About:
- Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, mandated the establishment of District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) in all mining districts of the country.
- DMF is a trust set up as a non-profit body to work for the benefit of people affected by mining operations.
- DMFs are also expected to implement the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), launched in 2015 for the welfare of mining areas and affected population.
- Findings of study by CSE:
- mining-affected people as beneficiaries have not been identified;
- negligible representation of Gram Sabha members in the DMFs; DMF administration is dominated by bureaucrats and political representatives;
- lack of clear planning due to absence of a proper administrative set-up;
excessive state government intervention in deciding utilisation of DMF funds etc.
