Govt to take views of people before implementing PESA Act: Odisha CM

Odisha Government will have the opinions of people about the PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act of 1996 before implementing it in the State, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on the occasion of National Tribal Pride Day on Friday.

‘Grama Sabhas’ will be conducted in every village to create awareness among the people, which will continue till November 26. Details regarding the implementation of the PESA Act will be discussed in the awareness programmes, the CM stated during tribal leader Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary celebration held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar.

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Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for different development projects worth around Rs 1,535 Crore on this occasion. He inaugurated a web portal on the forest rights of tribals and the beneficiaries will be able to apply for Records of Right (RoR) through this portal.

“Tribal community is the soul and strength of Odisha. They were previously being neglected. However, the present government is committed and gives priority to protecting their culture. About 4,60,000 beneficiaries belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) will be allotted RoR on lands meant for their housing accommodation,” the CM stated.

Earlier in the day, the CM laid the foundation stone of Janajati Aitihya O’ Swabhiman Bhawan at Gothapatana locality in the Capital City, including 426 residential schools in the State and Odisha Tribal Museum on this occasion.

Worth mentioning, the state-level event was conducted to remember the tribal leader who had dedicated his life for the upliftment and the rights of tribal people. His birth anniversary is celebrated every year as Janajatiya Gaurav Divas in India on November 15.