Amid tribals protesting against some mining projects, the Government on Friday  said that people being displaced should be provided alternative sources of livelihood, besides adequate compensation, but solution does not lie in stopping projects.

“Answer does not lie in the companies stopping mining activities. Answer lies in providing alternatives to those displaced… in what form we can compensate them and make them beneficiary of economic development,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Coal Summit.

Mukherjee’s comments come at a time when a Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by him, is deliberating upon a proposal to give tribals a part of profits in mining projects.

“We are addressing this issue,” he said.

The GoM has proposed that 26 per cent of the net profit of mining projects should go to the displaced tribals and other affected locals.

However, the proposal has been criticised in certain quarters.

Meanwhile, the Mines Ministry had said its final draft will go with the recommendations of the GoM.