Workshop on the provisions of The Panchayats Extension to The Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996 held

Workshop on the provisions of The Panchayats Extension to The Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996 held

As a sequel to various activities planned under National Tribal Carnival being held in New Delhi from 25thto 28thOctober, 2016, a series of Workshop of thematic areas concerning tribal population have been planned. The first such Workshop on the Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) Implementation, benefits to Tribal Community and its Challenges was held in New Delhi today. The Workshop was chaired by Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs in the presence of Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The panelists for the Workshop were Shri Bhupender Yadav, Member of Parliament, Prof. TV Kattimani, Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Prof Venkata Rao, Department of Anthropology, University Hyderabad, JS, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and JS, Ministry of Rural Development. The Workshop was attended by approximately 250 delegates including Ministers from the State Governments, Members of Parliament, Members of State Legislatures and other dignitaries.

 

In the presentation made by JS, Ministry of Panchayati Raj the constitutional provisions for Fifth Schedule Area, implementation of PESA Act, Ministry of Panchayati Rajs initiatives and how do the Act empowers and benefits to tribal community and way forward were explained in detail. A presentation on Rurban Mission was made by JS, Ministry of Rural Development. The presentations highlighted key features of PESA and Rurban Mission. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Member of Parliament, Professor T V Kattimani and Professor Venkata Rao also brought out the practical provisions and the need for effective and inclusive participation in the Gram Sabha and steps needed to strengthen further the institution of Gram Sabha in the Fifth Schedule Areas. The Workshop highlighted the importance of PESA to tribal communities, challenges being faced, way forward and key areas which need to be focused. The Rurban Mission presentation, while bringing out key features also highlighted coverage under the Mission of a large number of tribal areas.

The contents of various issues were widely appreciated by audience and there were a number of interventions which were responded to by the panel.