ROLE OF PESA ACT IN VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT OF PVTGs OF GAURELLA BLOCK OF CHHATTISGARH

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 introduced Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to promote local self-governance across India. However, it excluded Scheduled Areas, home to many tribal communities. To address this, the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) was enacted, aligning tribal governance traditions with national frameworks. PESA empowers Gram Sabhas with executive, consultative, and recommendatory powers, enabling tribal communities to control development decisions, protect cultural identity, and manage resources. Despite its progressive intent, PESA's implementation remains inconsistent across states. Many state governments have failed to integrate its provisions effectively, limiting its impact on local governance and tribal empowerment. The Act envisions Gram Sabhas as vehicles for grassroots democracy and cultural preservation, yet this remains largely unrealized. The present study conducted in Gaurella Block, Chhattisgarh, explores PESA’s local enactment, its effectiveness in village development, and offers recommendations to strengthen tribal self-governance and uphold constitutional goals in Scheduled Areas. The study reveals a significant lack of awareness among villagers about the roles and powers granted under PESA. A majority (over 70%) of respondents were unaware of key provisions, including the Gram Sabha’s authority over local development plans, forest produce, land alienation, and regulation of markets, money lending, and intoxicants. Only 19.3% recognized the need for Gram Sabha approval of development projects. Awareness was higher among males, graduates, Sarpanches, Secretaries, and those aged 40–49, with knowledge correlating positively with education, landholding, and occupation. These findings highlight the urgent need for awareness and capacity-building efforts to realize PESA’s village development goals.