Coal India Inaugurates First All-Women Operated Dispensary at SECL Headquarters

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 15 July 2025

• The first all-female-run dispensary in Coal India, Vasant Vihar Dispensary, was formally opened at SECL Headquarters in Bilaspur  
• Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and support personnel will all be female in their management of the dispensary 
• The program is a significant step in advancing gender equality in the workplace and women's empowerment 

In a major step towards women empowerment, the Vasant Vihar Dispensary at SECL Headquarters in Bilaspur was formally inaugurated as Coal India's first women-managed dispensary. 

The inaugural event was presided over by Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of SECL, with senior officers present such as N. Franklin Jayakumar (Director Technical - Operations & Project/Planning), Shri Biranchi Das (Director HR), Shri D. Sunil Kumar (Director Finance), and Shri Himanshu Jain (Chief Vigilance Officer) among other dignitaries. 

This pioneering project represents a significant achievement in promoting women's leadership within the coal sector. The dispensary will be operated by a single-minded 14-strong team of women who will include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and auxiliary staff. 

Addressing the gathering, CMD Harish was proud to say that SECL was the launchpad for this initiative, which is in line with the vision of Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy of enhancing women's participation and leadership roles in the coal industry. "This is just the beginning," remarked Harish and stated that SECL is all set to take more such empowering steps.