New Delhi, March 23 -- Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, stated on Monday that the primary objective of the District Mineral Fund (DMF) remains the welfare of people in mining-affected regions and the development of essential infrastructure.

Addressing the National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 in Delhi, the minister emphasised that the fund must not be utilised to bridge political gaps but should focus on addressing the immediate needs of the poor and local communities.

Reddy underscored the necessity of prioritising the most vulnerable populations over secondary infrastructure goals.

"This is not DMF to fill up the political gap. DMF is to solve the problem of the poor and the affected people. To solve that...