Bhopal, 26 September (HS). Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said that the PESA Act was notified in the year 1996. The implementation of PESA Act in Madhya Pradesh was implemented by making rules from 15 November 2022. It was implemented in 11 thousand 596 villages of 5133 panchayats of 88 development blocks of 20 districts of the state. Madhya Pradesh is a big area for this law, the state has done remarkable work for the implementation of the law. Madhya Pradesh is a leading state in the implementation of PESA Act.
Panchayat Minister Patel was addressing the national conference on PESA Act organized at Dr. Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Prof. SP Singh Baghel, ministers of many states, Additional Chief Secretary of the state Panchayat and Rural Development Malay Shrivastava, public representatives, officials and activists participated in the conference.
Minister Patel said that a large network has been created in Madhya Pradesh in terms of human resources, in which 13 district coordinators, 81 block level coordinators and 4824 Pesa mobilizers have been appointed. Pesa mobilizer is a new concept, which has been implemented in the state. Madhya Pradesh has done excellent work in this. So far under the Pesa Act, 165 new Gram Sabhas have been formed after the election of Gram Panchayats. The most important subject in the law is financial management, under which 11 thousand 524 accounts have been opened in the state so far, in which Gram Panchayats transfer money to the committees. Madhya Pradesh achieved success in opening the maximum number of bank accounts.
He said that work is being done for collective claims of forest rights, the state has achieved success in the work of giving leases individually. In land management, three persons have been duly returned their land, this is the first step towards success. So far, about 62 thousand 617 revenue and forest department khasras have been handed over to committees under PESA Act. The Peace and Dispute Resolution Committee has settled disputes in more than 5365 cases by mutual consent without FIR, 11 thousand 549 such committees have been formed. Sahayogi Matri Samitis have been formed for women empowerment. The number of these committees is 20 thousand 532.
Minister Patel said that so far the minor mineral committees have received applications for lease of 131 mineral mines. Training has been conducted in 16 thousand 803 villages which include Falia, Majra, Tola for conducting training activities in the field of PESA Act. Intensive training campaigns were also organized in the state. Madhya Pradesh is the leading state in organizing training for awareness of PESA Act. Madhya Pradesh Jan Abhiyan Parishad is the supporting organization in the training. More than 100 state level, 800 district level and 35 thousand district level participants have been trained.
He said that the training module prepared on money lending control in Madhya Pradesh has been appreciated in all the states. For effective implementation of PESA law in the state, a high level committee meeting is held every month. Standing committee meetings are held every three months under the leadership of the Governor. Panchayat and Rural Development Department is the nodal department for PESA law. Financial requirement of PESA law is an important issue. In the last meeting, it has been decided that a separate budget provision will be made for PESA. Madhya Pradesh is the leading state in providing housing under PM Jan-Man Yojana. PM Jan-Man housing has been constructed and given to PVGTs in the shortest time in the state, this is a big success. Narcotics Control Committees have transferred 211 shops to PESA committees to solve the problem of drug addiction.
Minister Patel said that there are many problems of the tribal class which can be solved through PESA law. All of us working in tribal areas should work with the tribal classes with sensitivity and respect their cultural values. An action plan should be prepared keeping in mind the difficulties faced at the ground level. In the conference, Union Minister of State Prof. Baghel and ministers of other states also expressed their views on the implementation of PESA law.