First meeting of the Task Force constituted for effective implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) and PESA law held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
PESA and Forest Rights Act effective implementation among state government's priorities: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai
State level action plan committee to coordinate rules of various departments, district level PESA monitoring committees to be activated
Raipur / The first meeting of the apex committee of the Task Force constituted for the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) was held today at Mahanadi Ministry Bhavan under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. In the meeting, detailed discussions were held on better coordination of PESA law and Forest Rights Act in the state, effective implementation at the ground level, and strategies required for the overall and sustainable development of scheduled areas.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai directed the officials that the implementation of the PESA law should be an effective means to empower village self-governance, conserve natural resources, increase the participation of local people, and strengthen the rural economy. He said that about one-third of Chhattisgarh's population belongs to the tribal community. In such a situation, developing an effective and ideal model of the PESA law, keeping in mind their traditions, rights, and development, is a priority for the state government.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the PESA law protects the interests of citizens residing in scheduled areas. This will give impetus to better management of local resources, strengthen the role of gram sabhas, expand employment opportunities, and promote balanced and sustainable development. He said that the government's aim is to create a model through which development and public participation progress together.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that effective results can be achieved in scheduled areas only by establishing better coordination between the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the PESA law. He directed the officials to ensure that the benefits of the schemes reach the last person by implementing the provisions of both laws from an integrated perspective.
In the meeting, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the objective of the PESA law is to strengthen village self-governance, increase community participation in local resources, and ensure inclusive development. He directed the officials to run public awareness campaigns to deliver correct information to the people and to factually resolve any kind of confusion.
The meeting reviewed the current status of the implementation of PESA provisions under the Chhattisgarh Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules, 2022. A detailed review was also done on the status of individual and community claims received, settled, and pending under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the progress of recognition, conservation, and management of Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), and the process of converting forest villages into revenue villages.
State level action plan committee to coordinate work
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that a State Level Action Plan Committee will be constituted to coordinate the separate rules and procedures made by various departments on the same subject under the PESA law, which will ensure coordination and convergence of the rules of various departments. Ministers and Secretaries of the concerned departments will be members of this committee, and this committee will prepare a time-bound action plan and monitor its effective implementation.
He also gave instructions to activate the currently existing District Level PESA Monitoring Committees, so that effective implementation of the PESA law, empowerment of Gram Sabhas, and coordination between various departments can be ensured at the district level.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, Tribal Development Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam, MLA Shri Neelkanth Netam, and subject matter experts associated with various social organizations were present in the meeting.
Chief Secretary Shri Vikasheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Climate Change Shri Manoj Pingua, Principal Secretary Tribal Development Department Shri Sonmani Bora, Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Department Smt. Shammi Abadi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF) Shri Arun Pandey, Director Panchayat and Rural Development Department Smt. Priyanka Richa Mahobia, along with senior officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.