Ranchi, 03 January (H.S.): The Jharkhand government formally notified rules under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) on Friday night via the Panchayati Raj Department, a watershed moment empowering indigenous gram sabhas with veto authority over land acquisition, minor minerals, intoxicants, and resource management across 16,022 villages in 13 fully and three partially scheduled districts.

Cabinet-approved December 23 under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand PESA Rules 2025 extend decentralised democracy's sinews to Fifth Schedule enclaves—Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, Latehar, East/West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj, Pakur (full); Palamu, Godda, Garhwa (partial)—spanning 2,074 panchayats and fortifying Adivasi self-rule dormant since PESA's 1996 enactment.

Mandating gram sabha prior consent for land acquisition/rehabilitation (Jharkhand Land Acquisition Rules 2015 Rule 20), minor mineral concessions (2014 amendments), and external migrant worker disclosures, the framework bans child labour, safeguards traditions, and vests control over water bodies, markets, moneylending, and plans—reserving all chairpersons/ST seats ≥50% proportional.

Gram sabhas—presided by Mundas/Mankis/Pradhans—audit schemes, manage funds, and regulate via JPRA 2001 Sections 10.1(a)(x), 10.5(ii), aligning with PESA Sections 4(b)-(m).

Implementation—post-2006 Rakesh Kumar Supreme Court validation of JPRA/PESA consonance—bolsters 21 lakh+ beneficiaries via participatory selection, traditional headmanship, and social audits distinguishing decision (sabha) from execution (panchayat).

Soren hailed it as strengthening tribal self-governance, protecting natural resources, fulfilling 2023 public consultations amid Odisha/Jharkhand PESA laggards.

Critics eye enforcement amid mining pressures, yet the rules—echoing 1834 Wilkinson's Kolhan precedents—revitalise Adivasi agency against alienation, heralding equitable Adi-dharma in mineral-rich Jharkhand.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar