Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a new history is being created for the all-round development of tribal brethren by implementing the PESA Act in scheduled areas in Madhya Pradesh. There is a provision in the PESA Act that the Gram Sabha will make an action plan for village development.
The amount received by the Gram Panchayat will be spent only after seeking permission of the Gram Sabha. Gram Sabha will monitor the quality of development works. The muster roll will be placed before the Gram Sabha for inspection.The Gram Sabha will also ensure that the laborers get full remuneration on time. Village Chaupal will now run the government in the village.
Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the PESA Jagrukta Sammelan at Pandhana in Khandwa district. Chouhan announced that the Pandhana-Ghatakhedi-Kalka road will now be known as the ‘Amar Krantikari Tantya Bhil’ road.
The Chief Minister said that the laborers going out of the village for work must first inform the Gram Sabha where they are going to work, they will have to write the address of that place so that the interests of the laborers can be taken care of by the Gram Sabha. There is a provision in the rules of the PESA Act that the permission of the Gram Sabha will be mandatory for the survey and land acquisition to be done in any project of the government’s plan.
All development works will be done only with the permission of the Gram Sabha. The PESA Act is meant to strengthen the tribals in every way. This law is neither against any individual nor against the general and backward class. It has been implemented in the rural areas of 89 scheduled tribe development blocks. In the PESA Act, the rights related to water, forest and land in the scheduled areas have been given to the citizens through the Gram Sabha.
Chouhan said that according to the rules of PESA Act, Patwari and Beat Guard of Forest Department will now have to bring village land map, Khasra, B-1 copy to the village once in a year and show it in the Gram Sabha, so that the records of the land are maintained. If any discrepancy is found, the Gram Sabha will have the right to rectify the record.
The Chief Minister said that attempts to marry, convert and grabbing the land of tribals by trick, cheating and allurement will not be allowed. Gram Sabha will have the right to foil such attempts and get action taken against the guilty person. The Gram Sabha will get back the usurped land. Chouhan said that Gram Sabha will decide whether or not sand, gravel-stone and Goud minerals should be given on contract under the PESA Act in scheduled areas.
The government will cooperate in the works of the Gram Sabha. The society will have the first right on the mine, then the women of the village and then the men.
Chouhan said that the management of the pond will be done by the Gram Sabha. Gram Sabha will take decisions related to fish farming, Singhada production and pond irrigation. The Gram Sabha will have the right to manage the pond for irrigation in 100 acres of agricultural area. The government will cooperate in this work as per the intention of the Gram Sabha.
Whatever income is generated from the pond, will be given to the Gram Sabha. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the state government will no longer collect the forest produce grown in the forest bordering the village.
Gram Sabha will do this work. According to PESA Act, now the Gram Sabha will determine the collection, sale and price of forest produce. The State government will cooperate on the recommendation of the Gram Sabha.
