PESA Bill will be discussed in the next meeting of Odisha Assembly

BHUBANESWAR: Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik on Wednesday announced that the state government will move the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Bill in the next session of the Assembly for approval for implementation in scheduled areas of Odisha.

Replying to a discussion on an adjournment motion in the Assembly in this regard, the minister said the Bill needs to be discussed further as its implementation is a sensitive issue. The government will soon convene a meeting of ST MLAs and other senior members of the House to discuss all aspects.

Naik said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had already announced that the PESA Act would be implemented in Odisha on August 15. The Centre too has shown interest in the matter.

The PESA Act has been translated into Odia and Santali and sent to the district magistrates of the PESA regions. The minister expected that the Act will be widely discussed before it is implemented in the state.

Opening the debate, Congress MP Ram Chandra Kadam said that tribals living in 118 blocks have been neglected for long. He targeted the previous BJD government for its failure to implement the PESA Act to protect the mining mafia. He urged the present minister, who belongs to the tribal community, to seriously enforce the Act and develop panchayats in tribal areas.

Congress MP Tara Prasad Bahinipati also called for social and economic security of the tribals. Ganeshwar Behera (BJD) said the government should announce a definite timeline for the implementation of the law.