A three-day workshop started today at the Zila Parishad for the implementation of policies of the State Government on Panchayat Extension in Scheduled Area Act 1999 and PESA rules, 2011.

Abrar Ahmad CEO, Zila Parishad told that as per the PESA Act, Gram Sabhas will become the center of village governance units which would induce more powers in them.

This act helps in promotion of self governance in Schedule V areas. Abrar informed that under PESA, Gram Sabha’s will have mandatory executive functions to approve plans of the village Panchyats, to identify beneficiaries for the scheme and to issue certificates of utilization of funds.

It will also have right to be consulted before land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, power to regulate and restrict sale and consumption of intoxicants, power to prevent alienation of land and to restore alienated land, power to manage village markets and to control money lending, and ownership of minor forest produce.

Jila Pramukh, Madhu Mehta and the representatives of village Panchyats and Jila Parishad were present at the workshop.