A STUDY ON CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF PESA ACT IMPLEMENTATION IN RAJASTHAN

Abstract [English]

Enacted in 1996, the Provision of the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, more commonly known as PESA, brought the Scheduled Areas in ten states of the nation into the national framework of Panchayat. Gramme Sabha is granted exceptional authority under this Act, which is in line with traditional tribal self-rule, even though this power is not established in the national structure of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Many things have come out of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), including studies that have been commissioned, proposals for changes to subject laws that are at odds with the Act, circulars and guidelines for the creation of model rules, and so on. The most significant Act of our century has been in effect for over twenty-eight years. Efforts by the relevant state governments to fully execute this landmark statute have been glacial. Inadequate awareness, bureaucratic opposition, and conflicts with current forest and revenue rules are some of the significant challenges identified via fieldwork consisting of interviews with local stakeholders, tribal leaders, and government officials, in addition to secondary data analysis. At the same time, it praises achievements like more robust tribal identification, better management of resources, and more participation in gram sabhas. In order to fully use the Act, the results highlight the need to implement capacity-building programs, reform policies, and foster practical cooperation between tribes and government entities. Insights for a more inclusive and successful implementation of PESA in Rajasthan and other states with substantial tribal populations are offered in this study, which adds to the conversation on tribal governance.