The Ministry of Coal organised a stakeholders’ consultation in New Delhi to deliberate on developing a sector-specific Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework for Indian coal companies. The meeting, held at the SCOPE Complex, brought together senior officers from the Ministry and representatives from Coal India Limited, NLC India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, and several private sector coal firms.

CSR policies for coal Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are currently governed by the Companies Act, 2013, the Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014, and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines. Over the years, coal PSUs have made notable contributions in areas such as health, education, sanitation, environment, and sports. However, with the expanding participation of private players, the need has emerged for a dedicated CSR framework to guide responsible, inclusive, and sustainable practices across both public and private coal companies.

Addressing participants, Ms Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, urged companies to align their CSR, welfare, and sustainability efforts to create measurable community impact while earning green credits. She emphasised that CSR initiatives must prioritise local needs, ensuring that development projects reflect the aspirations of communities directly affected by coal operations.

Ms Brar also underscored the importance of engaging credible third-party agencies to conduct need and impact assessments, which would provide data-driven insights for improving project effectiveness. She encouraged collaboration among coal companies to share best practices, resources, and knowledge. Additionally, she advised strengthening public outreach to raise awareness about the positive work being carried out under CSR initiatives.

Participants from both public and private sectors welcomed the initiative and contributed valuable insights on framework design. They shared experiences from major CSR projects, discussed community engagement challenges, and highlighted lessons learned from impact assessments. A shared view emerged that community benefit should remain the core objective, with a focus on meaningful and ongoing engagement with local populations.

The discussion also highlighted the need for integrating transparency, accountability, and alignment with sustainability frameworks such as BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting), GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants proposed convergence of CSR efforts with relevant government schemes to enhance efficiency and impact.

Stakeholders further suggested introducing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for CSR budget formulation, ensuring the sustainability of created assets, and developing a strong outreach strategy to amplify CSR visibility.

The consultation was described as a constructive and collaborative exercise, marking a significant step towards framing a unified CSR policy for the coal sector. The Ministry noted that the insights gathered would guide the formulation of a comprehensive, transparent, and community-focused CSR framework to promote sustainable development and social responsibility in the industry.