The Panchayat Extension and Scheduled Area Act (PESA) in Chhattisgarh is an effective medium to march ahead in the direction of ensuring good governance in the State.
This was stated by State Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar while addressing a day-long workshop organised at New Circuit House here on Friday. Panchayat Raj would live up to its true objectives only when the people of scheduled areas become economically, socially and politically uplifted, he said.
The public representatives and social welfare organisations should support and cooperate in implementation of PESA, the Minister said.
Chandrakar said that that interests, autonomy and rights of tribal people have been preserved under the Fifth schedule of Indian Constitution.
He said that it is the responsibility of administrative teams and public representatives of scheduled areas to protect the culture, tradition and dignity of tribal people.
Chandarakar said that tribal people were never dependent; not even during the British Rule.
“Every time their autonomy and rights were attacked, they retaliated strongly.” He said that the provisions of PESA should be widely publicized in scheduled areas. ‘Implementation of the Act as a social campaign with active participation of Panchayat bodies and public is necessary for empowerment of such bodies.’
Joint Secretary of Union Panchayat Raj Ministry Neerja Shekhar said that PESA act bestows the Gram Panchayat with such powers that even Jila Panchayats and Janpad Panchayats don’t have.
She said that the State Government should formulate laws as per the lifestyle, tradition and culture of people.
Shekhar said that for preservation of culture and traditions of tribal castes at the global level, August 9 of every year is observed as ‘Tribal Day'’but ground reality of tribal development is not a satisfying scenario till date.
She said that even today tribal people are struggling for water, forests and land, despite the number of laws made for protection of their rights. ‘Hence, implementation of PESA is a must for their all-round development of tribal areas.’
Additional Chief Secretary, Chhattisgarh government MK Raut informed in the workshop that 85 out of 145 development blocks of the State are covered under PESA (69 Janpad Panchayats completely and 16 Janpad Panchayats partially).
In this way, 4,507 Panchayats of 9,734 gram panchayats are covered under the Act, he said, adding, the PESA bestows panchayats and gram sabhas with the powers to manage natural resources and redress disputes as per the social and religious rules, traditions, beliefs and communal heritage.
In the workshop, Bastar Jila Panchayat President lachchuram Kashyap, Bijapur Jila Panchayat President Bina Ravte, Narayanpur Jila Panchayat President Bisen Nag, Sarpanch Bhalegaon Gram Panchayat Bhanupratappur block Surjotin Bai, Joint Secretary of Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj Neerja Shekhar, Additional Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh Government MK Raut, Secretary PC Mishra, Director BC Mishra, and public representatives of scheduled areas along with officials of departments concerned were also present.