Latest news with #Panchayats(ExtensiontotheScheduledAreas)Act
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Odisha yet to set timeline for notifying PESA Rules: Min
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt has not yet set a timeline for notifying the PESA Rules to implement the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, across all scheduled areas (tribal-dominated) in the state, Union minister of state for panchayati raj, S P Singh Baghel, informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The Act gives powers to gram sabhas in scheduled areas for managing natural resources. In response to a query from BJD member Sasmit Patra, the minister said the Odisha govt has not specified a timeline for the notification of PESA Rules. However, the state has indicated that the rules will be implemented after thoroughly examining objections, suggestions and feedback from relevant stakeholder departments. To implement the PESA provisions in Odisha's Fifth Schedule areas, state govt has incorporated them into the Orissa Grama Panchayats Act, 1964. Baghel further informed that a draft notification for the Odisha Grama Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules, 2023, was published in the Odisha Gazette on Nov 10, 2023. The state invited objections and suggestions from all affected parties. Following this, state govt conducted personal hearings with individuals and organisations that submitted objections or suggestions regarding the draft notification. These hearings were held in phases to finalise the draft. Additionally, the panchayati raj and drinking water department has held numerous consultative meetings with various stakeholder departments. After considering the objections and suggestions, state govt has modified the draft PESA Rules and shared them with all stakeholder departments for review and constructive feedback. The process remains ongoing as the state seeks to finalise the rules for effective implementation. In Sept 2024, state panchayati raj minister Rabi Naik announced in the assembly that the govt is planning to notify PESA rules and implement the PESA Act soon. Naik said draft rules were translated into Odia and Santhali languages and sent to collectors of districts having scheduled areas to ensure wider consultation among the stakeholders. The rules are needed to implement the central Act. Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj districts fully come under Fifth Schedule areas, besides, parts of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Balasore.
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Business Standard
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Surprised that PESA implementation not completed yet: Parliamentary panel
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj on Monday said it is surprised to note that even after almost 30 years of passing the PESA Act, its implementation has not been completed yet. In an action taken report tabled in Parliament on Monday, the committee, which is headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, said that many states still lack the necessary rules and important laws related to land, forests and minerals, which are not fully aligned with PESA. The committee in its report noted the steps taken by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for the effective implementation of the provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, commonly known as the PESA Act. "The committee is surprised to note that even after almost 30 years of passing the PESA Act, its implementation has not been completed yet. Many states still lack the necessary rules and important laws related to land, forests, and minerals which are not fully aligned with PESA," the report said. While the committee appreciated the steps taken by the ministry, such as holding conferences, trainings of state level master trainers, preparing manuals, and including PESA in village development plans, it observed that the ministry has not shared any data or results showing whether these activities have made any impact on the ground. "...Like whether Gram Sabhas have become stronger and violations of land rights have been reduced," it said. "Therefore, the committee reiterates its earlier recommendation that the MoPR should not only focus on action-oriented capacity building, organising conferences and workshops etc., but should also resort to active and practical approach with clear goals and measurable results to achieve and also gather regular feedback from tribal communities so as to assess that PESA is properly implemented in all Fifth Schedule areas," the panel said. It also urged the ministry to conduct training at district and village level, organise awareness programmes for tribal communities and set up a system to monitor the progress. The PESA Act was enacted to extend the provisions of the Panchayati Raj system to the Scheduled Areas in the country. These areas are primarily inhabited by tribal communities and are governed by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
28-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Surprised that PESA implementation not completed yet: Parliamentary committee
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj on Monday said it is surprised to note that even after almost 30 years of passing the PESA Act, its implementation has not been completed yet. In an action taken report tabled in Parliament on Monday, the committee, which is headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, said that many states still lack the necessary rules and important laws related to land, forests and minerals, which are not fully aligned with PESA. The committee in its report noted the steps taken by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for the effective implementation of the provisions of Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, commonly known as the PESA Act. 'The committee is surprised to note that even after almost 30 years of passing the PESA Act, its implementation has not been completed yet. Many states still lack the necessary rules and important laws related to land, forests, and minerals which are not fully aligned with PESA," the report said. While the committee appreciated the steps taken by the ministry, such as holding conferences, trainings of state level master trainers, preparing manuals, and including PESA in village development plans, it observed that the ministry has not shared any data or results showing whether these activities have made any impact on the ground. '…Like whether Gram Sabhas have become stronger and violations of land rights have been reduced," it said. It also urged the ministry to conduct training at district and village level, organise awareness programmes for tribal communities and set up a system to monitor the progress. The PESA Act was enacted to extend the provisions of the Panchayati Raj system to the Scheduled Areas in the country. These areas are primarily inhabited by tribal communities and are governed by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. PTI AO ARI view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 20:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Stop eviction drives conducted sans due process, CLP urges guv
1 2 3 Guwahati: Assam's Congress Legislature Party (CLP) members on Saturday met governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhawan here and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention to halt the ongoing and proposed eviction drives allegedly affecting indigenous, tribal, and erosion-displaced communities. In their memorandum, the opposition members said "The incidents of eviction transgresse the provisions of the Forest Rights Act 2006, the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA 1996), Chapter X (Protect Land Rights in Tribal Belts/Blocks) of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, Assam (Temporarily Settled Tenancy Areas) Act 1971 and landmark decisions by the Supreme Court." The CLP delegation also demanded that an independent commission of inquiry be constituted for probe into all evictions conducted since 2022, with a special focus on Sixth Schedule districts and tribal belt and block protections. "Direct the Govt of Assam to publish a comprehensive land rights regularisation policy, clearly distinguishing long-settled indigenous occupants from speculative encroachers," they said in the memorandum, added that legal and humane rehabilitation measures must be ensured in line with constitutional morality and India's obligations under the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. "The people of Assam — especially its tribals, erosion-displaced citizens, and indigenous communities — look to your office as the constitutional conscience of the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo These eviction drives, conducted without due process or consent in the name of "development", threaten to dispossess the very people whose land rights the Constitution seeks to uphold," the memorandum read. They also submitted a "People's Charter for Humane and Lawful Eviction Policy in Assam" which "outlines urgent reforms that uphold constitutional values, protect marginalised communities, and promote accountability". The charter includes establishment of a state-wide eviction protocol, mandatory rehabilitation and resettlement framework, suspension of all evictions without due process, setting up of a legal aid and grievance redress platform and creation of a multi-stakeholder eviction review board.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribals protest against Siramtoli flyover ramp
1 2 Ranchi: Several tribal organisations under the banner of Adivasi Bachao Morcha staged a one-day protest outside Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, demanding the removal of the ramp near the Siramtoli Sarna site and the full implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) in Jharkhand. The demonstrators alleged that the ramp near the central Sarna religious site at Siramtoli obstructs large religious gatherings, especially during annual processions, and must be removed immediately. The protest saw participation from former minister Dev Kumar Dhan and Geetashree Oraon, among others. The protestors also accused the state govt of failing to protect tribal constitutional rights despite 25 years of Jharkhand's formation. "From land grabbing to lack of employment, the issues of tribal communities remain unaddressed. The govt has shown no sensitivity toward PESA, Sarna Code, and tribal land rights," said Prem Shahi Munda, convenor of Adivasi Bachao Morcha. Key demands included declaration of sites like Marang Buru, Luguburu, and Mudhar Pahad as tribal religious places, a separate religious code in the census, and withdrawal of policies promoting alcohol in tribal-dominated rural areas.
