The celebrations at ECL Headquarters here in Sanctoria, were attended by Director (Human Resources) Shri Gunjan Kumar Sinha as Chief Guest and Director (Technical–Operations) Shri Chitranjan Kumar as Guest of Honour, along with senior officials, employees and trade union representatives.
The programme began with ceremonial flag hoisting and floral tributes at the martyrs’ memorial, honouring the sacrifices of coal miners. The dignitaries and trade union representatives were welcomed with saplings, symbolising the company's commitment to environmental sustainability. Cultural performances added vibrancy to the celebrations, while the announcement of promotions across various disciplines recognised employees' contributions and dedication.
A major highlight of the day was the launch of ‘ECL Swavalamban (Non-Ex)’, a self-service digital transfer portal aimed at bringing greater transparency, efficiency and accountability to employee administration. Inaugurated by Director (HR) Shri Gunjan Kumar Sinha at Sankalp Hall in the presence of representatives of the Joint Consultative Committee, Welfare Board, Safety Board and senior officials, the initiative replaces the conventional paper-based transfer process with a secure, digitally monitored system.
The portal enables non-executive employees to submit and track transfer applications online, with OTP-based authentication, simultaneous processing by incoming and outgoing Area General Managers and automated timelines. Under the new mechanism, applications are designed to reach Headquarters for final approval within a maximum of 50 days of submission. The system also facilitates the generation of secure, bilingual and digitally traceable transfer orders.
Describing the initiative as a step towards employee empowerment, the Director (HR) emphasised the importance of simplifying administrative procedures and ensuring timely, transparent service delivery. The platform is expected to reduce procedural delays and strengthen employee confidence in the transfer process.
ECL's achievements also received national recognition during the Coal India Foundation Day celebrations in Kolkata. The company was honoured with the Safety Award and Corporate Performance Award, received by Chairman-cum-Managing Director Dr. Satish Jha along with Director (Technical/ Project and Planning) Shri Girish Gopinathan Nair, GM (Safety) Shri Ashok Kumar and Technical Secretary to CMD Shri Partha Sakha De, underscoring the importance accorded to safety in mining operations and overall Corporate Performance of the company.
In individual honours, Shri Prabir Kumar Mandal, Area General Manager, Jhanjra Area, was recognised as Best Area GM, while Shri Partha Sakha De, GM (Mining), received the Best Head of Department award for his contribution as HoD (Land Revenue & Estate). Shri Mrityunjay Kumar, GM (Electrical & Mechanical), ECL Headquarters, received the Individual Excellence honour. The recognition extended to frontline employees, with Shri Durgawati Rajbhar, Shovel Operator, Kajora Area, being honoured as Best Female Operator (HEMM), and Shri Priti Shaw, Winding Engine Operator, Satgram-Sripur Area, receiving the Best Female Operator (Non-HEMM) award.
The honours reflected the diverse contributions of ECL's workforce, from operational leadership and technical expertise to frontline mining activities, highlighting the importance of individual excellence in the collective performance of the organisation.
Operating in the historic Raniganj Coalfield, where commercial coal mining in India began in 1774, ECL occupies a distinctive place in the country's industrial and energy landscape. Its Foundation Day celebrations brought together this centuries-old mining legacy with contemporary priorities of digital governance, workplace safety, employee welfare and sustainable development.
As Coal India completes 52 years of its journey, ECL's celebrations underlined a broader transformation taking shape within the coal sector, where technological innovation and workforce empowerment are increasingly complementing traditional mining expertise.
With national recognition for safety, individual excellence across operational disciplines and a major step towards paperless employee services, ECL reaffirmed its commitment to building a safer, more efficient and employee-centric organisation while strengthening its contribution to India's energy security and economic development.
