Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that all the claims presented in the PESA Act should be resolved on priority by setting a time limit, it will be reviewed in the upcoming Collector-Commissioner Conference.

CM Dr. Yadav gave his approval to set up a PESA cell in the Tribal Affairs Department for the effective implementation of the PESA Act. As per the intention of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, cent percent saturation of all eligible brothers and sisters should be ensured in various beneficiary-oriented schemes under Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan. He said that Madhya Pradesh is a big producer of tendu leaves, but it is used commercially in other states.

A strategy should be prepared to encourage tendu leaf collectors and various businesses related to it in the state itself and to provide its benefits to tribal brothers and sisters.

Chief Minister Yadav was addressing the meeting of the executive committee of the task force constituted for the effective implementation of Forest Rights Act and PESA Act at Samatva Bhavan (CM's residence).

Guidelines given on converting forest villages into revenue villages

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that as per the notification issued by the state government for converting forest villages into revenue villages, Record of Rights should be provided to the villagers soon. CM Yadav said that the officers of Forest, Revenue and Tribal Affairs Department should work in coordination at the district level. It has been decided to convert 827 out of the 925 forest villages existing in the state into revenue villages. Out of these, 792 have been converted into revenue villages and gazette notification of 790 villages has been issued so far.

Enhancing the living standards and conservation of forest areas is top priority

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that enhancing the living standards of tribal brothers and sisters and conservation of forest areas should be given top priority. Participation of local residents should be ensured in the conservation and management of community forest resources, along with this, activities should be expanded by involving social organisations.

In the meeting, various aspects of the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Forest Rights Act and its implementation were discussed in detail. Also, as members of the executive committee, legal expert Dr. Milind Dandekar, subject expert Dr. Sharad Lele, Milind Thatte, former MLA Bhagat Singh Netam, Ram Dangore, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Rajoura, Ashok Barnwal, Principal Secretary Tribal Affairs Gulshan Bamra and other senior officials were present.