PESA Mahotsav to promote panchayati raj

PESA Mahotsav to promote panchayati raj

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is hosting the two-day PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka on December 23-24, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to commemorate the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).

PESA Day falls on December 24, marking the Act’s anniversary; the event will be inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Konidala Pawan Kalyan, with Union Secretary Shri Vivek Bharadwaj and other officials attending. Around 2,000 representatives from all 10 PESA States—including Panchayat members, athletes, and artists—will participate, celebrating tribal cultural heritage.

PESA Key Launches

On December 24, initiatives include the PESA Portal for information and monitoring, PESA Indicators for state-wise assessment, tribal-language Training Modules for grassroots capacity-building,

And an E-book on Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district highlighting its traditions.

Special Activities

Special Gram Sabhas on PESA themes will occur in Andhra Pradesh PESA Panchayats with interstate representatives, alongside nationwide Gram Sabhas across 10 PESA States focusing on community participation, resource protection, customs, livelihoods, and justice.

Sports and cultural events will showcase tribal diversity at venues like Visakhapatnam Port Authority Campus, Ramakrishna Beach, stadiums, and Kalavani Auditorium.

PESA, or the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, extends the provisions of Part IX of the Indian Constitution—related to Panchayati Raj institutions—to Scheduled Areas inhabited by tribal communities, as defined under Article 244 and the Fifth Schedule.

Enacted on December 24, 1996, following the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, it empowers Gram Sabhas in these areas with significant autonomy to preserve tribal self-governance, culture, and resources, addressing gaps where standard Panchayati Raj rules did not apply.

PESA 2025 Key Objectives

PESA aims to promote tribal self-rule by recognizing traditional decision-making processes, preventing land alienation, and ensuring community control over local matters like minor forest produce, village markets, and liquor regulation.

It mandates Gram Sabha consultation for land acquisition, development projects, and rehabilitation in Scheduled Areas across 10 states including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.​

Powers of Gram Sabha

• Ownership and management of minor forest products, water bodies, and village markets.
• Prevention of land transfers to non-tribals and resolution of local disputes.
• Control over money-lending, intoxicants, and approval of development plans.​
  Reservation of seats in Panchayats is proportional to Scheduled Tribe population, with at least half for STs, fostering inclusive local governance

PESA applies to Fifth Schedule Areas in:

• Andhra Pradesh (e.g., Visakhapatnam, East/West Godavari, Adilabad, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram)
• Chhattisgarh (e.g., Surguja, Bastar, Raigad, Raipur, Rajnandgaon)
• Gujarat (e.g., parts of Surat, Bharuch, Dangs, Valsad, Panchmahal)
• Himachal Pradesh (e.g., Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi tehsil in Chamba)
• Jharkhand (e.g., Dumka, Godda, Deoghar, Sahibganj, Ranchi, Singhbhum)
• Madhya Pradesh (e.g., Jhabua, Mandla, Dhar, Khargone, Betul, Seoni)
• Maharashtra (e.g., parts of Thane, Nashik, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Gadchiroli)
• Odisha (e.g., Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Keonjhar)
• Rajasthan (e.g., Banswara, Dungarpur, parts of Udaipur, Chittorgarh)
• Telangana (integrated from Andhra Pradesh areas post-bifurcation)