Mining – India 1
1. Cabinet may discuss Jharia Action Plan today 1
2. Coal India may form joint ventures 2
3. Mine workers ‘prone’ to AIDS 3
4. Vidarbha MPs join hands, write to PM on Adani mine issue 3
5. Orissa tribal buys company shares to protest project 4
6. Usha Martin net takes 50% knock 6
7. 'Sand mining near bridge posing danger to trains' 6
8. NMDC could expand coal mining JV into power generation 7
Mining – International 7
9. Sherritt's Madagascar mine hits new snag 8
10. Perseus to mine Ayanfuri gold project 9
11. Experience life in a gold-mining town 10
12. A Road Trip Through a Revolution, Mine by Mine and Factory by Factory 11
13. Employees suspected in Papua mine killings 13
14. Chinese coal mine turned park opens to tourists 15
15. Brazil mining giant Vale's profit down 84 pc in 2Q 16
16. Minmetals studying restart of Avebury nickel mine 16
17. Zimbabwe withdraws mining bill 17
18. Report: China stops mining project with NKorea 17
Other News 18
19. Backlog of ST Vacancies 18
20. Land Acquisition for Railway Projects 19
21. Plan to revive the Water Bodies 19
22. Irrigation Development during XITH Plan 19
23. Wage rate under NREGA increases from Rs. 65 to Rs. 84 20
24. Bringing Safai Karamcharis into Mainstream 22
25. Social Security Schemes 23
Mining – India
Cabinet may discuss Jharia Action Plan today
• Priyadarshi SiddhantaTags : Jharia Action Plan, centrePosted: Thursday , Jul 30, 2009 at 0423 hrsNew Delhi:
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The coal ministry’s ambitious Rs 8,000-crore Jharia Action Plan may finally bear fruit with the Union Cabinet likely to take it up for discussion tomorrow.
The plan seeks to rehabilitate nearly 5,00,000 people from the endangered Jharia area in Jharkhand. This would help secure the prized 13 billion tonnes of coal (including 1,464 million tonnes of coking coal) estimated to be lying beneath the mines of Coal India Limited’s subsidiaries — Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). While the state government had sanctioned the plan last year, besides the coal ministry recently approving it, the issue has now been placed before the Union Cabinet for its consideration.
“This would be the single biggest rehabilitation programme in any part of the world, where nearly 5,00,000 people would be rehabilitated with proper housing facilities,” Coal India Limited chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya told The Indian Express over telephone from Kolkata. The company would construct houses for the 78,000 families that would be rehabilitated to ‘safe areas’, intended to accommodate all those living within the endangered zones, he said.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Cabinet-may-discuss-Jharia-Action-Plan-today/495907
Coal India may form joint ventures
Special Correspondent
Hope to firm up the process by the middle of next year
KOLKATA: By the middle of 2010, Coal India Ltd (CIL) may enter into joint ventures with global majors as well as domestic companies for resuming mining at 18 abandoned mines for which it had invited expressions of interest (EoI) in 2008.
CIL Chairman P. S. Bhattacharyya said that pre-NIT meetings were held with nine companies and tenders were expected to be floated by August with the bids being expected to be submitted by December-January. “We hope to firm up the entire process by the middle of next year,” he said.
Addressing a press meet to announce the finalised results, he said after payment of dividends and absorbing the Rs. 10,104.80 crore impact of a wage increase for employees and executives, CIL’s retained earnings were just Rs. 300 crore in 2008-09. Its post-tax profit for the year had dipped from Rs. 8,738.50 crore in 2007-08 to Rs. 5,744.10 crore.
He said a subsidiary would soon be formed in Mozambique for commencing exploration work at the mines recently acquired by CIL in the African country and a government delegation would visit the country next week.
CIL’s Director, Marketing, A. Sarkar said that roadshows have begun for commencing forward e-auctions which might be launched in August.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/30/stories/2009073056111800.htm
Mine workers ‘prone’ to AIDS
SHALINI SABOO
Ranchi, July 29: Jharkhand’s mine workers are “highly prone” to HIV/AIDS, and low literacy rate and poor health facilities are to be blamed for this.
This was the finding of Jharkhand AIDS Control Society (JSACS) in its recent survey, which sampled mine workers of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Ranchi.
The survey called COILA (Collieries Outreach Intervention for limiting HIV/AIDS conducted in partnership with Population Services International (PSI), covered 112 mines in Dhanbad, 20 in Bokaro, 19 in Ramgarh, seven in Hazaribagh and five in Ranchi.
A targeted intervention research done under the sub-groups of permanent workers, male casual workers, female casual workers and coal pilferers in these mines, showed that these sections were highly prone to HIV/AIDS as compared to the general population.
Renuka Tiwari, a JSACS official, said: “The findings (of the April 2009 study) will go a long way in checking the spread of AIDS in mining areas, where workers are grossly unaware of its causes and frequently indulge in unsafe sex.”
According to the survey, only 60 per cent of male casual workers and 56 per cent of coal pilferers said they knew that using a condom during sex was must to keep HIV/AIDS at bay.
“With about 30 per cent of the total HIV-affected population living in these pockets, the study calls for an immediate action,” the JSACS official said.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090730/jsp/jharkhand/story_11287873.jsp
Vidarbha MPs join hands, write to PM on Adani mine issue
Ramu Bhagwat, TNN 30 July 2009, 03:24am IST
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NAGPUR: A day after Chandrapur city rallied in total support of environmentalists protesting the proposed coal mines threatening one of the last
remaining tiger havens in the country, seven members of parliament from Vidarbha joined hands to show their support to the cause. What mattered most was these MPs are from desperate parties who rarely see eye-to eye on any issue.
