Panchayat extension to schedule areas act 1996: Road to self-governance

PESA, Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 is the most important law meant for the Adivasis (natives of India) that can radically change the socio-political landscape of India, only if it is implemented honestly. PESA was enacted in 1996 which extended part IX of the Constitution to Sch. V Areas, and provided for people-centric governance and people‘s control over community resources and their life, with a central role to the Gram Sabha. The pressure on natural resources in these areas continued due to the large projects being set up therein and unscrupulous elements indulging in illegal mining & forest felling. Land alienation and exploitation also continued. This led to dislocation of the communities and loss of major sources of livelihood and also increased vulnerability and disenchantment with governance.

For effective implementation of PESA powers had been conferred to the Gram Sabhas to enable self-rule in these areas. Generally PESA areas and their vicinity, suffer from extremism. The rights, livelihood and habitat of the people in these Areas, therefore, continue to be under stress, leading to disaffection with the system. According to the approach paper to 12th plan, there is a case for creating a special arrangement whereby in the first two years of the Twelfth Plan funds can be unconditionally released for all these districts to facilitate the speedy implementation of PESA.