Ministry of Mines Pavilion: Showcasing Minerals to Milestones – A Journey into Sustainable Mining at IITF 2024
New Delhi : The Ministry of Mines this year’s participation in the ongoing IITF 2024 underscores its commitment to raising public awareness about the mining sector’s crucial role in national development and sustainability, helping pave the way for a prosperous future.
Visitors are encouraged to explore interactive exhibits that highlight the mining sector’s transformative journey and its significant contributions to India’s growth. The exhibits offer valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and the critical role mining will play in shaping a developed India by 2047. Attendees will also discover sustainable mining practices that support India’s path from “Minerals to Milestones.”
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the Ministry of Mines Pavilion at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 in New Delhi, showcasing India’s mining innovations for a “Viksit Bharat.” The theme for this year, “Minerals to Milestones,” highlights the essential role minerals play in creating a self-reliant India and achieving major milestones in national development. This marks the Ministry’s second consecutive participation in IITF. In 2023, the Ministry was honoured with the Silver Award for the Most Popular Pavilion, acknowledging its engaging presentation and impactful participation. Focused on sustainability and innovation, the Pavilion emphasizes the vital role minerals play in building a self-reliant India and driving national progress.
The Pavilion features contributions from nine prominent organizations within India’s mining ecosystem, spotlighting their technological innovations, sustainable practices, and dedication to community development. The participating organizations include National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Indian Bureau of Mines, Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), and Hindalco Industries. Together, these organizations illustrated the extensive role and transformative impact of India’s mining sector in advancing the nation’s economic growth.
Visitors can engage themselves with interactive exhibits, gain insights into the mining sector, and learn about sustainable practices that support India’s journey from “Minerals to Milestones.”
The Pavilion provides a diverse range of interactive and educational experiences for visitors, all focused on the theme of India’s mining legacy and future. These include:
1 Quiz on India’s Mining Legacy and Future: Aimed at deepening visitors’ understanding of the mining sector and its vital role in India’s economic growth.
2 Virtual Tour of Underground Mines: A one-of-a-kind experience that allows visitors to virtually explore life in underground mines through immersive technology.
3 Gesture Gaming Zone & Dinosaur Fossil Extraction Game: Engaging and interactive games designed to spark young visitors’ interest in palaeontology and India’s rich fossil heritage.
4 Selfie Point: Themed zones related to the Ministry of Mines, where visitors can capture moments that celebrate India’s mining history.
5 Recycling Initiative by JNARDDC: A plastic bottle recycling machine and can-collection facility, offering visitors the chance to recycle items and earn exciting prizes and coupons, promoting sustainability and the circular economy.
Visitors can take a virtual ride of an underground mine in the experience zone of the pavilion. Recycling initiatives led by JNARDDC encouraged attendees to engage in eco-friendly practices, supporting sustainability efforts. The Pavilion Features Stalls of HCL, NALCO, Hindalco, Hindustan Zinc, DMF, JNARDDC, NIRM, GSI, and MECL Among Others visitors can witness the innovative technologies and sustainable practices they are implementing.
Additionally, the Pavilion hosts various Self-Help Groups (SHGs) stalls supported by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, offering them a platform to display and sell their products.
Hindustan Zinc has positively impacted 1.91 million lives through various Vedanta’s CSR initiatives. These include programs focused on education, sustainable livelihoods, community asset creation, environmental safety, health, water and sanitation, empowerment, and sports and culture.
One of the key initiatives is the Sakhi Utpadan Samiti, an all-women’s enterprise formed from the Sakhi program, which aims to empower rural women in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The program unites women into self-help groups (SHGs), providing them with vocational training, leadership development, skill-building, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Through this initiative, over 24,000 women across 2,043 SHGs are gaining independence, improving their livelihoods, and redefining their roles within their communities.
During a conversation with Rahul Regar from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, who was manning a DMF stall, he shared valuable insights about his work with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the region. Rahul spoke highly of these groups’ efforts to promote local products and their significant role in community upliftment. He stressed the importance of empowering local communities for sustainable development and praised the women driving these initiatives.
“I am working closely with SHGs and a cluster of SHGs in Rajasthan, supported by the Sakhi initiative of Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL),” Rahul explained. “In Rajasthan alone, nearly 25,000 women are involved with the Sakhi initiative. Many of these women, known as DIDIs, have started producing a wide range of local products and have established small manufacturing units in sectors like pickles, pulses, namkin (salted snacks), spices, textiles, dairy, and ghee.”
He further elaborated on the pivotal role played by Hindustan Zinc in facilitating this transformation. “HZL has been instrumental in the development of three community brands: ‘Gauam’ for dairy products, ‘Daichi’ for food items, and ‘Upaya Handloom’ for textiles. Furthermore, over 220 retail stores have been set up in cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur, and Kota, where these women sell their products under these brand names, which are entirely owned and managed by them.”
Rahul also emphasized the comprehensive support that HZL provides to these groups, including machinery, raw materials, industry expertise, and branding. “All of this support is made possible through HZL’s CSR funds,” he added.
“Notably, products under the ‘Daichi,’ and ‘Upaya’ brands have become some of the best sellers at the DMF-sponsored stalls. The DMF, which is a fund generated from mining operations, is specifically earmarked for the welfare of communities living near mining areas. Rahul’s work at the DMF stall reflects the positive impact of these initiatives, with a focus on empowering local women and fostering sustainable economic growth.”
The Ministry’s participation at IITF 2024 underscores its commitment to raising public awareness of the mining sector’s contributions to India’s development and its pivotal role in achieving a developed nation by 2047. 🍂-Dilip Guha
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