Finally, the Odisha Government has carved out the structure of the much awaited District Mineral Foundation (DMF), which will spearhead the developmental works for the people and areas affected by mining related operations.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given green signal for formation of DMFs in various districts, which will take care of the concerns of health, education, housing, environment, infrastructure, livelihood, social security, skill development and improvement of institutional mechanism for delivery of public services and other interests of the people.
In each district there will be a DMF, which will have a Board of Trustees headed by either the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) or district Collector as per the decision of the State Government. The district Collector will be the Managing Trustee of the DMF.
District level officials of Steel and Mines, Forest and Environment, Rural Development, Works, ST and SC Development, Health and Family Welfare and other departments as the State Government will specify will be the members.
Each Member of lok Sabha and Member of the Odisha legislative Assembly in whose constituency any major mineral concession is situated shall be Member of the DMF. Member of Zilla Parishad and three members from Panchayati Raj Institutions or Urban local Bodies will be taken as members.
The Board of Trustees will prepare a master plan for development of the area and will make annual budget for implementing projects.
Both the concession holders of major and minor minerals will be making payments to the DMF. Once the Union Government makes the notification on quantum of payment for the major mineral concession holders, then DMF will be receiving payments from them.
However the State Government has notified that all holders of minor mineral leases shall, in addition to the royalty, pay to the respective DMF as amount equivalent to the amount of royalty if the lease has not been granted through auction.
If the minor mineral lease holder received the lease through auction, it will pay 25 per cent of the royalty. The lease holder will pay the amount on the same day on which royalty is payable to the State Government.
The funds of the foundation will be utilized for provision of amenities and infrastructure like health, education, water supply, sanitation, connectivity, communications, irrigation, electricity supply and housing for the persons in the areas affected by mining operations.
The DMF will work for strengthening social services like education, healthcare, social security, social safety, skill development, and training of the people. It will take up environment improvement and forest resources protection activities in these affected areas.
Projects on livelihood support, income generation and economic activities for the persons in the mining zones will be taken up along with other activities.
For maintaining transparency, each DMF will have a website and all the information relating to funds received, perspective plan, expenditure and other related issues will be uploaded.