Jharkhand Government Implements PESA Act Regulations for Tribal Empowerment

New Regulations Under PESA Act Announced

The government of Jharkhand has officially notified the regulations under the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act. This announcement was made by an official on Saturday.

The PESA Act grants self-governance rights to tribal communities in scheduled areas.

Objectives of the New Regulations

According to a notification released by the Panchayati Raj department on Friday night, these regulations aim to restore and protect the rights of tribal communities over their land, water, forest resources, culture, and governance systems. The rules are designed to empower tribal village councils.

Cabinet Approval and Implementation Areas

On December 23 of the previous year, the Jharkhand cabinet approved these regulations. The PESA Act will be applicable in the scheduled areas designated under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. An official indicated that these regulations will be fully implemented in 13 districts: Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, Latehar, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Saraikela-Kharsawan, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj, and Pakur, while partially in three districts: Palamu, Godda, and Garhwa.

Inclusion of Villages and Panchayats

It was noted that the scheduled areas encompass 16,022 villages and 2,074 panchayats. The notification also stated that prior consent from the village council will be mandatory for issues related to land acquisition and rehabilitation.