By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| A grand programme was organised at the headquarters of South Eastern Coalfields Limited on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026. The event was held at the SECL Auditorium under the aegis of WIPS (Women in Public Sector) and witnessed the participation of a large number of women officers and employees.

Padma Shri and Arjuna Award recipient and former captain of the Indian women’s cricket team Mithali Raj attended the programme as the keynote speaker.

Chairman-cum-Managing Director of SECL Harish Duhan and Shashi Duhan, First Lady of the SECL family and President of Shraddha Mahila Mandal, were present as the chief guests.

Among those present on the occasion were Director (Technical/Operations) N. Franklin Jayakumar, Director (Human Resources) Biranchi Das, Director (Finance) D. Sunil Kumar, Chief Vigilance Officer Himanshu Jain, and dignitaries Anita Franklin, Ipsita Das, Haseena Kumar, Vineeta Jain and Shubhashree Mahapatra. Heads of departments and a large number of women officers and employees also attended the event.

During a fireside chat, Mithali Raj shared her experiences and insights. The interaction was moderated by Director (Human Resources) Biranchi Das.

While sharing her inspiring thoughts, Mithali Raj said that women’s cricket has come a long way and is now receiving recognition and respect comparable to men’s cricket. She noted that when she began her career, the circumstances were very different and it was not easy for women to carve out a place for themselves.

She emphasised that during those times it was essential to remain mentally strong, constantly push personal limits and face every challenge with determination. She highlighted the importance of discipline, hard work and regular training in achieving success.

Addressing the youth, especially women, she encouraged them to stay prepared to pursue their dreams, practise with complete dedication and maintain determination and resilience. She said that if one remains committed to one’s goals and strives to improve every day, success will certainly follow.

Extending greetings on International Women’s Day, Harish Duhan said that new opportunities are opening for women and the time has come for them to step forward and take leadership roles. He added that the contribution of women in SECL is steadily increasing and the organisation is undertaking several initiatives to support their progress.

He noted that whether it is the establishment of Coal India’s first fully women-operated dispensary, a women-run Central Store Unit, or providing opportunities for youth to become doctors through the Sushrut scheme under CSR, SECL remains committed to women’s empowerment.

He further informed that, encouraged by the success of these initiatives, SECL is set to launch Project Dharashakti this year. The project aims to provide skill training and suitable work opportunities to women joining SECL as landowners or dependents. A dedicated team is being formed to implement the initiative. He added that achieving the goal of making SECL the country’s number one company would not be possible without the contribution of women power.

A special highlight of the programme was the release of a special supplement on SECL’s women empowerment initiatives, published in collaboration with The Times of India media group, which will be distributed with the newspaper tomorrow.

During the event, women officers and employees were honoured for outstanding achievements and for winning various competitions. Colourful cultural performances added enthusiasm and vibrancy to the celebration.