Cabinet ratifies rules for PESA rollout in J’khand

ACT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN GRAM SABHAS IN SCHEDULED AREAS

- Vishal Kant

The Hemant Soren cabinet on Tuesday approved the much-awaited draft of the Jharkhand PESA Rules, making way for implementation of the PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, in Jharkhand.

Besides Odisha, Jharkhand was the only state among the 10 states across the country where the PESA Rules, for implementation of PESA Act 1996, was yet to be notified. With Jharkhand having cleared the Rules, Odisha is the only state left to notify it. The 1996 Act, passed by the Parliament, aims to strengthen the Gram Sabhas in the scheduled areas. In Jharkhand, which falls under Schedule V of the Constitution, 13 of the 24 districts are scheduled districts, besides a few panchayats of two other districts.