New Delhi: Salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) are as follows:
- To implement various development and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government.
- To minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts.
iii. To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas.
- High priority areas like drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and environment conservation will get at least 60% share of the funds collected under DMF.
- 40% of the DMFs funds will be utilized for the following areas: (i) physical infrastructure; (ii) irrigation; (iii) energy and watershed development; and (iv) any other measures for enhancing environmental quality in mining district.
- PMKKKY, provides for Special provisions for Scheduled areas which reads as under:
“The process to be adopted for utilization of DMF and PMKKKY funds in the scheduled areas shall be guided by the provisions contained in Article 244 read with Schedule V and Schedule VI to the Constitution relating to administration of the Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas and the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 and the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.”
As per sub-section (3) of section 9B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the composition and functions of the DMF and rules in this regard is to be prescribed by the State Governments. In view of this, the power related to sanctioning of fund; preparation of annual action plan and utilization of fund under DMF for the development of the areas affected by mining related operations is under the DMF trust established by State Government. Details regarding schemes/projects implemented by State Governments under DMF including the information on rural people affected in mining area are not maintained centrally.
To bring in transparency in collection and utilization of funds accrued under DMF, the Central Government at the time of directing State Governments on 16.09.2015 for incorporating the PMKKKY into the rules framed by State Governments for DMF had, inter-alia, made the following provision under the PMKKKY guidelines:
Compliance of Transparency
(1) Each District Mineral foundation will prepare and maintain a website on which, inter-alia, following information will be hosted and kept updated:-
- Details of composition of the DMF/bodies of DMF (if any).
- List of areas and people affected by mining.
iii. Quarterly details of all contributions received from lessees and others.
- All meeting agenda, minutes and action taken reports (ATRs) of the DMF.
- Annual plans and budget, work orders, Annual Report.
- Online status of ongoing works-implementation status/progress of all the projects/programs being undertaken under PMKKKY should be made available on the website, including description of work, details of beneficiaries, estimated cost, name of implementing agencies, expected date of commencement and completion of work, financial and physical progress upto last quarter etc.
vii. List of beneficiaries under various welfare programs.
viii. Voluntary disclosures under RTI Act.
Audit
The accounts of the DMF shall be audited every year by the Charted Accountant appointed by the DMF, or in such other manner as the Government may specify, and the report thereof shall be placed in the public domain alongwith the Annual Report.
This information was given by the Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of Mines, Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Shri Piyush Goyal in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
