.

Bharat Cooking Coal Ltd (BCCL) has implemented Smart Classrooms and 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.  CCL, another Jharkhand-based subsidiary of CIL, is implementing Digi Vidya in 193 schools, situated in Chatra, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Pakur, Hazaribagh, Latehar, Ranchi and Giridih.

While 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 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," Dutt said.

Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary said that introducing digital classrooms will be a game-changer for students studying in remote areas. "Students will have access of same quality education as urban schools. They will be taught through digital mode, which will help them understand the concepts better and improve learning," she said.

PM Prasad, Chairman, CIL termed the initiative as an effort to ensure inclusive and equitable education focusing in remote areas.

Under the CSR initiative of CMPDI, 20 students sponsored by CMPDI, Ranchi, successfully completed the two-year Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant Program at LNJP Paramedical Institute, Bahera. Certificates were awarded by Ajay Kumar, Director (T/P&D), and R.K. Mahapatra, General Manager (HRD/CSR), CMPDI.  Ajay Kumar stated, "This initiative reflects CMPDI's commitment to supporting higher education opportunities for rural youth, enabling them to build meaningful careers and contribute to society."

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.

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) launched a project worth Rs. 1.46 Crore in the operational district of Sonbahdra (U.P) covering the renovation of infrastructure of three schools.

As part of Coal India & WCL's Golden Jubilee Celebrations, WCL 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. Golden Jubilee Celebrations took place across 10 areas of WCL where various competitive events, launch of Education themed CSR Projects, Workshops & Sports tournaments for children were organised.

These CSR projects highlight the commitment of CIL and its subsidiaries towards the social upbringing of communities living in mining affected areas.