DC Anu Garg urges 100pc DMF benefit saturation in mining villages, calls for data-driven, sustainable planning

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 8, 2025

Odisha’s Development Commissioner Anu Garg has called for complete saturation of benefits under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in villages within a 5-km radius of mining zones, emphasizing that every household in mining-affected areas should experience tangible improvements.

Addressing a State-level workshop organized by the Planning and Convergence Department on Wednesday, Garg underscored the need to strengthen planning, monitoring, and sustainability frameworks in the execution of DMF projects. The workshop deliberated on the findings of the “Concurrent Evaluation of Functioning of District Mineral Foundations (DMF) and Implementation of DMF Projects” conducted across the districts of Angul, Jajpur, and Jharsuguda.

The evaluation revealed that DMFs have emerged as a transformative instrument for inclusive growth in Odisha’s mining-affected regions. More than 32,000 projects have been sanctioned across DMF districts, with a detailed sample study covering 13,244 projects across key sectors such as health, education, drinking water, livelihoods, and infrastructure. The assessment found that interventions like piped water supply, road connectivity, health infrastructure, and skill development programmes have yielded substantial socio-economic returns. DMF investments were noted to have strong community impacts, particularly in education and sanitation.

Garg highlighted the government’s focus on making data systems and fund flow mechanisms more efficient to ensure faster, transparent project execution. “This exercise helps identify best practices and improvement areas across districts. By integrating baseline surveys and factoring in operation and maintenance at the planning stage, we can enhance the long-term impact of DMF initiatives,” she said.

The study, carried out by G.T. Bharat LLP, marks a pioneering effort in evaluating DMF projects at the national level, setting a benchmark for the country. It recommended adopting five-year perspective plans, structured operations, and centralized digital repositories to improve transparency and accountability. It also suggested that cross-district knowledge sharing could accelerate Odisha’s progress in transforming mineral wealth into sustainable, inclusive development.

The workshop, which saw participation from senior government officials and departmental commissioners, marked an important step toward addressing challenges in DMF implementation. The evaluation reaffirms Odisha’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of mineral resources translate into lasting, people-centric growth in mining-affected regions.