Coal India strengthens post-retirement care

Coal India Limited (CIL) has significantly strengthened its post-retirement welfare ecosystem through a series of reforms aimed at enhancing pension administration, healthcare access, grievance redressal and social security for its retired employees. These initiatives have improved the quality of life of over 4.5 lakh retired employees and pensioners, reaffirming the company's commitment to the welfare of those who have contributed to the nation's energy security. In a major social security initiative, the minimum pension under the Coal Mines Pension Scheme was enhanced to Rs 1,000 per month with effect from 8 March 2024, benefiting around 40,000 pensioners.

CIL, in collaboration with the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO), has also accelerated the digital transformation of pension administration through the C-CARES platform. As a result, the average settlement time for retirement claims has been brought down from 30 days to just 10 days. Further digital modules are under development to facilitate online pension revision and issuance of revised Pension Payment Orders (PPOs), paving the way for a seamless and paperless pension lifecycle.

Dedicated Post Retirement Benefit Cells (PRBCs) provide single-window assistance to retirees. Around 1.13 lakh pensioners enrolled under the Contributory Post Retirement Medicare Scheme (CPRMS) receive cashless treatment at 532 empanelled hospitals, with medical coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh for executives and Rs 8 lakh for non-executives. During FY 2025-26, provident fund disbursement rose to Rs 13,608.8 crore, while pension payments increased to Rs 6,427 crore, reflecting CIL's continued focus on financial security, healthcare and welfare for retired employees.