South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Chhattisgarh-based coal PSU, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust to establish a Healthcare Skill Development Centre at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The project will be supported with a financial outlay of ?35.04 crore.

The proposed institute will offer free, job-oriented skill training to socio-economically disadvantaged youth in key healthcare roles, including nursing assistants, technicians, and allied healthcare professionals. The initiative aims to improve employability while strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved coalfield regions.

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

The MoU was signed in the presence of Biranchi Das, Director (HR), SECL, and 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 collaborating under SECL’s flagship healthcare initiative ‘SECL Ki Dhadkan’, which provides free corrective surgeries for children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Under this programme, over 180 life-saving surgeries have been completed, significantly improving access to advanced healthcare for underprivileged families in coalfield areas.

SECL has spent over ?850 crore on CSR initiatives across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, covering healthcare, education, skill development, infrastructure, and community welfare. With this new initiative, SECL further reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth, capacity building, and sustainable development, aligned with national priorities in healthcare and human resource development.