Forgetting their political affiliations, Congress MPs led by Vilas Muttemwar (Nagpur), Datta Meghe (Wardha), Marotrao Kowase (Gadchiroli), BJP's Hansraj Ahir ( Chandrapur), Sanjay Dhotre (Akola) and Shiv Sena's Anandrao Adsul (Amravati) and Pratap Jadhav (Buldhana) wrote a joint letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).
"Adani Power Ltd has been allocated 1,750 hectares of rich forest land having coal reserves at Lohara neat Tadoba. We are of the considered view, based on incontrovertible information, that operation of the proposed opencast coal mine will cause irreparable damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of the tiger. There are 45 tigers in the reserve forest, rated as the best in the country in terms of tiger density," the letter signed by the seven MPs read. The letter was handed over to the PM by Muttemwar and Meghe, two seniormost leaders from Vidarbha.
A whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work, The biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers. As per theenvironmental impact analysis, the environmental cost would be a mind boggling Rs 2.78 billion, the letter has mentioned. The mining operation sp close to a protected forest negates the government's very ownconservation policy on which billions are spent to protect tigers, the letter has noted.
The MPs have also suggested that Adani could be given an allocated some alternatives mining blocks where there is no damage to forest and wildlife. "Or the company may be advised to use coal which it regularly imports for the proposed power plant to come up at Tiroda in Gondia district. This way power can be produced without sacrificing rich forests, rare biodiversity and endangered tiger," the letter concludes.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Nagpur/Vidarbha-MPs-join-hands-write-to-PM-on-Adani-mine-issue/articleshow/4835536.cms
Orissa tribal buys company shares to protest project
Akanksha Banerji / CNN-IBN
Published on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 17:29 in Business section
Tags: Vedanta Resources, Bauxite Mining , London
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ALL FOR A CAUSE: Activists gather to protest Vedanta Resources' proposed bauxite mining project in Orissa.
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London: A long standing environment battle between an Indian corporate and Orissa tribals is now being carried to the streets of London.
An agitating tribal has come up with a unique strategy. He has bought a share in the company to appeal to the shareholders to not cut down acres of rich tropical forest in his state.
Sitaram Kuliski of the Dongria Kondh tribe, who lives on the foothills of the Niyamgiri mountains in Orissa, is protesting Vedanta Resources' proposed bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri mountains.
Sitaram Kuliski says, “Thousands of my brothers and sisters have sent me here to appeal to Vedanta. I have come to ask shareholders and others help us to stop mining at Niyamgiri and to save our community from being destroyed.”
Environmentalists say the mine will destroy the area's ecosystem and threaten the future of the 8,000 strong Kondh tribe, for whom the Niyamgiri is 'sacred'.
Celebrity activist Bianca Jagger and singer Nitin Sawhney too have lent their support to the tribals cause.
Activist, Bianca Jagger says, “I firmly believe it’s important that corporations adhere to social and ethical values. We shareholders can make them understand that their projects should not endanger lives of indigenous people and not go against the environment and not contribute to climate change.”
On its part, Vedanta says it's bringing development to a backward region.
CEO, Vedanta Resources, M S Mehta says, “People are with us. They want this project to come up. They want this, for heath conditions. We don't see opposition.”
Vedanta says it has complied with the 32 conditions of the Supreme Court. In addition, its has also deposited crores of rupees with the Orissa government for compensatory forestry and peripheral development. The company is awaiting stage 2 forest clearance and plans to start mining as soon as possible. But one consent it may never get is that of the local tribals who have brought their protest from home to London.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/orissa-tribal-buys-company-shares-to-protest-project/98149-7.html
Usha Martin net takes 50% knock
30 Jul 2009, 0010 hrs IST, ET Bureau
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KOLKATA: Steel wire ropes producer Usha Martin Industries has reported a 50% drop in consolidated net profit to Rs 32 crore in the first quarter
ended June 30, 2009. The company’s net sales during the quarter also fell to Rs 608.5 crore, against Rs 698.7 crore in the previous corresponding quarter, owing to adverse business conditions — a planned shutdown of its wire rod mill and a higher tax liability. Consequently, Usha Martin’s profit before tax (PBT) during the quarter also declined by 50% to Rs 50.2 crore, against Rs 100.8 crore in the same period last year.
“A planned 24-day shutdown of its wire rod mill, high incidence of deferred tax liability in addition to an adverse business conditions were mainly responsible for the sharp drop in the company’s profitability and turnover during the quarter,” Usha Martin managing director Rajeev Jhawar said at a press meet after the company’s 23rd annual general meeting on Wednesday.
“Margins are under pressure in the steel sector, and it will continue to remain so in the second quarter also. However, we expect to get the benefits of our ongoing Rs 2,100-crore expansion in steel and mining operations from the third quarter,” Mr Jhawar added. With captive coal mining due to commence in October 2009, the company hopes to reduce overall costs by Rs 4,000 per tonne.
As a result of the impact of the global economic slowdown, Usha Martin, which supplies ropes for elevators and mining companies, among others, saw its exports drop to $19 million in the first quarter this year from $35 million in the same period last year.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Company/Earnings/Usha-Martin-net-takes-50-knock/articleshow/4835529.cms
'Sand mining near bridge posing danger to trains'
TNN 29 July 2009, 11:02pm IST
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KARWAR: The action of the mine and geology (M&G) department of Karwar that allowed sand mining from the Kali river, has put the lives of
thousands of commuters who travel by Konkan railway on the Kali bridge in danger.
The Konkan railway bridge, which is 1.5 km long, built across the river Kali, is facing threats due to sand mining. The bridge is built at the place of confluence of the Kali river and Arabian Sea and so naturally, the pressure of the water is high in this area. Despite this, the M&G department has granted some companies permission to mine sand from this area.
"It is a big scam," said Madhav Naik, president of Janashakthi Vedike, Karwar, who complained to the DC regarding the issue. But officials of M&G department only justified their permitting the sand mining to the DC.
