RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.14: Ground is being prepared to mount pressure on the Hemant Soren government to formulate rules under the provisions of the Panchayat (Extension to Schedule) Area Act formulated 25 years ago.
It was experienced after a section of tribal rights activists were found in action mode taking the issue. The activists associated with the voluntary organization Swashan Abhiyan India’, ‘Gram Sabha Federation, Jharkhand’, and ‘Samvad’ on Monday and Tuesday assembled at the Social Development Centre (SDC) and discussed the issue.
They also planned to visit different blocks of the state to organize a massive agitation for the formulation of rules that give due recognition to tribal self-governance and Gram Sabha.
As many as 13 of the 24 districts of the state which come under scheduled area, likely to witness a series of meetings, seminars and conferences on the issue to create awareness among the tribals and bring them in agitation mode to mount pressure on the chief minister who is also a tribal and also claims to be a protector of tribal rights.
Social activist Balram, who earlier remained associated with many campaigns including Right to Food, supported the observation saying social activists met the governor on the issue on Monday.
“We have decided to wait for a month for a response from the government. In case, the positive response does not come within a month activists have planned to organise a massive demonstration after that,” he said without announcing any deadline.
Asked whether the demonstration will be organised under any banner, he said: “Requirement of the banner has not been felt so far as the issue is related with every tribal and each member of the tribal cutting across political affiliation will be organised for the issue,” he said.
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA is a law enacted by the Government of India for ensuring self governance through traditional Gram Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled Areas of India.
