SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Coal | Coal India Limited
The Ministry of Coal organized a consultation with stakeholders, including representatives from Coal India Limited, NLC India Limited, and private sector coal companies, to deliberate on a new sector-specific Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework. The need for this dedicated framework stems from the growing presence of private players in the sector, aiming to promote responsible and sustainable practices across the industry. The Ministry urged companies to align their CSR, welfare, and sustainability efforts, suggesting they quantify these efforts to earn green credits. Stakeholders emphasized that the ultimate objective must be Community benefit, prioritizing local needs, and collaborating with credible agencies for impact assessment. The framework is intended to serve as a guide for reducing environmental impact, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and ensuring transparency and accountability in implementation, aligning with global reporting standards like BRSR, GRI, and the SDGs.
This move institutionalizes the concept of responsible mining under the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat strategy. By explicitly linking CSR efforts to quantifying impact and the potential for green credits, the framework mandates that highly impactful industries internalize social and environmental governance into their core business model.
What is a Sector-Specific CSR Framework? It is a set of customized guidelines for Corporate Social Responsibility tailored for a particular industry (in this case, coal). It matters because it ensures companies address the unique environmental, social, and economic impact risks inherent to their sector, moving beyond general corporate mandates.
What are Coal India Limited, NLC India Limited? Both are PSUs operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal. CIL is the giant responsible for feeding coal to Indiaβs thermal power grid, while NLCIL is an integrated energy major specializing in lignite mining and captive power generation, with an aggressive push into renewables.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Ministry of Coal mandate the convergence of sector-specific CSR funds with existing national or state livelihood schemes to guarantee the long-term viability and sustainable impact of created community assets?
Follow the full news here: Ministry of Coal Conducts a Stakeholder Consultation on CSR Framework for Indian Coal Companies