Eyes ₹32,000 crore local development boost
The mines ministry plans to set up a program management unit to facilitate the development of people affected by mining-related activities and effective coordination with the states for smooth implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana. The government in 2025 launched the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) aimed at the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) from the funds accruing to them in terms of the mining act. Accordingly, the Centre directed the concerned State Governments to incorporate the PMKKKY into the rules framed by them for the DMF and to implement the said Scheme. The mines ministry said on its website that it is taking many initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of District Mineral Foundation/ Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana. "Ministry of Mines plans to take services of a consulting firm to set up a Program .
The mineral resources department issued a notification last week for the implementation of the Chhattisgarh District Mineral Foundation Rule-15
Unfulfilled credit demand in riskier segments, lack of high-yielding options create opportunities
Currently, 65 per cent of DMF corpus remains unutilised
Data posted on the Ministry of mines website shows 21 mineral rich states have barely been able to expend 36% of the funds approved under DMF
State has spent less than a quarter of Rs 7,909 crore it collected by June end; 3,617 of 12,605 projects under DMF yet to take off
Though the overall utilisation of DMF funds in the state has been about 78 per cent, it is dismal in the districts affected by Left wing extremism