NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The Sadhana Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd from Caurem-Quepem, which has obtained the registration certificate after two years and ten months from the office of assistant registrar of co-operative societies, Quepem, has decided to engage in mining activities.
Mentor of the society, Ravindra Velip, who is also an activist fighting against mining companies in his village, said that with the registration of the society, a movement for co-operative mining has begun in the state, even though they had to run from pillar to post to get the society registered.
He said that the society will engage in mining activities such as taking leases, operating the mining leases, employing persons and equipment for mining activities, transportation, processing, beneficiation, use, sale and export of ore, taking part in auctions and other government processes related to mining. Velip said that the society will ensure that mining-affected people are compensated adequately, and that all mining-affected lands and water bodies are rehabilitated and restored.
When asked about fund raising for the mining business by the society, Velip said that since this could be a model society which intends to be in co-operative mining, the state government should encourage such an initiative, which involves actual stakeholders of mining, by providing financial assistance.
He further stated that if the government does not provide financial help, there are other options before the society of taking assistance from institutions like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to get into mining activity.
According to him, the society at present has 263 members and in future more will be registered.
Velip maintained that environmentalists like Dr Madhav Gadgil and many others have supported their initiative of starting co-operating mining. He said that efforts will be made to form more such societies in the state, which will benefit the local villagers in the mining belt, who are actually the main stakeholders of the multi-crore business activity.
“When the locals are working in various mines and as drivers on ore transporting trucks, why can’t they run business of their resources?” he questioned.