According to Naik, more than 300 lorry loads of sand mined from the Kali river is being illegally transported to Goa, as some officials of sales tax and M&G are working hand-in-glove with these smugglers. The tippers transport the sand to Goa four to five times a day, every day.
The danger now lurks at the base of the pillars erected for the bridge, and continuous mining would weaken the pillars which may collapse as the trains pass over it, resulting in the death of hundreds of people. Over 20 trains traverse this bridge and the danger is staring at the commuters said N Datta. President of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike.
He said the mining around the Konkan railway bridge should be stopped. If something happened to the bridge and the commuters, then the M&G officials must be held responsible, he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Hubli/Sand-mining-near-bridge-posing-danger-to-trains/articleshow/4832288.cms
NMDC could expand coal mining JV into power generation
Thursday, 30 Jul 2009
PTI reported that National Mineral Development Corporation is betting big on power generation, calling it a natural extension of mining coal. It has been allotted 2 commercial coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh with estimated reserves of 42 million tonne each.
Mr Rana Som CMD of NMDC said “The mining major is eyeing at more such properties which it wants to develop in a JV format and go in for power generation. Coal blocks will be developed in JV, which could be expanded and extended into power generation also. But today, if NMDC goes to power not per se that we want to generate power, but because we want to be involved in coal mining.”
Mr Som said “It will not restrict itself to the conventional mode but is looking to tap solar energy for power generation, for which it has already received application from an interested party.”
He said “With such mega diversification program lined up, the PSU will need INR 26,000 crore in next 5 years, we have about 11,000 crore in our kitty. We will need about INR 26,000 crore in next 5 to 6 years. NMDC entered into steel making with INR 15,000 crore steel project in Chhattisgarh and the strategic acquisition of Sponge Iron India Limited.
(Sourced from Press Trust of India)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/30/MTA0NTUy/NMDC_could_expand_coal_mining_JV_into_power_generation.html
Mining – International
Sherritt's Madagascar mine hits new snag
Problems in the African island nation latest example of difficulties facing global mining industry in developing countries
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Andy Hoffman
Globe and Mail UpdateLast updated on Thursday, Jul. 30, 2009 03:51AM EDT
Sherritt International Corp.'s (S-T6.03-0.17-2.74%) troubled nickel project in Madagascar faces a major stumbling block after a legal firm hired by the country's new president said the certification for the $4.5-billion (U.S.) mine may be invalid.
The Ambatovy project, which has already been sideswiped by massive cost overruns, environmental concerns and financing difficulties, is now facing a review by Andry Rajoelina, the media owner and former disc jockey who won power in a March coup d'état backed by the military.
Sherritt disclosed Wednesday that a French law firm engaged by Mr. Rajoelina is claiming that the Ambatovy project's certification under Madagascar's Large Mining Investment Act may not be binding.
“We are in a very strong legal position and we are very comfortable with our position in Madagascar. But there is uncertainty in how this will develop over time,” Dean Chambers, Sherritt's senior vice-president and chief financial officer said in an interview.
Sherritt's problems in the troubled African island nation are just the latest example of the difficulties facing the global mining industry as it tries to build mines in developing countries. A severe dearth of discoveries in traditional mining regions has forced miners to seek out deposits in challenging locations in Africa and Asia. In many cases, fractious political battles have erupted as governments try to balance the short-term investment and employment gains the foreign mining firms would provide with the long-term environmental and economic consequences of allowing such projects.
Vancouver's Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (IVN-T8.06-0.32-3.82%) was recently dealt a significant setback in mineral-rich but cash-starved Mongolia, where it has been trying to win an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project for more than five years. The Mongolian parliament refused to ratify the deal and sent it back to the government with the stipulation that an agreement be negotiated that follows the country's laws.
In Guinea, Rio Tinto PLC (RTP-N152.08-4.76-3.03%) , the London mining firm that is also a partner with Ivanhoe on Oyu Tolgoi, has been stripped of a 50-per-cent interest in a major iron ore deposit. The Guinean government said that Rio Tinto was not developing the $6-billion project fast enough and gave half the deposit to another company.
The industry's challenges have been compounded by the global recession, which has seen metal prices decline while financing costs have surged. Many large-scale mining projects have been put on hold as mining firms wait for the markets to stabilize.
In response to the market crash, Sherritt slowed down work late last year on Ambatovy, of which it owns 40 per cent and which represents the largest foreign investment ever in Madagascar. Full-scale construction has since resumed and the Toronto-based company recently secured financing to cover its share of the project's increased costs from its partners, Japan's Sumitomo Corp., South Korea's Korea Resources Corp. and SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (SNC-T45.05-0.50-1.10%)of Montreal.
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2010. Once in production, Ambatovy could annually produce 60,000 tonnes of nickel per year and 5,600 tonnes of cobalt during a 27-year mine life. Under an agreement struck with the previous government, the company created by the partners to process the ore will pay a tax rate of 10 per cent.
“It looks like political risk in Madagascar is real. The project has been granted a 10-per-cent tax rate and it sounds like the government may want to renege on this,” said an analyst who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Sherritt, however, believes the review of its agreement for Ambatovy is political posturing by Mr. Rajoelina.
“As you might expect with any new government whether it is transitional or permanent, they are trying to achieve some things. Obviously we are high-profile and we are attracting some attention,” Mr. Chambers said.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/sherritts-madagascar-mine-hits-new-snag/article1235446/
Perseus to mine Ayanfuri gold project
July 30, 2009 - 1:49PM
Perseus Mining Ltd says it will proceed to mining its flagship Ayanfuri project in Ghana, West Africa, where the junior explorer has defined a large maiden gold reserve.
The company has reported a 2.14 million ounce (oz) reserve at the project in the proved and probable categories of Australia's mineral reporting code.
This positions Perseus within the top 10 largest gold stocks listed on the Australian stock exchange by reserves, managing director Mark Calderwood said in a statement on Thursday.
