The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to organize Gram Sabhas in 85 tribal dominated development blocks of 19 districts, which are included under fifth notification of PESA Act, on June 10 and 11, officials informed.
Gram Sabhas will be organized in 5055 Gram Panchayats of these blocks, wherein information regarding the achievements and the schemes of Food, Civil Supply Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Forest Department and Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department, along with the schemes conducted by Central Government and State Government will be provided.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has appealed to the people to attend these Gram Sabhas.
Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar has directed officials concerned to make necessary arrangements to ensure proper execution of these special gram sabhas in their respective districts.
Panchayat and Rural Development Department officials informed that these special gram sabhas will be organized as per the convenience of the local community.
The districts where special gram sabhas will be organized include- Narayanpur, Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kondagaon, Bastar (Jagdalpur), Kanker, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Balod, Korba, Koriya, Surajpur, Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Surguja, Bilaspur, Jashpur, Raigarh and Rajnandgaon.
Officials informed that in compliance to the PESA (Panchayat (Expansion of Scheduled Act)) for protection of tribal interest, their autonomy and their rights in the tribal areas included under fifth schedule of Chhattisgarh state, Central Government and State Government is making consistent efforts for overall development of local communities through gram panchayats and gram sabhas.
Officials informed that Central Government has made special provisions for the panchayats included under fifth schedule, in compliance to which Chhattisgarh Government has also made several provisions under Section 129 of Panchayat Raj Act 1993. Various departments have also made related provisions under respective Acts and are conducting various schemes and development works for betterment of people.
For this purpose, departments concerned have been entrusted with important responsibility. To organize gram sabhas in panchayats of fifth schedule of the state under Panchayat Raj Act 1993, District-level officials of departments concerning Gram Sabha (Formation, Convergence Procedure and Conduct of Business) Rules, 1998 with work in coordination with Collectors and District Panchayat CEOs of respective districts.