RANCHI (India): The Jharkhand government has approved rules under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, paving the way for implementation of a law meant to strengthen self-governance in tribal areas. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting earlier this week, with the rules to take effect after official notification.
The approved PESA rules seek to enhance the authority of Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas by granting them a formal role in local governance, including management of natural resources, development planning and community decision-making. The framework defines powers related to minor forest produce, water bodies, land acquisition consent and certain mining activities, and provides for recognition of traditional Gram Sabhas and customary practices.
Enacted by Parliament in 1996, the PESA Act extends constitutional provisions on panchayati raj to Fifth Schedule areas, which are predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Tribes. Despite Jharkhand being carved out as a tribal-majority state in 2000, the law remained unimplemented for over two decades due to the absence of state-level rules.
The move follows sustained demands from tribal organisations and interventions by the Jharkhand High Court directing the state to frame the rules. Large parts of Jharkhand fall under Scheduled Areas, making PESA implementation a key issue in land rights, forest governance and local administration.
While the government has described the decision as a milestone for grassroots democracy, some tribal rights groups have expressed concern that certain provisions may weaken the original intent of the central law. They argue that the rules do not go far enough in ensuring complete autonomy of Gram Sabhas and have indicated the possibility of legal challenges.
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