Dikhyaa Mohanty 
A virtual reality (VR)-based skill development initiative has been launched by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a Central PSU Coal India Ltd. subsidiary, with the goal of giving its 17,000 employees with operational and safety training by 2026. A budget of Rs 6.5 crore has been set up by the Coal India subsidiary for the improvement of coal miners’ skills. Om Prakash Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of MCL, stressed the importance of having a skilled workforce as a prerequisite for safe and effective mining operations. He added that ongoing skill development is necessary by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to keep pace with technological advancements and the introduction of new technology in the mining industry.
To produce 300 million tonnes (MT) of coal by 2026 and help CIL reach its goal of one billion tonnes, MCL intends to increase the technical capabilities of the staff participating in operational activities. VR-based training for employees would be less expensive and time-consuming while yet providing objective, automatically produced feedback on the trainees’ progress. The adoption of VR-based training for the workforce was started as a step toward the digitalization of corporate operations, and it will serve as a significant effort for 18 training modules that make use of this cutting-edge technology, according to authorities.
Concoct Human Resource Practitioners (CHRP-India) Pvt. Ltd., a virtual reality technology company based in Hyderabad, has been given the task of creating a simulated environment and managing a training program in subjects like blasting, mine inspection, electrical safety, working, traffic simulation, engine/transmission maintenance, etc. In the most recent fiscal year 2022–2023, MCL, the largest coal-producing company of Coal India Ltd., produced more than 193 million tonnes of coal and sent a record 148 million tonnes of coal to power plants. MCL’s mining activities are located in the Odisha districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, and Angul.
