Social Justice
Creches Opened Using DMF Funds
- 27 Apr 2020
- 3 min read
Why in News
A report by non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that two key mining districts, Keonjhar in Odisha and Anuppur in Madhya Pradesh (MP), have opened creches for the children of their inhabitants by using the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds.
Key Points
- Keonjhar, the biggest producer of iron ore, has the highest DMF accrual across the country.
- Both the mining districts through the creches are attempting to target malnutrition among pre-Anganwadi children through local engagement.
- Creches are being executed through an expert local non-profit that looks at community participation, particularly recruiting local women as creche workers.
- The focus is on meeting the dietary requirement of children between 0-3 years.
- Both districts are also working on monitoring the nutritional gains made by the children in cheches as evidence for the intervention.
District Mineral Foundation
- DMF is a trust set up as a non-profit body under the Ministry of Mines through the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, (MMDRA) 2015.
- The objective is to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations in those districts affected by the mining works.
- Under the Act, mining lease holders are required to make contributions to DMF funds.
- Utilisation of the fund:
- 60% of the fund is utilised for high priority areas such as drinking water supply, health care, sanitation, education, skill development, women and child care, welfare of aged and disabled people and environment conservation.
- 40% of the fund is utilised for physical infrastructure, irrigation, energy and watershed development.
- The DMFs manner of operation comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government.
- Further, using the funds generated by this contribution, the DMFs are expected to implement the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), launched on 17 September 2015 for the welfare of mining areas and affected population.
