J'khand government notifies PESA rules

The Jharkhand government has notified the rules under the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, empowering gram sabhas with more decision-making powers in the state’s scheduled areas, officials said on Saturday.

- Vishal Kant

With the implementation of the PESA rules, gram sabhas would be empowered to take decisions through common participation of people in sectors, including sale/ purchase of land, management of resources like forest produce, water bodies and minor minerals, opening of liquor shops, besides conducting open hearings and deciding on persons accused of petty crimes in their jurisdiction, with powers to grant monetary punishment.