Centre working to enhance mine sector output to 2.5% by 2030: Pralhad Joshi

To increase the contribution of the mines and minerals sector, the Central government has undertaken various measures with regard to Ease of Doing Business. The increase is towards India's GDP and aims to bring it to 2.5% by 2030, according to the Union Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday. He had addressed a two-day National Conclave on Mines and Minerals to deliberate on how to achieve the ambitious target.

"The intention of this conclave is that we should in coming years up to 2030, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, other than coal and petroleum, add 2.5 per cent to the GDP of the country. Now, other than these two -- coal and petroleum -- it is 0.9 per cent," he told reporters after the inaugural session.

According to the minister, the Prime Minister announced a target of 2.5% meant to be achieved by 2030.

"...we want to achieve it before 2030. For that, we have taken lot of measures as far as Ease of Doing Business is concerned and ease of investment is concerned," the Union minister said.

The conclave was organised keeping in mind the fact that states will be the key facilitators of any new policies or laws made at the Centre. This idea is in line with the Central Government's philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwaas'.

This is the first of its kind and it involved ministers and officials from all the states, with each making their individual presentations.

The Prime Minister has said the country should become developed by 2047 and Modi's clarion call is that the situation of importing goods despite the availability of raw materials and minerals in the country should go away, he said.

After agriculture, mines and minerals sector can provide employment and also generate revenue on a large scale, he said.

"For Atmanirbhar Bharat, Atmanirbhar minerals are needed," Joshi said, adding that this conclave has been organised for that purpose.