Concerned over the rise of Left-wing extremism, which occurred due to the widening chasm between the locals and the government, the Centre has asked the nine Naxal-affected states to immediately address poor implementation of the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA).
“Weak implementation of PESA has led to rise of Left-wing extremism in Naxal-affected states. Urgent action is required to give a central role to the gram sabhas there,” secretary Panchayati Raj, A.N.P. Sinha told this newspaper.
In order to check the deepening and widening of extremism in PESA areas in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the ministry of panchayati raj has asked them to take a slew of measures.
To begin with, the Centre has asked the chief secretaries to activate the gram sabhas in a mission mode to resolve disputes, supervise land acquisition and assess its impact and delimit the villages. Crafting a special role for women in improving the functioning of the local bodies, the ministry has asked the states enable them take decisions regarding opening and continuing of liquor shops and sale of intoxicants.
Agreeing that trust deficit between the local population and the representatives of the state is huge in the Naxal-affected areas, Mr Sinha said many of the state are yet to frame Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act rules and amend subject laws in order to improve the delivery system.
Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act was enacted in 1996 after the government realised the need to protect the customs, rights and livelihoods of the locals by providing people-centric governance and people’s control over community resources and their life.
Officials said this happened as large projects and unscrupulous elements indulging in illegal mining and forest felling led to dislocation of the communities and loss of major sources of livelihood.