On deposits of minor minerals gram sabhas should have the direct control. Who should have control over the large deposits of minerals. It is indeed accepted that the entire country is the owner of large deposits of minerals on which no one will have any objection.
How these minerals would be deployed for general welfare of the society at large is a complicated question. The right to give permit to mine the minerals is with the state and the central government. They have misused this right.
They, after taking bribes, have in fact sold the right to mine at throw away prices to various companies. Should this right to issue permit for mining of minerals be given to the gram Sabha? It is argued that the mining companies are so powerful that they can bring in a lot of pressure on villagers and can offer inducements that it would become extremely difficult for the villagers to resist.
The solution to this problem will come in some middle path. A national policy on how should the minerals be used, how much should be exported and how much they should be extracted must be taken after due deliberation at the gram Sabha level.
On the basis of the national policy, right to give permit on the village, block or state level for mining of minerals is given to all the gram sabhas that are affected.
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