Jharkhand To Be Pioneer In Execution Of PESA Act: Centre

Ranchi

Starting January 26 (Republic Day), maintenance of records of the works being done by various tribes or the traditional Gram Sabhas and the expenses incurred therein will begin in Jharkhand, making it the first State to do so.

Union Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bhardwaj on Tuesday informed that Jharkhand will be pioneering strict execution of Panchayati Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act and other States will be following the suit.

While the maintenance of records will begin from January 26, these records will be given due recognition on August 15 (Independence Day). Thereafter, this exercise will begin in Chhattisgarh, Bhardwaj said in his address at the workshop, organised to commemorate the enactment of the PESA Act on December 24 1996.

The PESA Act is a landmark legislation empowering Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas with self-governance and the management of natural resources. Recognized for its critical role in protecting tribal communities from exploitation, the Act highlights the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting the social, economic, cultural, and political way of life of the Scheduled Tribes.

Its effective implementation has, however, faced challenges due to delays in State-specific PESA Rules, lack of comprehensive training materials, and supportive State laws.

Bhardwaj highlighted the significance of PESA in advancing local governance in Scheduled Areas and reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj towards the effective implementation of the Act. The workshop was organised by the Jharkhand Government’s Department of Panchayati Raj.

As things stand, Jharkhand is on the verge of finalizing its PESA Rules in alignment with the PESA Act. And the day-long PESA Workshop intended to facilitate meaningful dialogue and generate actionable outcomes to benefit the targeted communities.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has advised the 10 PESA States – Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana – to organize impactful awareness and capacity-building activities across their respective regions.

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