The DMF is a trust to benefit and work for the interest of persons and areas affected by mining related operations, but, latest study by New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that in Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the utilisation of fund allocated from the DMF is very poor, simultaneously, it also appears that the state has its priorities wrong during the allocation of DMF funds. The DMF is a trust to benefit and work for the interest of persons and areas affected by mining related operations, but, latest study by New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that in Rajasthan, building of infrastructure takes the lion’s share of fund and allocation to health is too miniscule to make any real difference to the issue of inadequate access to healthcare in the districts.
Data given in the study shows that out of more than Rs 1,062 crore has been sanctioned so far for projects under DMF, Rs 355.6 crore (around 34%) has been sanctioned for physical infrastructure development while only Rs 71.7 crore (around 7%) has been allocated for health.
DMFs have been instituted to be established as a non-profit trust in every mining district of the country under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation), Amendment Act, 2015. They have a precise and legally defined objective to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations.
In a similar way, 32.4% of allocated money has been sanctioned for education and around 13% has been sanctioned for drinking water supply. Sectors including welfare of aged and disabled and welfare of women and child got very low share of 0.5% and 0.3% respectively in the allocation.
The education allocation is primarily for provision of furniture in schools. “The investments show that no planning has been undertaken, the fund is being used for blanket investments without assessing other needs of the area,” said Srestha Banerjee, programme manager, environmental governance unit, CSE. “Also, there is no focus on developing soft resources like having adequate teaching staff to ensure better learning outcomes,” she added.
Reports says that allocation to health is too miniscule to make any real difference to the issue of inadequate access to healthcare in the state. In Bhilwara, about 75% of the district’s villages do not have a primary health centre within the stipulated five kilometer radius. To add to this, the district has a high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, given the widespread mining activity, finds report.
“DMF is a defining opportunity to overturn the decades of injustice meted out to the millions of people living in deep poverty and deprivation in India’s mining districts. But DMF can only deliver if it is implemented in the letter and spirit of the DMF rules under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation), Amendment Act, 2015. Our assessment shows that so far Rajasthan has failed to implement DMF in the right spirit,” said Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE.
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DMFs have been instituted to be established as a non-profit trust in every mining district of the country under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation), Amendment Act, 2015. They have a precise and legally defined objective to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations.
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