On the occasion of World Thalassemia Day 2025, Coal India Limited (CIL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, commemorated the remarkable success of its flagship CSR initiative, the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY), at a special event held at Hotel Ashok, New Delhi. The scheme, which supports free bone marrow transplants for children suffering from thalassemia and aplastic anemia, has emerged as a life-transforming initiative for hundreds of families across the country.

Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, was the Guest of Honour. The event was also attended by Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal; senior officials from the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Shri P.M. Prasad, Chairman, Coal India Limited; CMDs and Directors of Coal PSUs, medical professionals, representatives of partner hospitals, NGOs and beneficiary children and their families.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Coal, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, lauded the life-changing impact of the scheme and announced an ambitious future goal "One State, One Hospital" for Bone Marrow Transplant under the TBSY, to further expand its reach and accessibility. Describing it as a beacon of hope for countless families across the Nation, he commended Coal India Limited for not only fulfilling its corporate social responsibility with dedication but also for demonstrating a compassionate approach towards addressing a critical public health challenge. So far, over 700 children have received life-saving transplants under TBSY. Most of these children are now leading healthy and normal lives. The scheme has also relieved families of substantial medical expenses.  He further stated that an online portal developed by CIL ensures real-time application and monitoring, while awareness campaigns, including pamphlets, posters, and short films, have extended the reach of the scheme to rural areas. He highlighted the scheme’s growth and scalability, which began with four hospitals and now includes 17 empanelled premier healthcare institutions

Shri Reddy urged all the stakeholders including healthcare institutions, policymakers, and civil society to adopt a patient-centric approach in the ongoing fight against thalassemia. Emphasizing that prevention is as vital as cure, he called for increased awareness, early screening, and genetic counseling to reduce the incidence of thalassemia in future generations.

He reiterated the Government’s commitment to making India thalassemia-free, and expressed confidence that with collaborative efforts, this goal will be achieved. Every development must be inclusive, humane, and sustainable. Initiatives like TBSY show what can be achieved when corporate social responsibility aligns with national goals.

Minister of State Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, in his remarks, recognized the humanitarian dimension of CIL’s CSR initiatives. He noted that CIL is not only meeting the energy needs of the nation but also bringing hope and healing through support to children suffering from thalassemia. Applauding the provision of financial assistance up to ₹10 lakh per child, he called the initiative a model of compassion-driven governance. Shri Dubey also highlighted successful partnerships with 17 of India’s leading hospitals and Thalassemics India, which have ensured effective and widespread implementation of the scheme.

Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, stressed the need for creating synergies between CIL-operated hospitals and BMT centers to improve early screening and intervention. She emphasized the importance of capacity building and training in hospitals near coal PSUs, enabling families to access medical care locally. Citing the global recognition received by this initiative, she reiterated the Ministry’s support in collaboration with the Ministry of Health &family Welfare and empanelled hospitals to reach every child in need while working towards the vision of a thalassemia-free India.

Mr. Harsh Mangla, Director, National Health Mission, detailed the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s ongoing and upcoming strategies to combat rare genetic diseases such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. He expressed optimism in leveraging cross-sectoral partnerships to enhance the reach and impact of these health interventions.

 

The event commenced with a welcome address by Shri P.M. Prasad, Chairman, CIL, who expressed gratitude to dignitaries, partners, and stakeholders for their unwavering support in making TBSY a success. He reaffirmed CIL’s commitment to social welfare, stressing the importance of collective effort in transforming lives through focused CSR programs.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Shri Vinay Ranjan, Director (HR), CIL. He reiterated CIL’s dedication to expanding CSR efforts for creating long-term social impact.

From the partner hospitals’ side, Dr. Vikram Matthews (CMC Vellore) and Dr. Sunil Bhat (Narayana Health, Bengaluru) delivered insightful presentations, elaborating on the devastating nature of thalassemia, sharing real-life case studies, and offering recommendations for strengthening BMT infrastructure and outreach in India.

The event also featured the felicitation of top-performing hospitals namely Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, Narayana Hrudayalaya Bengaluru, and Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre, Delhi for their exemplary efforts in delivering successful transplant outcomes.

Adding a heartfelt element to the ceremony, 15 thalassemia warrior children were honored, and guardians of two beneficiaries shared emotional testimonials expressing deep gratitude for restoring hope and health to their families.

Through the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, Coal India Limited under the guidance of Ministry of Coal continues to exemplify how corporate leadership can extend beyond business imperatives to transformative impact, compassion and Nation-building.

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Shuhaib T

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