CHARAK- A Community Health Initiative

Why in News?

Recently, the Singrauli-based Coal India arm Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) in Madhya Pradesh, has rolled out the ‘CHARAK’ scheme.

• CHARAK – It is an innovative health-centric Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public.

• Objectives – To provide free treatment for patients suffering from identified Life-Threatening diseases belonging to economically weaker section of people in the Singrauli region.
• To ensure access to quality healthcare while easing the financial and emotional burden on affected families.
• Free treatment - At NCL’s dedicated hospital (NSC) or at specialised empanelled hospitals across the country.
• Eligibility – Residents of Singrauli and Sonbhadra districts having annual family income below Rs. 8 Lakhs from all sources will be eligible for benefit under this scheme.
• Diseases covered – It includes Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, Cardiovascular diseases, Organ Transplant, Multisystem disorders, Connective Tissue disorders and sudden vision loss etc.

Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) touched the lives of around 10 Lakhs people and spent more than 1,000 Crores on various CSR initiatives in the previous 10 years.

Reference

PIB| CHARAK