"In addition, reserves are expected to increase substantially in the near term given that the maiden estimate incorporates only three of eight defined pits at Ayanfuri," Mr Calderwood said.
Perseus said the project had "very attractive project economics ... based on a 220,000 plus oz per annum mine for the first four years of operation, and with the potential to mine for several decades after that".
Perseus aims to commence construction by early 2010 and is targeting its first gold pour by the third quarter of 2011.
The company plans to eventually expand output beyond 300,000 oz per annum.
The resource at Ayanfuri is 5.3 million oz, rivalling AngloGold Ashanti Ltd's 5.01 million oz Tropicana project in Western Australia, which was this week approved for a feasibility study and could go into production in 2013.
Shares in Perseus were down three cents, or 3.95 per cent, at 73 cents at 1331 AEST.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-business/perseus-to-mine-ayanfuri-gold-project-20090730-e2hy.html
Experience life in a gold-mining town
By KYLE WAGNER THE DENVER POST
July 29, 2009, 1:22PM
Several casinos offer lodging. Other places to stay include:
• Carr Manor: Located in the old Cripple Creek High School, this imposing building is filled with gorgeous antiques, as well as the blackboards from the old schoolroom days that you can leave messages on. A filling breakfast with house-baked pastries — hope for the amazing cinnamon rolls — is included. Rates start at $100. 350 E. Carr, 719-689-3709, whisperingpinesbandb.net
• Gold King Mountain Inn: The view from the hill is wonderful at this lodging, which has an indoor pool and a welcoming staff who will shuttle you to the casinos (the closest one, Wildwood Casino, is about four blocks away). Rooms are nothing fancy but spacious and feature whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. Rates start at $106. 601 Galena, 888-624-7711, triplecrowncasinos.com
• Maggie’s Restaurant: Located in the Colorado Grande Casino, Maggie’s is a good, quiet, all-around place for three meals a day. They do a good breakfast, especially if you’re hankering for biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak or ham and eggs, and they have a kids menu. 300 E. Bennett, playwildwood.com)
CRIPPLE CREEK, COLO. — In a misty rain from three blocks away, the woman looks a bit like a ghost.
Adorned in white from head to toe — a frilly, full-length gown, a lace-edged hat framing her jet-black hair, white parasol in one hand and teardrop-shaped white handbag in the other, with a white shawl draped over her shoulders — Melodie Bauer is a Victorian-era vision in what is arguably Colorado’s most charismatic modern-day gambling town.
“I’m out here for the people,” says Cripple Creek’s goodwill ambassador, who dresses in period costume several times a week with her husband, John Bauer, to answer questions from the tourists who descend upon the former gold-mining mecca in the mountains of central Colorado to try to get rich a different way — at one of the 13 casinos.
“I let them know where to find things, you know, like things to do or where to take kids to eat where they can find something they’ll like,” Melodie says. “When people get here, sometimes it just looks like casinos from one end to the other, but there’s so much more.”
Of course, many of the people who get here are in fact looking only for the casinos, and that number is likely to increase now that Colorado’s gaming rules have been loosened. Bet limits are now $100 (up from $5), casinos can stay open 24 hours, and craps and roulette have been added to the gaming options.
This town of fewer than 1,500 hopes to cash in on the gaming changes. The casinos have hired extra staff to keep things lively during the wee hours, bolstered their restaurant offerings and even done major construction to attract high-stakes players. They’ve also been putting a spit-shine on a town that has struggled to maintain its reputation as a charming historic mining town with up-to-date amenities.
It was a crazy Kentucky man, Bob Womack, who started it all. Womack moved his family to the area in 1876 and called it Poverty Gulch. The locals called him “Crazy Bob” because anyone who knew anything about mining had determined that Poverty Gulch was never going to yield any gold.
But Womack spent years trying, and when he finally succeeded, he turned out to be a bit nuts after all — one night at a bar, he sold his claim for $500 and a bottle of whiskey, and never wound up as one of the dozens who made millions.
By 1900, Cripple Creek was one of the richest gold-mining camps in the world, second only to South Africa, pulling in about $20 million worth of gold annually. The city was Colorado’s fourth-largest, with more than 50,000 residents, and it sported more than 100 saloons and dozens of churches.
If you walk up “The Hill” nowadays, a lung-testing trek that leads several blocks perpendicularly from Bennett Avenue, you still can visit some of Cripple Creek’s original buildings, such as the Baptist church on North First Street and the elegant St. Peter’s Catholic Church with its elaborate stained-glass windows.
Several attractions give visitors an idea of what life was like during Cripple Creek’s heyday:
• Pikes Peak Heritage Center is the city’s new pride and joy, an 11,600-square-foot visitors’ center along the highway that overlooks the town and is filled with historical information and interactive exhibits. Kids can crawl around in the mining camp, and adults can pick up brochures and maps on everything there is to do in the area. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 9283 S. Colorado 67, 877-858-4653
• The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad offers even more of a trip back in time from the town’s 1894 depot. A steam locomotive makes a four-mile, 45-minute trek back and forth between Cripple Creek and Victor, another old mining town, with the tour guide offering up interesting tidbits on the sites you pass, as well as your destination, the abandoned Anaconda camp. The train operates 10 a.m.-5 p.m. mid-May to mid-October and costs $12.25 for adults, $7.75 for kids 3-12. Fifth Street and Bennett Avenue, 719-689-2640, www.cripplecreekrailroad.com
• Old Homestead Parlour House Museum gives visitors a glimpse of life in an 1890s brothel, as well as additional history of Cripple Creek. The stories are fascinating, as are the bits and pieces on display from the days of the “soiled doves” and their lavish parties and well-to-do clientele from Denver. 353 Myers, 719-689-2634,www.cripple-creek.org
• The Butte Theater in an 1890s building provides a forum for the Thin Air Theater Company to present a year-round schedule of shows surrounded by period chandeliers and other Victorian décor. 139 E. Bennett, 719-689-6402, www.butteoperahouse.com
• Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine takes visitors 1,000 feet underground on a one-hour tour to see a demonstration of mining equipment, ride an air-tram locomotive and look at the gold veins in the walls of the mine. Not for the claustrophobic. Admission $15 adults, $10 ages 3-12. 9388 Colorado Highway 67, 719-689-2466,
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/travel/features/6552978.html
A Road Trip Through a Revolution, Mine by Mine and Factory by Factory
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By RUTH ELLEN GRUBER
Published: July 30, 2009
ZABRZE, POLAND — A bell rings out with a strident clang, and the metal cage begins a slow descent into the earth.
