SECL Opens First All-Women-Operated Central Store Unit

06 Oct 2025 CW Team

The initiative, launched under the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, builds on SECL’s earlier success of establishing Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary in Bilaspur, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the vision of ‘Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti’ (Women’s Power as National Power).

The new Central Store Unit will manage spare parts supply and inventory operations, fully handled by a team of eight women officers and staff, led by Ms Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The unit operates on a modern SAP-based digital platform ensuring efficient and transparent record management.

The inauguration ceremony began with a traditional lamp-lighting, followed by the formal ribbon-cutting by Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL. The event was attended by Shri N. Franklin Jaykumar, Director (Technical/Operations); Shri Biranchi Das, Director (HR); Shri R.C. Mahapatra, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects); and Shri Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, SECL. Outstanding women employees from the workshop were also felicitated for their contributions.

Speaking at the event, Shri Duhan said the initiative marks a progressive step towards inclusive growth within Coal India. “After the success of the women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, we are proud to see women managing a core operational unit at Korba. Such efforts echo the vision of Union Minister of Coal G. Kishan Reddy, who has been advocating greater participation and leadership of women in the coal sector,” he stated.

The creation of this all-women Central Store Unit represents another milestone in Coal India’s gender-inclusive transformation, promoting both industrial self-reliance and empowerment in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

In a landmark move to promote women’s leadership in core industrial sectors, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has inaugurated its first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at the Central Workshop in Korba.The initiative, launched under the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, builds on SECL’s earlier success of establishing Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary in Bilaspur, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the vision of ‘Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti’ (Women’s Power as National Power).The new Central Store Unit will manage spare parts supply and inventory operations, fully handled by a team of eight women officers and staff, led by Ms Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The unit operates on a modern SAP-based digital platform ensuring efficient and transparent record management.The inauguration ceremony began with a traditional lamp-lighting, followed by the formal ribbon-cutting by Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, SECL. The event was attended by Shri N. Franklin Jaykumar, Director (Technical/Operations); Shri Biranchi Das, Director (HR); Shri R.C. Mahapatra, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects); and Shri Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, SECL. Outstanding women employees from the workshop were also felicitated for their contributions.Speaking at the event, Shri Duhan said the initiative marks a progressive step towards inclusive growth within Coal India. “After the success of the women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, we are proud to see women managing a core operational unit at Korba. Such efforts echo the vision of Union Minister of Coal G. Kishan Reddy, who has been advocating greater participation and leadership of women in the coal sector,” he stated.The creation of this all-women Central Store Unit represents another milestone in Coal India’s gender-inclusive transformation, promoting both industrial self-reliance and empowerment in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Jul 2026

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..