Funds worth INR 5000 crore have accrued to the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) constituted by the Union mines ministry for development and welfare of the peripheral area of mining operations.
All mineral bearing states with the exception of Tamil Nadu have instituted DMF and adopted guidelines as contained in the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana.
The mines ministry is also contemplating to develop a national portal to monitor the implementation of projects and schemes being undertaken under this welfare initiative.
According to the new Mines and Minerals- (Development & Regulation) MMDR Act, the state governments shall form DMF trust in all mineral bearing districts. In case of major minerals, the leaseholders are required to pay an amount to the DMF equal to 30 per cent of the royalty if they were granted mining leases before January 12, 2015. Lessees who have bagged the leases later, need to pay 10 per cent of the royalty as contribution to DMF.
Section 9B (2) of the revised MMDR Act empowers the state governments to prescribe the manner in which DMF would work for the interest and benefit of the affected persons.
The foundation is meant for the marginalized people and devastated land of the district where the quality of life and environment stands substantially degraded in recent times due to exponential growth of mining and many other related activities.
There are proposals for including the infrastructural projects for welfare of old-age persons, persons with disabilities, trans genders, drug-addicts and working women in DMF’s ambit.
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