Mining sector providing employment opportunities to 12 million peoplein India

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 15 lakh 29 thousand new subscribers during the month of January this year. The EPFO said that month-on-month comparison of payroll data also indicates an increase of two lakh 69 thousand net subscribers in January 2022 as compared to the net additions during the previous month of December 2021. It said, of the total 15 lakh 29 thousand net subscribers added during the month, around eight lakh 64 thousand new members have been registered under the social security ambit of Employees Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 for the first time. The Data said that approximately six lakh 65 thousand net subscribers had exited but re-joined the EPFO by continuing their membership with EPFO instead of opting for final withdrawal. The payroll data also reflects a declining trend in the number of members exited since July 2021.

-Union of Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi has said that India’s total geographical area under mining has increased substantially during the last few years. He said, the sector is providing employment opportunities to 12 million people across the country, both directly and indirectly. Addressing the 36th International Geological Congress inaugural session virtually on Sunday, Joshi stated that the pace of mineral exploration has increased manifold under the present Government. Highlighting the recent reforms undertaken in the Mining Sector that provided the right fillip to the Indian economy, the Mines Minister appreciated the noteworthy strides made by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in making use of the latest technologies for scaling greater heights in excellence. Touching upon the importance of the 36th International Geological Congress, the Minister said that the three day event, hosted by India after 58 years, will provide the right platform for geoscientists from across the globe to formulate more effective tools in the field of sustainable development. Minister of State for Mines Raosaheb Patil Danve, Minster of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan and Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also addressed the event virtually.

-In Kerala, all party meeting on Sunday decided that flags and hoardings placed in connection with political, religious events should not obstruct traffic or pedestrians. The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also decided against denying opportunity to political parties as well as cultural and religious organizations to hold campaigns and put up advertisements. Minister P. Rajeev, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan and leaders of various parties attended . The meeting was held in the wake of several orders of the Kerala High Court against putting up of flag poles on pavements and roadsides without permission.

-Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that the J&K administration intends to make the UT a developed society free of terror and corruption. In his address at the attestation-cum-passing out parade of 636 newly recruited Border Security Force (BSF) personnel at the Subsidiary Training Centre in Udhampur district on Sunday Sinha lauded the role of the security forces for bravely facing various challenges, including infiltration attempts, and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from across the border.  The LG said that J&K is full of diversity, which is our strength and has faced all the challenges successfully and our security forces are alert. The LG further said that they have played a pivotal role in building a new J&K by thwarting the anti-national elements. He said the decades-old terror ecosystem needs to be dismantled completely and we have continued our efforts to deal a decisive blow on corruption, terror financing, and terror ecosystem to make J&K a developed society, free of corruption and fear. Sinha urged the fresh BSF recruits to live up to the tradition and expectation of the force and the people, and perform their duties with professionalism so that no enemy can violate the country’s borders.

-Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Uttarakhand's acting Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP President JP Nadda at his residence in New Delhi on Sundqy to discuss government formation in the state. Party leaders including Madan Kaushik, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', and Satpal Maharaj were also present in the meeting. Uttarakhand legislative party meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday in Dehradun. BJP has got 47 seats in the recently held 70-seat Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Congress has won 19 seats, while BSP and independents have won 2 seats each.