President Draupadi Murmu is in Madhya Pradesh for the first time and the occasion is special. Today on November 15, MP is celebrating Birsa Munda Jayanti, also known as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
She addressed the public in Shahdol and gave a gift to the tribal community of the state. MP now joins the league of states where the PESA Act is implemented.
It is seventh after Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, TelaPresingana, and Gujarat where this act is effective.
PESA Power in Madhya Pradesh on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas
Governor Mangubhai Patel and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, both expressed what this new change will do for the state.
The Gram Sabha will become very powerful now, said Mangubhai Patel whereas Singh called the act beneficial for tribal people.
He said we are implementing these laws with social harmony and not against anyone. Many people try to marry girls from tribal communities to get their land.
We will not let this happen and if this happens then the Gram Sabha will get that land returned, said CM Shivraj.
What is the PESA Act of 1996?
PESA ( The Panchayats Extension to Schedule Areas) is an act to prevent the exploitation of the tribal population of the country.
It includes the active involvement of panchayats in ensuring their safety. As per this act, Gram Sabhas are responsible for managing the natural resources of areas in which this act is effective.
Scheduled Areas Under PESA
Only those areas mentioned under Article 244 (1) of the PESA Act are considered the scheduled areas.
The article states that all the provisions of the fifth schedule are applicable to scheduled tribes and scheduled areas in the states except Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
Objectives of the PESA Act
- To safeguard the customs and traditions of tribal people.
- It also recognizes the rights of tribal communities and allows self-governance.
- Plays an important role in controlling all social sectors
- Implement policies related to resources like non-timber forests, water bodies, minerals, local markets, etc.
- It also prevents the alienation of land and controls narcotic activities in the region
President Draupadi Murmu announced that PESA Act will be effective in Madhya Pradesh, during her trip to Shahdol.
She addressed around one lakh people on the Birsa Munda Jayanti. She will now head to Bhopal and will be accorded traditionally at the Raj Bhavan in the evening.
This is for the first time since the establishment of Madhya Pradesh that country’s president had attended an event in Shahdol.