India’s Mineral Ecology and the District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

• In 2014, the judiciary highlighted the allocation of coal blocks in India, with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s 2012 report focusing on the allocation of coal blocks between 2004 and 2009.
• In 2015, the Narendra Modi government amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, mandating auctions and creating a new body, the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), where licensees and leaseholders pay a certain amount of the royalty.
• Ten years later, the DMF has received almost ₹1 lakh crore for decentralised community-centric development works in mining-affected districts.
• The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) scheme has sanctioned three lakh projects across 645 districts in 23 States, transforming mineral wealth into a lifeline for development in mining affected regions.
• DMFs are transforming the mining landscape by making State governments active partners and ensuring the welfare of local communities in mining areas.
• DMFs are digitising the administration and oversight of DMFs across India, enabling greater transparency and efficiency in operations.
• DMFs are innovating to maximize the impact of the initiatives and devising strategies to address unique challenges and needs.
• The government is encouraging district administrations to integrate DMFs operations with ongoing central and State schemes in aspirational districts and supplement efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• DMFs are being leveraged to augment the livelihood of forest dwellers and develop sports infrastructure and facilities.
• DMFs are becoming powerful tools for truly inclusive governance, reaching every corner of the nation.