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Ruth Ellen Gruber
The monument to Wincenty Pstrowski, a miner and Communist-era labor hero, in a park Zabrze.
Ruth Ellen Gruber
The Nikisowiec workers' housing estate, which was built between 1908 and 1915 for workers at the Wieczorek coal mine.
As I stand inside, helmet on head, shoulder to shoulder with a group of slightly nervous strangers, the refrain of a Merle Travis song keeps running through my head: “It’s dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew/ the dangers are double, the pleasures are few/ where the rain never falls, the sun never shines/ it’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.”
I’m headed down 320 meters, or about 1,050 feet, on a guided tour of the Guido Coal Mine, which was founded in 1855 in Zabrze and closed decades ago.
Today it’s a mining heritage park: its soaring shaft tower the dominant feature of a complex that includes a subterranean museum showcasing more than a century of coal-mining technology — from hand-held picks to huge automated drills that resemble creatures from a sci-fi film — and a research center for industrial tourism.
The mine is a key stop among the 31 sites on the Industrial Monuments Route, which opened three years ago as a kind of tourists’ alternative to the country’s castles and churches. Crossing Silesia Province in the south, the route pays homage to the heritage of the country’s most heavily industrialized region.
This region is essentially Poland’s Rust Belt. The route includes not only mines but foundries, factories, railway stations, power plants, even a wooden radio tower in Gliwice. Some of the facilities are still in operation.
The route also includes museums devoted to specific areas of trade and manufacturing — beer museums at well-known breweries in Zywiec and Tychy; a bread-making museum near Bytom; a press and publishing museum in Pszyczyna; and a textile industry museum in Bielsko Biala. A small Museum of Sanitary Technology, located in a century-old waste-water pumping station in Gliwice, shows the history of sewage treatment technology.
Most sites date to Poland’s Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 19th century, when belching smoke from thousands of red-bricked chimneys darkened the Silesian sky, and mines and mills transformed, and blighted, the landscape.
Many of these installations functioned throughout the Communist years. But though Silesia is still heavily industrial, most of its aging plants have either closed or modernized, and much of the old machinery has been scrapped.
The route, in fact, was set up to single out and preserve the more noteworthy of those that remain.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/travel/30iht-gruber.html?_r=1
Emerging Threats
Employees suspected in Papua mine killings
Published: July 29, 2009
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JAKARTA, July 29 (UPI) -- Indonesian police identified two employees of the Freeport Mine as suspects in the killing of three people, including an Australian technician earlier this month.
Police also said they found ammunition and food stored along the road to the mine and suspect the cache might be for another attack in the remote jungle area.
The two suspects are among seven people police are investigating for involvement in the fatal shootout at the Grasberg mining complex, the world's largest gold mine, the Jakarta Globe newspaper reported.
It isn't clear from media reports if police have officially charged the seven. Earlier reports said that 15 people had been detained in connection with the July 11 tragedy that also injured 13 people near the town of Timika on the western side of the island of Papua. Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half.
Australian national Drew Nicholas Grant, 29, a project manager at Freeport, was killed when the vehicle he was driving was ambushed. The next day an Indonesian security guard was killed in another attack and a police Mobile Brigade officer who went missing during a third attack was found dead in a ravine near the ambush site.
Security forces and mining officials allowed thousands of Freeport employees forced to stay at the site since the attack to go home on Sunday.
"We have not taken a day off for three weeks and are grateful that we are back safe and sound," one worker told the Globe.
The latest incident took place last Friday, when a convoy of Freeport vehicles came under attack, leaving a police officer and a local Freeport employee with gunshot wounds.
Police haven't identified any organization in connection with the killings and have officially called them a "group of armed criminals," a report in The Jakarta Post noted.
Shooting incidents are not uncommon in the area and last week another a convoy of Freeport vehicles came under attack, leaving a police officer and a local Freeport employee with gunshot wounds.
Some people suspect the attackers were members of the Free Papua Movement although it has issued denials to the media. Locals suspect that members of the military and police are fighting over multimillion-dollar protection contracts for mine employees.
This month's fatal attacks were the worst at the mine, run by the U.S. business Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, since the 2002 killing of three schoolteachers, including two Americans.
The mine has been a focus of peaceful activism by many locals who feel they aren't getting a fair share of the exploitation of the country's natural resources.
The open pit forms a 1 mile-wide crater and is also the world's third largest producer of copper. It is basically a low-cost labor set up with nearly 20,000 employees. Production figures for 2006 were 672,000 tons of copper, around 2 million ounces of gold and 6.1 million ounces of silver.
In the past decade more violence has occurred in Papua, about the size of Spain and a part of the Indonesian archipelago federation after a slim majority voted in favor of joining in 1969.
Foreign journalists require special permits to work on the island. However, in March the British Broadcasting Corp. showed a clandestine and independently produced documentary about local conditions in the rugged, jungle island.
Many Papuans say they feel their culture and identity are slowly being eroded, the BBC reported. Papuans don't look like other Indonesians. They are Melanesian and closer to aboriginals as found in Australia than Asians.
