Ministry of Mines Pavilion at IITF 2024: Showcasing India’s Mining Heritage and Innovations with the Theme ‘Minerals to Milestones’

This year Mining Ministry’s participation at the ongoing IITF 2024 highlights its dedication to fostering public awareness about mining’s impact on national development and sustainability, paving the way for a prosperous future. 

Visitors are invited to engage with interactive exhibits showcasing the mining sector’s transformative journey and contributions to India’s growth. They will gain insights into cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, and the sector’s critical role in shaping a developed India by 2047. They will also learn about sustainable practices that support India’s journey 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 is “Minerals to Milestones,” highlighting the vital role of minerals in fostering a self-reliant India and achieving significant milestones in national development. This year marks the Ministry’s second consecutive participation in IITF. In 2023, the Ministry received the Silver Award for the Most Popular Pavilion, recognizing its engaging presentation and impactful participation. Focusing on the theme the Pavilion showcases the essential role minerals play in fostering a self-reliant India and achieving key national milestones, with a focus on sustainable and innovative mining practices.

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 offers a wide array of interactive and educational experiences for visitors, centered on the theme. These include:

• Quiz on India’s Mining Legacy and Future: Designed to enhance visitors’ awareness and understanding of the mining sector and its contributions to India’s growth.
• Virtual Tour of Underground Mines: A unique opportunity for visitors to experience life underground through immersive technology.
• Gesture Gaming Zone & Dinosaur Fossil Extraction Game: Interactive games and simulations aimed at young visitors, encouraging interest in palaeontology and India’s fossil heritage.
• Selfie Point: Themed zones related to the Ministry of Mines, where visitors can capture memorable moments that reflect India’s mining legacy.
• Recycling Initiative by JNARDDC: Featuring a plastic bottle recycling machine and a can-collection facility, where visitors can recycle items in exchange for exciting prizes and coupons, promoting 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 interaction with Rahul Regar from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, who was manning a DMF stall, he shared insightful details about his work with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the region. He spoke highly of their efforts in promoting local products and their significant role in community upliftment. Rahul emphasized the importance of empowering local communities for sustainable development and commended the women involved in 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 said. “In Rajasthan alone, nearly 25,000 women are engaged with the Sakhi initiative. Many of these women, known as DIDIs, have started producing a variety of local products and have set up small manufacturing units in areas like pickles, pulses, namkin (saltish), spices, textiles, dairy, and ghee.”

He further explained how Hindustan Zinc has played a key role in this transformation. “HZL has helped develop three community brands: ‘Gauam’ for dairy, ‘Daichi’ for food products, and ‘Upaya Handloom’ for textiles. Additionally, over 220 retail stores have been established in cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Kota. The items produced by these women are sold under these brand names, which are entirely owned and managed by the women themselves.”

Rahul also highlighted the support that HZL provides to these groups, including machinery, raw materials, industry expertise, and branding. “All of this support is made possible through the CSR funds of HZL,” he explained.

“Notably, products under the ‘Gauam,’ ‘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.