Bhubaneswar: Opposition Congress members on Monday raised concerns in the Odisha Assembly over the delay in implementing the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) in the state, urging the government to bring a motion on the matter before the end of the ongoing Budget session.
The issue was raised during the Zero Hour by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam, who criticised the state government for not operationalising the law even though it was enacted by the Centre nearly three decades ago.
Kadam said that despite Odisha having a tribal Chief Minister, the government had failed to act on the legislation meant to empower tribal communities in scheduled areas. He alleged that nearly 20 months after the BJP came to power in the state, the government had not shown adequate intent to implement the law that safeguards tribal rights over land, forests and natural resources.
“Tribal people continue to face exploitation due to the absence of regulatory protection. The government should clarify its position and move a motion on PESA during the current session,” Kadam said, while requesting Speaker Surama Padhy to give a ruling on the issue.
He further alleged that the delay in implementing PESA was helping corporate entities and industries exploit mineral resources in tribal-dominated districts. According to Kadam, such exploitation has also triggered migration of tribal people to urban areas in search of livelihood.
Supporting the demand, Congress MLA C. S. Raazen Ekka criticised the government for failing to fulfil its election promise on the matter. He said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had assured the people during the election campaign that PESA would be implemented once the BJP formed the government.
Ekka also referred to recent tribal protests over land acquisition for a cement plant in Sundargarh district and demanded the formation of a House Committee to monitor land acquisition by industries and mining companies in scheduled areas.
Congress legislator Taraprasad Bahinipati echoed similar concerns, stating that tribal communities have traditional rights over forests, land and mineral resources in scheduled regions. He warned that continued delay in implementing PESA could lead to unrest among tribal communities.
“In the absence of PESA, corporate houses continue to exploit mineral resources at the cost of local residents,” Bahinipati said, cautioning that tribals might be forced to protest if their rights remain unprotected.
Earlier, in September 2024, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik had informed the Assembly that the state government would bring the legislation for approval in a subsequent session to enable its implementation in scheduled areas.
Naik had also stated that the government planned to hold consultations with ST MLAs and senior legislators to examine different aspects of the law. The minister had further informed that the PESA Act had been translated into Odia and Santali and copies were sent to district collectors in scheduled districts.
However, the rules for implementing the Act are yet to be finalised, prompting the opposition to demand early action from the government.
