Bilaspur, India: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Miniratna Public Sector Enterprise and one of India’s largest coal-producing companies, organized a high-level interactive session on “Preventive Vigilance, Complaint Handling, and Vigilance Administration” at its Corporate Headquarters in Bilaspur on Monday. The event highlighted the company’s continued commitment to good governance, transparency, ethical administration, and institutional accountability.
The session brought together senior management, vigilance officials, departmental heads, and administrative leaders from across SECL’s operational areas to discuss modern approaches to preventive vigilance and strengthen governance practices within the organization.
CVC Consultant Highlights the Importance of Preventive Vigilance
Delivering the keynote address, Rajiv Verma, Consultant, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), New Delhi, explained that the purpose of preventive vigilance extends far beyond conducting investigations or imposing disciplinary action.
He emphasized that an effective vigilance system should focus on building transparent, fair, and accountable institutions that proactively reduce risks and prevent irregularities before they occur.
During his presentation, Verma stressed several key priorities, including:
- Fair and time-bound grievance redressal mechanisms
- Risk-based vigilance systems for identifying vulnerabilities
- Adoption of best practices in public-sector vigilance administration
- Strengthening institutional integrity through preventive measures rather than reactive enforcement
He also shared practical insights into improving organizational governance by integrating vigilance into everyday administrative processes.
Digital Transformation Driving Transparency
In his welcome address, Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), SECL, highlighted how digital technologies are transforming vigilance administration within the company.
He explained that SECL’s DigiCoal platform, along with other technology-driven monitoring systems, has significantly improved data transparency, operational visibility, compliance monitoring, and timely decision-making across the organization.
According to Jain, leveraging digital platforms has strengthened institutional accountability while making administrative processes more transparent and efficient.
CMD Harish Duhan Administers Integrity Pledge
Reaffirming SECL’s commitment to ethical governance, Shri Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), SECL, administered the Integrity Pledge to employees and officers attending the session.
Addressing the gathering, Duhan stated that transparency, ethics, accountability, and integrity remain the cornerstones of SECL’s organizational culture. He described preventive vigilance as a critical pillar for ensuring responsible governance and sustainable organizational growth.
Interactive Discussions on Complaint Handling
The program concluded with an extensive question-and-answer session, during which Rajiv Verma addressed participants’ questions regarding disciplinary procedures, complaint handling mechanisms, vigilance administration, and practical implementation challenges.
Using real-world case studies, he explained how organizations can effectively handle complaints while maintaining fairness, transparency, and procedural integrity.
Senior Leadership Participates
The event began with a ceremonial lamp-lighting followed by floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, symbolizing the organization’s commitment to national values and ethical public service.
The session witnessed strong participation from senior executives attending both in person and virtually from various SECL operational regions.
Among the prominent participants were:
- Harish Duhan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), SECL
- Ajay Kumar Jaiswal, Chief Vigilance Officer, Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL)
- N. Franklin Jayakumar, Director (Technical/Operations)
- Biranchi Das, Director (Human Resources)
- Darla Sunil Kumar, Director (Finance)
- Ramesh Chandra Mohapatra, Director (Technical/Planning & Projects)
- Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer, SECL
Before the main session, Rajiv Verma also held a courtesy meeting with CMD Harish Duhan, followed by a comprehensive review meeting with officials of the SECL Vigilance Department to assess the effectiveness of the company’s existing vigilance systems and organizational governance practices.
Strengthening Governance Through Preventive Vigilance
The interactive session reinforced SECL’s commitment to promoting transparency, ethical leadership, digital governance, and institutional accountability. By integrating technology-driven vigilance systems such as DigiCoal with proactive governance practices, the company aims to strengthen public trust, improve operational efficiency, and foster a culture of integrity and responsible administration across all levels of the organization.
