Petition against illegal mining draws attention to poor resource management, environmental impact

Yeh koyle ki khaan ek ajgar hai… joh roz anginat mazdooron ko nighalta hai aur unhe chabake, peeske, kuchalke… ek laash ki soorat mein unhe vapas ughal deta hai (This coal mine is a python which swallows countless workers every day and chews them, crushes them, smashes them and then spits out their dead bodies): Yash Chopra isn’t best remembered for Kaala Patthar (1979), which focused on the Chasnala mining disaster that took place near Dhanbad and claimed nearly 400 lives. Instead, he’s known for tulip fields, Swiss snow dust and the romantic woes of bipolar Indians. Activists feel that is the problem with mining. Particular incidents are of national interest but the reasons, allowing them to occur and re-occur, aren’t dramatic enough to hold a nation’s attention. Read more

Courtesy: First Post

Govt receives about Rs 5,000 cr through DMF

Nearly Rs 5,000 crore has been collected so far through District Mineral Foundation (DMF), which will be utilised by the states for the development of places and people affected by mining-related operations.

The Mines Ministry is monitoring the implementation of the DMF and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). “So far about Rs 5,000 crore has been collected in the fund (DMF),” an official said.

The official further said, except for Tamil Nadu, all the remaining major mineral-bearing states have instituted DMF and adopted guidelines in Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana, the official said.
As follow up of Committee of Secretaries’ (CoS) meetings, discussions were held with National Institute of Smart Government (NISG) for development of a national portal to monitor the implementation of projects/schemes being undertaken under this major welfare initiative of the Centre, the official added. Read more

Courtesy: Business Standard

State Level Consultation – Ghatsila

State level workshop on Children and Mining was conducted at Ghatsila, Jharkhand. The meeting was presided over by the Chairperson and Secretary General of mm&P. The Chairperson introduced the theme of the workshop and why children’s rights should not be neglected especially in the mining areas.

A short documentary film “Falling through the cracks – Children and Mining” was screened and followed by a detailed session on the plight of children in mining areas by the Secretary General of mm&P. Participatory approach was followed in sensitizing the people on violation of child rights in the context of Children in mining areas.

One issue that was prominently discussed was the plight of migrant laborers especially women and children. Most of the CSR or development activities by the mining company or the administration do not take into account the migrant population. These are the most marginalized groups who find it hard to understand the reasons for discrimination at all levels of our society.

Rights for the rightful owners

On this day 10 years ago the historic Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in the Lok Sabha. Its conception and passage was the result of the decades of struggles and sacrifices of millions of tribals across India, of their organisations, of numerous activists and intellectuals working on tribal issues, and because of the commitment and efforts of the Left parties. Read more

Courtesy: The Hindu

Supreme Court judgement lands tribals in doldrums

The Court held that the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002,  a Parliament enacted legislation, will have overriding effect over the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960, which restricts sale of mortgaged properties by the banks to non-tribal. Read more

Courtesy: The Hans India

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