Context

• Recently a conference on Strengthening of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act was inaugurated by Shri Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Background

• The first two-day Regional Conference on Strengthening of PESA held in Pune, Maharashtra on 11-12 January 2024 saw active participation from five states – Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Key Points

• This Act is known as the Panchayat Extension Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act.
• This two-day regional conference was organised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India in collaboration with the Panchayati Raj Department, Government of Jharkhand.
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is committed to ensure that the benefits of the PESA Act reach its intended beneficiaries in accordance with the true spirit of the Panchayat Provisions (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
• The conference, the second in the series, represents the efforts being made by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to promote effective implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 (PESA).
• The conference included sessions focusing on discussion on the effectiveness of Gram Sabhas in PESA areas, their role in making life easier in these areas, devolution of powers to PESA areas over resources (minor forest produce, minor minerals).
• The conference was organized with the participation of State Departments of Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Tribal Development, Forest, Revenue and Excise State Departments of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Telangana. The objective of this regional conference is to evaluate the progress of these states in the implementation of PESA.
• Apart from government bodies, several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working towards the empowerment of Scheduled Tribes were invited to contribute to the event.

 Objective

• The main objective of the PESA Regional Conference is to assess the progress made by the States in implementing the PESA Act and develop an approach to its effectuation at the grassroots level.
• Its objectives also include promoting cooperation and discussion among the participating States in the implementation of the PESA Act for the Sustainable Development of Tribal Communities in the Scheduled Areas.

Important Facts For Exam

Panchayati Raj System

• Beginning : 02 October 1959
• Provision for formation : Article 40
• Panchayati Raj Act passed : 2 September 1959
• Father of Local Government in India: Lord Ripon