Bhubaneswar: Odisha government will introduce the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in the upcoming Assembly session, announced Panchayati Raj Minister, Rabi Narayan Naik on Wednesday.
The Minister’s made the announcement in response to a heated debate in the Assembly, where the Opposition including the BJD and Congress, criticized the BJP-led state government for its perceived delay in implementing the Act.
Minister Naik emphasized that Chief Minister Mohan Majhi had committed to introducing the PESA Act during his Independence Day address. He added that the Central government had also shown interest in the matter.
Naik plans to convene a meeting with all Scheduled Tribe MLAs and other members of the House to further discuss the issue, highlighting its sensitivity.
To facilitate the implementation process, Naik revealed that PESA Act documents have been translated into Odia and Santali and distributed to district magistrates in the PESA-designated regions.
Despite the PESA Act being passed by Parliament in 1996, Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati pointed out that it has remained unimplemented in Odisha for 28 years.
He accused both the BJD and BJP of neglecting the rights of tribal communities over ‘Jal, Jungle, and Jamin’ (water, forest, and land).
Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam criticized the BJD-BJP coalition government for failing to pass the Act during their tenure from 2000 to 2009, and accused them of delaying its implementation to benefit mining interests.
BJD member Ganeswar Behera demanded a clear timeline for the PESA Act’s implementation in Odisha, urging the minister to provide a definitive response.
