Lok Sabha Question No. 159 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Aspirational DMF Programme
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Damodar Agrawal, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*159

ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## ASPIRATIONAL DMF PROGRAMME

## †*159. SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL: SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details and objectives of the newly launched 'Aspirational DMF Programme'

by the Government; (b)  the  major  reforms  introduced  by  the  Government  to  strengthen  transparency, planning and accounting compliance in District Mineral Foundation (DMF) operations in the States; (c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  capacity  building  of  the  district authorities and DMF nodal officers; (d)  the  details  of  amount  collected,  sanctioned and  spent  in  various  sectors  under the  DMF  in  Rajasthan,  Gujarat  and  Himachal  Pradesh  during  the  last  five  years, district and year-wise; (e) whether financial approval from the concerned State Government is mandatory for the utilisation of the funds collected under DMF and if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor; and

- (f) the arrangements made to ensure the effective use of DMF funds for communitycentered development in areas affected by mining?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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THE  STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO. † *159  REGARDING  'ASPIRATIONAL  DMF  PROGRAMME' ASKED BY SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL AND SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR REPLY ON 10 TH DECEMBER 2025.

- (a) The objective of the 'Aspirational DMF Programme' is the alignment of DMF works with key Aspirational District Programme (ADP)/ Aspirational Block Programme (ABP)  sectors  and  performance  indicators  as  well  as  convergence  of DMF funds with ongoing Central/State schemes for multiplier effect and strengthened outcomes for mining affected communities.
- (b) To  strengthen  transparency,  planning  and  accounting  compliance  in  DMF operations, the Central Government issued revised PMKKKY guidelines in January 2024 which inter alia include the following:
-  Clear demarcation of directly and indirectly affected areas,
-  Preparation of a five-year perspective plan and a yearly plan.
-  Restriction  on  fund  transfer  from  DMF  to  the  State  Exchequer  or  any  State level fund.
-  Establishment  of  a  State  Level  Monitoring  Committee  (SLMC),  a  grievance redressal system and compliance mechanism.
-  In  addition  to  audit  of  the  DMF  accounts  every  year  by  a  Chartered Accountant  and  placing  report  in  the  public  domain  along  with  the  annual report, it provides for audit by Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).
-  Preparation of annual report on its activities for the respective financial year and  submission  to the State Government  for  laying before the State Legislative Assembly and hosting on the website of DMF.
-  The Ministry of Mines has also launched National DMF Portal.

(c) The PMKKKY Guidelines, 2024 mandate that an amount not exceeding 5% of the annual receipts of the Foundation may be utilized for administrative, supervisory and overhead costs of the foundation. Further, the DMFs with annual collection in the excess of Rs.50 crores are mandated to set up a Project Management Unit for planning,  and  technical,  accounting  and  monitoring  support.  Further,  the  Ministry organises suitable capacity building programs for district authorities and DMF nodal officers to strengthen on-ground monitoring and implementation of DMF schemes.

- (d) District-wise details of DMF funds are available at https://mines.gov.in/webportal/content/state-dmf.

(e) The PMKKKY guidelines, 2024 provide that the approval of expenditure of funds from DMF funds lies solely with the Governing Council of DMF.

(f) DMFs have been established for the benefit of persons and areas affected by mining operations across the country.  Further, to ensure more effective utilization of DMF Funds for community-centered development in areas affected by mining, the Central  Government  issued  revised  PMKKKY  guidelines  in  January  2024.  The guidelines provide for a clear demarcation of directly and indirectly affected areas, the mandatory allocation of at least 70% of DMF funds to directly affected areas and high-priority  sectors.  The  guidelines  also  include  creation  of  an  Endowment  Fund, preparation  and  maintenance  of  an  updated  list  of  persons  or  local  communities affected  by  mining  activities  and  convergence  with  ongoing  central  and  state schemes for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). DMF supportss Self Help Groups (SHGs), Food Producer Organisations (FPO), Farmer Cooperatives  Organisations  (FCOs),  and  Cooperatives  in  skill  development  and livelihood generation, agriculture, animal husbandry, etc. DMF  also  supports healthcare,  education,  drinking  water  supply,  sanitation  and  other  sectors,  which benefits the community at large.

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