But migrants from other Indonesian islands make up about half the local population. Some of the newcomers consider the traditional Papuan way of life backward and uncivilized.
http://www.upiasia.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/07/29/Employees-suspected-in-Papua-mine-killings/UPI-52281248869700/
Chinese coal mine turned park opens to tourists
Thursday, 30 Jul 2009
Xinhua reported that the National Mine Park in northeast China Fuxin City, converted from Asia's largest open pit coal mine opened to tourists recently.
As per report, admission to the park is free. Covering an area of 28 square kilometers, the park contains a cultural square a museum, a viewing platform and other attractions. Its construction started in 2007.
The cultural square exhibits the tools commonly used in blasting, picking and transportation in mining electric picks down hole drills, steam and electric locomotives and bulldozers. The museum exhibits items about the origin of the earth and life, mining as it relates to people's lives, resources and environmental protection, rock and mining appreciation, industrial heritage and tourism development.
Mr Li Mingshan vice mayor of Fuxin said the government has invested CNY 400 million in infrastructure and prevention of geological disasters. He said the park also displayed an electric locomotive produced by the Czech Republic during World War II, a Japanese steam locomotive, the first electric pickaxe that China imported from Soviet Union as well as the first and the last China made steam locomotives among its total of 186 steam and electric locomotives.
Mr Li said the items not only witness the history of the world's industrial development from the late 19th century to the 20th century, but also China's modern industrial development. He said Tourists can have a journey to the center of the earth here. He added that in the future tourists would be able to experience the miners' lives, working as an electric picker, riding a mining train, and even drilling and blasting coal walls with safety explosives.
As one of the 156 major industrial projects that pushed the first industrialization steps of then newly established People's Republic of China, the Haizhou Open Pit Coal Mine began operation in 1953.
(Sourced from Xinhua)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/30/MTA0NTM5/Chinese_coal_mine_turned_park_opens_to_tourists.html
Brazil mining giant Vale's profit down 84 pc in 2Q
Associated Press, 07.29.09, 06:45 PM EDT
SAO PAULO -- Brazil's Vale mining company says its profit plunged 84.2 percent in the second quarter as a result of lower prices for the iron ore it produces.
Under U.S. accounting rules, net income for the April-June period totaled $790 million, or $0.15 a share, down from $5.1 billion, or $1.04 a share, in the second quarter of 2008, the Rio de Janeiro-based company said Wednesday.
YAHOO! BUZZ
Vale SA, the world's largest producer of iron ore, says revenue dropped 53.3 percent in the second quarter to $5.1 billion, down from $10.9 billion in 2008.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/07/29/ap6717271.html
Minmetals studying restart of Avebury nickel mine
Thursday, 30 Jul 2009
Mining Journal reported that China Minmetals Corp, the nation biggest metals trader is studying the restart of the Avebury nickel mine in Australia after a rebound in prices.
Mr Andrew Michelmore CEO of the company Australian unit Minerals & Metals Group said in a statement that the company has recently committed a team to review the operations there in the hope of recommencing the operation when economic conditions improve.
He said "Given the high cost involved in restarting an operation, we need to be absolutely sure that prices will remain at an economically viable level to make that decision. He added that Nickel prices are still doing it tough at around USD 15,000 per tonne to USD 16,000 per tonne.
The mine would be making cash at current prices, Mr Michelmore said in a June 18th interview when the price of nickel for three month delivery on the London Metal Exchange was USD 15,010 per tonne. The price fell 0.3% to USD 16,899 per tonne at 4:02PM Sydney time.
(Sourced from Bloomberg)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/30/MTA0NDk2/Minmetals_studying_restart_of_Avebury_nickel_mine.html
Zimbabwe withdraws mining bill
Thursday, 30 Jul 2009
Zimbabwe's new inclusive government has withdrawn from parliament the country's controversial mining bill that would have forced foreign owned mining firms to cede a controlling stake to Zimbabweans.
The Zimbabwe Guardian citing Mr Musukutwa mines and mining development permanent secretary of Zimbabwe reported that the draft law had been withdrawn to allow for stakeholder consultation.
The withdrawal of the bill is in line with promises made by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Mr Morgan Tsvangirai last month.
Mr Tsvangirai who had then just ended a three week tour of western capitals where he pitched for fund to help rebuild the ailing Zimbabwean economy, said Zimbabwe's indigenization law would be amended to lure foreign investors into the mining sector.
Mr Tsvangirai said that "We are reviewing it. 51% is far far too high. The new coalition government hopes to agree a new local ownership level that is comfortable for investors, but still beneficial to the mineral rich nation.”
Under the draft law, foreign firms mining strategic minerals such as coal and coal bed methane would have required to sell 51% shareholding to the government, with the state taking 25% of that stake free. Government would also take 25% shareholding in precious minerals such as gold, diamond and platinum while another 26% would go to locals. The changes to the Mines and Minerals Act were approved by the cabinet in 2006 but never signed into law.
(Sourced from moneybiz.co.za)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/30/MTA0NTQz/Zimbabwe_withdraws_mining_bill.html
Report: China stops mining project with NKorea
(AP) – 2 hours ago
SEOUL, South Korea — A Chinese investment company has abruptly suspended a joint project with a North Korean firm that has been targeted under U.N. sanctions, a news report said Thursday.
The suspension comes as the United States has been mustering international support for strict enforcement of the sanctions aimed at depriving North Korea of financing and material for its nuclear weapons program.
The U.S. and Chinese officials discussed North Korean issues during high-level talks that ended Tuesday in Washington. China's cooperation in enforcing sanctions against its ally is seen as crucial to increasing pressure on North Korea to return to nuclear disarmament talks.
Zhongkuang International Investment signed a deal with North Korea's Mining Development Trading Corporation, or KOMID, in 2006 to develop a bronze mine in the North and commissioned NHI Shenyang Mining Machinery, another Chinese company, to build facilities for the mine, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.
