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MANGALDAI: Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi visited Darrang during his second day of visit to Assam on Sunday. Darrang is one of the Aspirational Districts under the Aspirational District Programme. Joshi announced CSR projects worth Rs. 2 crore in Darrang, to be implemented by Coal India Ltd. State Commerce and Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary was also present on the occasion.
"Darrang is one of India's aspirational districts under the Aspirational districts Programme launched under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These CSR projects of Coal India Ltd. will help in providing better education and healthcare to the people of Darrang," Joshi said.
Under the CSR projects announced by Joshi, CIL will help construct additional classrooms in 19 government schools of Darrang and take up 05 projects for improvement of healthcare infrastructure at different government health centres in this aspirational district.
Coal India has either taken up or completed seven CSR projects worth around Rs 23 crore for inclusive development of Assam in the last five financial years starting from FY 16-17. Out of these seven projects, four projects, namely financial assistances for setting up of Solid Waste Management plant in Kamakhya, promotional and preventive healthcare through increased awareness in rural population, promotion of preventive healthcare through NILA and provision of water ambulance in Majuli, have been completed. MoU for financial assistance for setting up 40 bed ICU facility at Government Medical Hospital, Silchar has been signed and remaining two projects, namely financial assistance for rehabilitation and livelihood development at Majuli and financial assistance for skill training of 50 students conducted through CIPET Guwahati are going on. Coal India's total project outlay of CSR projects in the north-eastern region has been over Rs 25 crore in the last five years.
Coal India's CSR expenditure remained at Rs. 554 crore in FY 20-21 against the budgeted amount of Rs. 434 crore. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of India's coal production.
"The government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken significant steps to make Northeast India a driver of India's economic activities. Budget allocation to the north-eastern region has doubled in last seven years," Joshi added.
Joshi also said that aspirational districts should compete with each other in terms of development activities. He also reviewed the development activities being carried out by district administration, Darrang and assured all out support of the Central Government for such activities.
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