Jamshedpur: In an important step towards uplifting mining-affected areas, the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) Council approved 9675 priority schemes in a meeting chaired by District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal at Town Hall, Sidhgora. The meeting saw the participation of MP Jamshedpur Bidyut Baran Mahto , MLA Jugaslai Mangal Kalindi, MLA Bahragoda Sameer Mohanty, representatives of MLA Jamshedpur East and West, Deputy Development Commissioner Aniket Sachan, Civil Surgeon Dr. Sahir Pal, Director NEP Santosh Garg, and other key officials.
The council emphasized the effective utilization of DMFT funds under the Pradhan Mantri Mineral Sector Welfare Scheme, which aims to develop mining-affected areas and implement welfare schemes. It was revealed that 14169 schemes were received from Gram Sabhas held from mid-January to February, out of which 9675 schemes were selected based on priority.
These selected schemes are aimed at improving the standard of living for people in both directly and indirectly affected mining areas. The breakdown includes: 1206 schemes for drinking water supply, 3 schemes for environmental protection and pollution control, 300 schemes for health sector improvements, 1367 schemes for education enhancement, 60 schemes for women and child welfare , 78 schemes for skill development and livelihood creation, 866 schemes for sanitation, 80 schemes for agriculture sector, 4755 schemes for infrastructure development, 348 schemes for irrigation, 581 schemes for energy and water catchment development and 32 other schemes.
Of these, 3960 are high-priority schemes, while 5716 are categorized as other priority schemes, including 8438 schemes for directly affected areas and 1390 schemes for indirectly affected regions.
District Magistrate Ananya Mittal emphasized that 70% of DMFT funds would be allocated to high-priority sectors, including drinking water supply, environmental protection, health, education, women and child welfare, skill development, sanitation, agriculture, and animal husbandry. The remaining 30% would go towards other priority areas such as infrastructure development, irrigation, energy, and watershed development.
He underscored the importance of transparent and effective implementation and announced a special training session in March for all Panchayat heads. This training will ensure that scheme selection and implementation are conducted as per DMFT guidelines. The three-level implementation process includes: Selection at Gram Sabha level, Priority decision by the Management Committee and Final approval at the Trustee Council Meeting
Mittal reiterated the district administration’s commitment to work transparently for the rehabilitation of mining-affected communities, socio-economic development, and environmental protection. He urged Panchayat heads to select schemes with sensitivity to enhance the overall development of Gram Panchayats.
Mahto stressed that health, education, and livelihood promotion should be given top priority, ensuring long-term improvements in the standard of living for local residents. He stated that the selected schemes would be implemented over the next five years, with active monitoring and support from the district administration.
Mangal Kalindi emphasized the need for continuous monitoring to maintain quality and effectiveness in the schemes implemented by DMFT. He called for a focus on long-term impact and urged the Gram Sabha to select meaningful and sustainable schemes.
Sameer Mohanty highlighted the importance of participatory governance and urged Panchayat heads to make the partnership meaningful by actively participating in the selection and implementation of schemes. He recommended prioritizing agriculture resource enrichment, employment generation, and educational schemes for sustainable development.
