New Delhi, 21 December (H.S.):

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will host a two-day PESA Mahotsav themed Utsav Lok Sanskriti on December 23-24 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to celebrate the anniversary of the PESA Act.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Konidala Pawan Kalyan will inaugurate the event, which will draw approximately 2,000 representatives from 10 PESA states, including panchayat members, athletes, and cultural performers.The festival serves as a dedicated platform to showcase the unique culture and traditions of tribal communities in PESA areas to a national audience.

Special gram sabhas will be organised in Andhra Pradesh's PESA gram panchayats during the event, with additional special gram sabhas scheduled across all 10 PESA states on December 24, focusing on strengthening community participation, natural resource conservation, and social justice.Various sports and cultural activities will highlight the diversity and vibrancy of India's tribal heritage.

The main venue will be the Visakhapatnam Port Authority complex, while other events will take place at Ramakrishna Beach, indoor stadium, cricket stadium, and Kalavani auditorium.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar