PESA Act Implementation: Jharkhand Tribal Groups Issue Ultimatum

The Tribal-People’s Rights Forum has strongly condemned the Jharkhand government’s persistent delays in enforcing the PESA Act, labeling it a critical issue for the state’s indigenous and original inhabitants. Leaders assert that PESA is the cornerstone of their self-rule and cultural identity. The government’s continued ambiguity and inaction are viewed as detrimental to the established traditional governance systems centered around village assemblies. There is widespread suspicion that external pressures, likely from mining and land development corporations, are obstructing the law. The forum demands transparency from the government regarding these influences. Despite verbal assurances, the absence of a formal notification, clear empowerment rules for village councils, and defined roles for grassroots Panchayats have left the populace in a state of uncertainty. This inertia is interpreted as a tactic to withhold constitutionally guaranteed rights. The group has issued a stark warning: further delays will exacerbate displacement, weaken traditional governance, and intensify the exploitation of Jharkhand’s mineral wealth, threatening the very existence of tribal communities.