National Mineral Policy 2006 - Department of Mines

MMSD Report recognises it as a key instrument of the global programme for sustainabledevelopment.LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND MINING ACTIVITIES3.6 Land is often used without the consent of the indigenous people. Mining companiesshould act as if consent to gain access to land is required even when the law of the land doesnot require this. In making decisions, the cultural circumstances of the local people and lossof access to common resources should be kept in mind. Where resettlement takes place,companies need to ensure that living standards are not diminished, that community and socialties are preserved, and that they provide fair compensation for loss of assets and economicopportunity. Responsibility for ensuring the long-term well being of resettled communitiesneeds to be defined and monitored. Environmental mining and other interests should beconsidered along with the interests of the poor and politically marginalised who live in theseareas.3.7 Mineral development can bring benefits to the local level. However, the relationshipbetween mining companies and local communities has a legacy of abuse and mistrust.Widespread community demands for direct and sustained benefits from mineral wealth are arelatively recent phenomenon. In areas of weak or bad government, the communities oftenturn to the operating companies to provide development services in return for the sociallicence to operate. However, new initiatives which have just started emerging, require that thefocus should be on improving the capacity of the local government and other localinstitutions to provide the benefits from mining instead of the companies themselves seekingto take on governmental functions. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civilsociety groups can act as mediators to enable communities to partner with companies andgovernments in development. Supporting local businesses, preferential procurement policiestowards local suppliers and distributors, employment of locals, and skills training areimportant means of benefiting local communities and building human and financialresources. A broader role in community health programmes and participation in socialinfrastructure such as schools and hospitals are some of the other areas in which miningcompanies need to become active.69