The Ministry of Coal has unveiled a new framework to guide corporate social responsibility work across India’s coal sector and highlighted major progress in two health programmes run by Coal India Limited. The Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana and Nanha Sa Dil schemes have together treated thousands of children with serious blood disorders and heart defects, officials announced at an event in New Delhi.
What the schemes have achieved
The Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, launched to help children with thalassemia and aplastic anaemia, now operates through 21 hospitals across the country. Coal India Limited is funding bone marrow transplants at up to Rs. 10 lakh per patient, with a total budget of Rs. 130 crore spread over four phases. So far, more than 1,050 bone marrow transplants have been completed under this scheme, and most of the treated children are now living normal lives.
The Nanha Sa Dil initiative addresses congenital heart defects, which affect an estimated 2.4 lakh newborns in India each year. Started in March 2024 in four districts of Jharkhand, it has expanded to other parts of the country through Coal India’s subsidiary companies. The programme has screened over 2 lakh children and completed more than 1,500 corrective heart surgeries at no cost to families, including travel and hospital expenses.
The Ministry of Coal has also launched the Comprehensive CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies, prepared by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. This is described as the first sector-specific corporate social responsibility framework since statutory CSR rules began under the Companies Act, 2013. The framework aims to make CSR work in the coal industry more structured and focused on measurable outcomes for communities in mining areas.
What this means for you
If your child or a family member has thalassemia, aplastic anaemia or a congenital heart defect, you may now access free or heavily subsidised treatment through these programmes. The expansion of hospital networks and the removal of financial barriers means treatment that was previously out of reach for many families is becoming available. These initiatives also signal that coal companies are expected to direct more resources toward healthcare and community development in their operating regions going forward.