The investment company, however, sent a letter to NHI earlier this month demanding it stop construction of the facilities, the newspaper reported, citing Chinese steel industry officials it did not identify.
NHI had hurried construction so that production could start in September after Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping pledged full support for the development of the mine during his trip to Pyongyang in June last year, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified industry official.
But the Chinese government appeared to have exercised influence on the investment company to stop the project, the newspaper said, citing the industry official.
The investment firm reportedly told NHI that it could not disclose reasons for the suspension, according to the report.
A man surnamed Jin at the general office of Zhongkuang International Investment deferred comment to an assistant CEO for the company whom he said would return Monday.
KOMID is one of three North Korean companies targeted under U.N. sanctions in April in response to the North's rocket launch earlier that month. North Korea insisted it sent a satellite into orbit, while the U.S. and its allies said it was actually a long-range missile test.
KOMID is an arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Separately, Chinese customs authorities said earlier this week that they seized a stash of vanadium, a strategic metal used to strengthen steel, hidden in fruit boxes on a truck bound for North Korea.
Vanadium has defense and nuclear applications — alloys with vanadium are used in missile casings — but it was not clear what the shipment was to be used for.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iV7xy3YhlDc79Il1Lugo4f2x6DsQD99OLBO00
Other News
Backlog of ST Vacancies
________________________________________
16:37 IST
Rajya Sabha
The Ministry is aware about tribal backlog in various Departments of Central Government and services of Public Sector Undertakings. A special recruitment drive has been launched to fill up the backlog reserved vacancies. Some vacancies reserved for the Scheduled Tribes remain unfilled for the reasons like non-availability of suitable candidates, gap between arising of a vacancy and its filling up etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51256
Land Acquisition for Railway Projects
________________________________________
16:25 IST
Lok Sabha
Railways have been submitting necessary proposals for land acquisition for railway projects from time to time to the State Governments.
Timely availability of land is one of the issues connected with execution of projects. The land acquisition and forestry clearance in case of forest land) take considerable time which delays the project implementation. A number of projects, particularly for construction of new lines, are getting affected due to delays attributable to land acquisition.
In the recent past, amendment has been made in The Indian Railways Act, 1989 through Railway Amendment Act, 2008 for speedy acquisition of land for Special Railway Projects. A number of initiatives have been taken to generate additional resources through Public Private Partnership, State Sharing, funds from Ministry of Defence, additional budgetary support for National Projects to expeditiously complete the ongoing projects.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Railways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51248
Plan to revive the Water Bodies
________________________________________
15:59 IST
RAJYA SABHA
The Government of India sanctioned a pilot scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of 1098 water bodies in 26 districts of 15 states with an outlay of Rs. 300 crore (Central Share of Rs. 225 crore) during X Plan. The Government has further approved a programme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore (Central share of Rs.2750 crore) for XI Plan.
The programme covers all states of the country including Andhra Pradesh. Under the scheme, the World Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Tamil Nadu for Rs. 2182 crore for restoration of 5763 water bodies having a CCA of 4 lakh hectares, with Andhra Pradesh for Rs. 835 crore for restoration of 3000 water bodies with a CCA of 2.5 lakh hectares, with Karnataka for Rs. 268 crore for restoration of 1225 water bodies having a CCA of 0.52 lakh hectare and with Orissa for Rs. 478 crore for restoration of 900 water bodies with CCA of 1.2 lakh hectare.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Vincent H. Pala in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51240
Irrigation Development during XITH Plan
________________________________________
15:56 IST
RAJYA SABHA
As per information's received from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, the total cultivable land during 2006-07 was 182.2 million hectares (Mha). The net sown area during the same year was 140.3 Mha and irrigated area was 60.9 Mha.
Due emphasis has been laid on irrigation development during XI Plan. The overall outlay for water resources during XI Plan has been enhanced to Rs. 2,32,311 crore against the X Plan outlay of Rs. 95,743 crore.
Irrigation being a being state subject, irrigation projects are conceived, planned and implemented by the respective State Governments as per their own priority. However, Government of India provides central assistance to State Governments under various programmes namely Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water Bodies.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources, Shri Vincent H. Pala in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51237
Wage rate under NREGA increases from Rs. 65 to Rs. 84
________________________________________
14:35 IST
The National average for wage rates paid to the rural unskilled labourers under the NREGA has gone up from Rs.65 in the financial year 2006-07 to Rs.84 in 2008-09. The enhanced wage earnings have led to a strengthening of the livelihood resource base of the rural poor in India. In 2007-2008, more than 68% of funds utilised (Rs.10,738.47 crore as wage expenditure) were in the form of wages paid to the labourers. In 2008-2009, 67% of the funds have been utilized in the form of wages (Rs.18146.63) crore as wage expenditure in financial year 2008-09.
With Effect from 1.1.2009, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has notified, under Section 6(1) of NREG Act, wage rate to be paid to NREGA workers. Wage rate notified by the Central Government in respect of all States takes into account the wage rate as fixed by the respective State Government prior to this date. Earlier under NREGA, up to 31.12.2008, wages were paid in accordance with Section 6(2) of the Act which provides that the minimum wage fixed by the State Government under Section 3 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for agricultural labourers shall be considered as the wage rate applicable to that area A clarification in this regard was given by the Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya’ in Rajya Sabha recently.
Wages are paid to the NREGA workers in accordance with the wage rate as provided in Section 6 of the Act. Section 6(1) provides that Central Government may, by notification, specify the wage rate for the purposes of this Act provided that the wage rate notified by the Centre shall not be less than Rs. 60 per day.
Section 6(2) of NREGA provides that until such time as a wage rate is fixed by the Central Government in respect of any area in a State, the minimum wage fixed by the State Governments under Section 3 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for agricultural labourers shall be the wage rate applicable to that area.
State-wise wage rate notified by the Central Government is annexed.
