THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 21: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Deepika Pandey Singh on Thursday called for the effective grassroots implementation of the Panchayat Provisions (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) across Jharkhand, saying the law must reach every village to strengthen traditional self-governance systems.
Addressing a state-level workshop on the “Panchayat Provisions (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Jharkhand Rules, 2025” at Project Bhawan in Ranchi, the minister said the implementation of the PESA Act after 25 years marked a significant step toward empowering traditional Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas.
“After a long wait of 25 years, the PESA Act has been implemented in the state. Now is the time for its effective implementation at every village level,” Deepika Pandey Singh said.
The workshop was attended by Deputy Development Commissioners, Block Development Officers (BDOs), Circle Officers (COs) and other district officials involved in implementing the law.
‘Gram Sabhas must regain rightful authority’
The minister said the initiative was being carried out under the guidance of Chief Minister Hemant Soren with a focus on restoring powers to traditional village governance systems.
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“Restoring the rightful authority of traditional Gram Sabhas is a top priority for the government,” she said, adding that district officials must ensure the rules are implemented effectively at the grassroots level.
Deepika Pandey Singh said Jharkhand’s version of the PESA legislation was among the most comprehensive in the country and urged stakeholders to study the provisions carefully to counter misinformation surrounding the Act.
“The answers to every concern raised by villagers can be found within the PESA Rules,” she said.
She also directed officials to complete the appointment of Gram Pradhans within three months in accordance with traditional customs and stressed the need to clearly distinguish between traditional village heads and revenue-village heads.
Awareness and training programmes underway
Panchayati Raj Department Secretary Manoj Kumar said the department was working continuously to spread awareness about the PESA Rules among local communities.
“To ensure information reaches local people effectively, the rules have been translated into various regional languages,” he said.
He informed that 125 master trainers had been trained to conduct awareness and training sessions across the state.
A special committee headed by the department director has also been formed to identify obstacles in implementation and suggest corrective measures.
Panchayati Raj Directorate Director B. Rajeswari described the implementation of the PESA Act in Jharkhand as a “historic milestone” and said continuous efforts were being made to resolve practical challenges emerging during implementation.
Technical sessions during the workshop focused on the role of Gram Sabhas, community participation, administrative responsibilities and the integration of traditional self-governance into training systems.