New Delhi, September 22 (Daily Kiran) : Coal India Limited (CIL) has announced a substantial increase in its annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending, which has now reached approximately ₹1,000 crore. This figure represents a significant rise from the statutory requirement of ₹5,795 crore for the financial years 2014-15 to 2025-26, with actual expenditures totaling ₹7,276 crore. This update was provided by the government on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Coal highlighted that CIL operates in some of India’s most resource-deprived and tribal-dominated districts. The concept of giving back to society is not new for CIL. Even before the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate was established by the Companies Act of 2013, CIL and its subsidiaries were already engaged in welfare activities under the Community Development (CD) Policy 2005.
Previously, CIL’s subsidiaries supported villages within an 8-kilometer radius of mining operations by providing drinking water facilities, health camps, and small infrastructure projects. These initiatives fostered meaningful relationships with local communities. In the three years prior to the CSR mandate (from FY 2011-12 to 2013-14), CIL’s total community development expenditure ranged from ₹82 crore in FY 2011-12 to ₹409 crore in FY 2013-14. The work being done on the ground was impactful and well-received, but there was a need for a consistent institutional framework to maintain and expand these efforts annually.
The introduction of the Companies Act 2013 and Section 135 brought fundamental changes. Companies are now required to allocate a portion of their average net profits to CSR activities. They must adhere to the subjects outlined in Schedule 7 and have a board-level CSR committee oversee the implementation. CIL has further advanced its initiatives through its policy, ensuring that at least 80% of its annual CSR spending is directed toward areas within a 25-kilometer radius of its mines and facilities, prioritizing regions directly affected by its projects. As a result, over 90% of CIL’s CSR expenditure occurs in coal-producing states, ensuring that benefits reach the areas most impacted by mining activities.
The ministry emphasized that CIL has not only fulfilled its statutory obligations but has also consistently exceeded them. Overall, from FY 2014-15 to 2025-26, CIL’s expenditure of ₹7,276 crore far surpasses the statutory requirement of ₹5,795 crore.
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