WCL Inaugurates “Project SANDEEP” — A CSR Initiative to Empower Youth for Defence Services
Under the visionary leadership of Shri J. P. Dwivedi, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) inaugurated Project SANDEEP — an innovative CSR initiative aimed at empowering youth from WCL’s operational areas to prepare for recruitment in the Indian Armed Forces and other uniformed services.
New Delhi: Under the visionary leadership of Shri J. P. Dwivedi, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) inaugurated Project SANDEEP — an innovative CSR initiative aimed at empowering youth from WCL’s operational areas to prepare for recruitment in the Indian Armed Forces and other uniformed services.
The inaugural ceremony was held on 14th November 2025 at the Sanskrutik Bhawan, WCL Headquarters, Nagpur, in the august presence of Shri J. P. Dwivedi, CMD, Shri Anandji Prasad, Director (Technical & Operations) and Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, Director (HR), WCL.
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Read Also : NTPC Bongaigaon, Bardwi Shikla Ladies Club distributed warm sweaters and school shoesDistinguished guests from the Defence and Administrative Services also graced the occasion — Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Shri Vijay Wankhade, Colonel Shri Anshit Srivastava, Director Recruitment (West Zone), Indian Army and Shri Rishikesh Sonawanne (IPS), Superintendent of Police, CBI, Nagpur.
The event began with floral tributes to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Ashoka Chakra (Posthumous), whose life and valour inspired the conception of this project. His parents, Shri K. Unnikrishnan and Smt. Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan, interacted with the audience through their recorded message, conveying blessings and words of inspiration to the newly inducted SANDEEP Cadets.
In order to enable capable youth from coalfields to participate in the service of national defence, Dr. Hemant Sharad Pande, Director (Human Resources), has been the guiding force behind Project SANDEEP.
Implemented in collaboration with Life Skills Foundation, Nagpur, Project SANDEEP aims to equip underprivileged and rural youth from WCL’s mining areas with physical fitness, academic guidance, and leadership qualities essential for careers in Defence and paramilitary services.
A total of 541 candidates registered for the first stage of selection across WCL’s ten operational command areas — Chandrapur, Majri, Wani, Ballarpur, Pench, Pathakhera, Umred, Kanhan, Nagpur, and Wani North. After written, physical, and medical assessments, 48 cadets (male and female) were selected for one year of residential training at the Rakshanam Academy, Nagpur.
Through this programme, WCL reaffirms its unwavering commitment to “Nation Building through Youth Empowerment”, ensuring that the company’s CSR efforts continue to create meaningful and lasting social impact in the communities it serves.
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