State Wise prevailing Wage rate under NREGA as notified by the Central Government
S.No. Name of State Wage rate in Rs. Per day
1 2 3
1 Assam Rs. 79.60
2 Andhra Pradesh Rs. 80.00
3 Arunachal Pradesh Area- I (RS.65.00), Area- II (RS.67.00)
4 Bihar Rs. 89.00
5 Gujarat Rs. 100.00
6 Haryana Rs. 141.02
7 Himachal Pradesh Rs. 100.00
8 Jammu & Kashmir Rs. 70.00
9 Karnataka Rs. 82.00
10 Kerala Rs. 125.00
11 Madhya Pradesh Rs. 91.00
12 Maharashtra Rs.72,Rs,70, Rs 68 & Rs.66 respectively for Zone I,II,III,IV
13 Manipur Rs.81.40 for Hill & Valley
14 Meghalaya Rs. 70.00
15 Mizoram Rs. 110.00
16 Nagaland Rs. 100.00
17 Orissa Rs. 70.00
18 Punjab
18(a) Hoshiarpur Rs. 98.61
18(b) Jalandhar Rs. 93.00
18( c) Nawanshar Rs. 94.91
18(d) Amritsar Rs. 105.00
19 Rajasthan Rs. 100.00
20 Sikkim Rs. 100.00
21 Tamil Nadu Rs. 80.00
22 Tripura Rs. 85.00
23 Uttar Pradesh Rs. 100.00
24 West Bengal Rs. 75.00
25 Chattisgarh Rs. 75.00
26 Jharkhand Rs. 92.00
27 Uttrakhand Rs. 100.00
28 Goa Rs. 110.00
29 Andaman & Nicobar Andaman District-Rs. 130.00 ,Nicobar district -Rs. 139.00
30 Dadra & Nagar Haveli Rs. 108.20
31 Daman & Diu Rs. 102.00
32 Lakshadweep Rs. 115.00
33 Puducherry Rs.80.00 for men for six hours of work & Rs. 70.00 for women for five hours of work
34 Chandigarh Rs. 140.00
NREGA is One of the flagship schemes of Government that guarantees wage employment an unprecedented scale. The program aims at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The primary objective of the Act is augmenting wage employment. Its auxiliary objective is strengthening natural resource management through works that address causes of chronic poverty like drought, deforestation and soil erosion and so encourage sustainable development. The process outcomes include strengthening grass root processes of democracy and infusing transparency and accountability in governance. Some of the unique features of the Act include, time bound employment guarantee and wage payment within 15 days, incentive-disincentive structure to the State Governments for providing employment as 90 per cent of the cost for employment provided is borne by the Centre or payment of unemployment allowance at their own cost and emphasis on labour intensive works prohibiting the use of contractors and machinery. The Act also mandates 33 percent participation for women.
During the first year of implementation (FY 2006-07) in 200 districts, 2.10 crore households were employed and 90.5 crore persondays were employed. In 2007-08, 3.39 crore households were provided employment and 143.59 crore persondays were generated in 330 districts. In 2008-2009, 4.47 crore households have been provided employment and 215.63 crore persondays have been generated across the country.
*****
AKT/ST/SAK
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51223
Bringing Safai Karamcharis into Mainstream
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15:26 IST
RAJYA SABHA
A lot of efforts have been made to bring the Safai Karamcharis into the mainstream to abolish untouchability in the country. This includes effective implementation of the provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities), Act, 1989, to check instances of untouchability and atrocity, Central assistance is provided to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for strengthening of the administrative, enforcement and judicial machinery, inter caste marriages, awareness generation, and relief and rehabilitation of the persons affected.
In addition, the Government has taken following steps to bring the Safai Karamcharis into mainstream of the society:
(i) Setting up of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis;
(ii) Setting up of a separate National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC);
(iii) Implementation of Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS); and
(iv) Implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship to the children of those engaged in unclean occupations, including manual scavengers and those engaged in cleaning of manholes and open drains.
Sanitation, including solid waste management is a State subject and it is the responsibility of the State Government/ Urban Local Bodies(ULBs) to plan, design, implement, operate & maintain the sanitation systems in the urban areas of the country. The Ministry of Urban Development is facilitating the State Governments and ULBs in implementing sanitation schemes in their cities and towns by way of providing guidelines in the form of 'Manuals on Sewerage & Sewage Treatment' and 'Municipal Solid Waste Management'.
These guidelines inter-alia stipulate that the local body should provide adequate protective clothing and health check up of the staff engaged in solid waste management, and also delineate the procedure for sewer cleaning, protection and safety measures during cleaning etc.
The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana was launched on 1.10.07 for providing smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000 per annum to BPL families in the unorganised sector, including safai karamcharis.
This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
SB/AP
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51229
Social Security Schemes
________________________________________
15:24 IST
Rajya Sabha
The Government is implementing a variety of schemes for providing social security to the people in the country such as :
(1) Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)
(2) National Social assistance Programme (NSAP) which comprises of
(i) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
(ii) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
(iii) Annapurna
(iv) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
(v) Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
(3) Provision of Provident Fund Benefits, Pension and Monetary Assistance under the Employees' Provident Funds & miscellaneous Provisions Act,1952
(4) Provision of health care and cash benefit payments in the case of sickness, maternity and employment injury under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.
(5) Welfare funds for certain occupational groups of urorganisaed sector workers for providing health and medical care, housing assistance, scholarship to the children of beneficiaries and recreation.
(6) Schemes for rural poor including landless labourers such as Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana, Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
(7) Employment guarantee under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
(8) Provisions for different sections of unorganized workers on matters relating to (a) life and disability cover, (b) health and maternity benefit, (c) old age protection under the Unorganized Workers' Social Security Act, 2008
In addition, there are schemes for providing various facilities to older persons and persons with disabilities as well as rehabilitation of victims of substance (Drugs) abuse.
This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
SB/AP
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51228
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