Coal India’s First All-Women Central Store Unit Inaugurated

In a significant stride towards women-led development in India’s industrial sector, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), inaugurated the company’s first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at its Central Workshop in Korba, Chhattisgarh, on 5 October 2025. The initiative reflects the Government of India’s commitment to empowering women under the banner of “Nari Shakti se Rashtra Shakti” and forms part of the Special Campaign 5.0 — a national effort promoting inclusivity, innovation, and good governance across ministries and PSUs.

About the Initiative

• The newly inaugurated Central Store Unit is designed to handle spare parts supply, logistics, and inventory management within SECL’s industrial operations.
• What makes this project unique is its entirely women-managed workforce, comprising eight officers and staff members, all of whom oversee the store’s day-to-day operations and administrative responsibilities.
• The team is led by Ms. Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and an IIT (ISM) Dhanbad alumna, symbolizing the rising representation of women engineers in India’s mining and heavy industries.
• This milestone follows SECL’s earlier achievement of launching Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur, reinforcing its consistent commitment to workplace diversity and gender inclusivity.

Digital and Operational Features

The Central Store Unit integrates a modern SAP-based digital platform, ensuring,

• Real-time inventory tracking,
• Transparency in materials management, and
• Automated auditing and reporting processes.

This digital approach enhances efficiency while ensuring accountability and traceability — vital elements in large-scale industrial operations.

Significance of the Initiative

The creation of this all-women-operated unit is not just symbolic — it demonstrates a structural shift in India’s industrial culture, integrating women into technical and operational roles that have traditionally been male-dominated.

Key Implication

• Promotes gender equality in heavy industries like mining and logistics.
• Encourages skill-based inclusion, enabling women engineers and managers to lead core operations.
• Aligns with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @2047.
• Inspires public sector reforms emphasizing diversity and technology-driven governance.
• Strengthens the corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile of Coal India Limited through inclusive workforce representation.

Alignment with National Initiatives

The inauguration aligns closely with several national priorities,

• Special Campaign 5.0 – Promotes administrative efficiency, inclusivity, and innovation.
• Nari Shakti Vandan – Symbolizing empowerment and recognition of women’s contribution.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat – Enhancing indigenous capabilities and self-reliance across sectors.
• Mission Karmayogi – Encouraging professional excellence and diversity in public sector enterprises.

Static Facts

• Event: Inauguration of Coal India’s first all-women Central Store Unit
• Date: 5 October 2025
• Location: Central Workshop, SECL Korba, Chhattisgarh
• Organization: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL)
• Under Campaign: Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0
• Head of Unit: Ms. Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M), IIT (ISM) Dhanbad alumna
• Team Composition: 8 women officers and staff