Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Friday appealed to the Governor of the State that PESA Act should be implemented immediately and those laws, which have been made for land acquisition should be cancelled at its earliest.
Addressing a press meet JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that Governor Draupadi Murmu called first meeting on PESA Act 1996 on Thursday. “At the time of formation of the State a delegation of the party meet with the Governor of the State at the same time in leadership of the Party Supremo, Sibu Soren, then MP met with the President of India to demand that the State falls under fifth schedule of the constitution of India so that PESA Act should be implemented at its earliest,” he added. “According to the Act manual should be constituted within one year of the implementation of the Act if fails to do so then actual act would be applicable but irony is here that even after 19 years of formation of the State there is still no such kind of manual has been constituted,” said Bhattacharya.
Criticising the State Government, Bhattacharya said that during the meeting presided by the Governor they talked on several issues like health, education, employment and others but in employment policy the State Government defined locality which is not suitable for tribal and local people of the State.
“Just as land acquisition is going on ignoring Gram Sabha, it is against the basic tenets of the PESA Act. If State Assembly passed act in scheduled areas then the Governor has right to abrogate such kinds of law if thinks fit but it in Jharkhand it is not happening. PESA Act is need for tribal of the State so it should be implemented at its earliest,” said Bhattacharya.