Which among the following is true about the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act?

1. It was enacted in 1996.
2. It accords statutory status to the Gram Sabhas in Scheduled V areas.
3. Section 4(i) of the Act mandates that the Gram Sabha or Panchayat should consent before any land acquisition for development projects.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) All of the above

Explanation:

• The PESA Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1996 to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to the Scheduled V areas.
• The Act recognizes the traditional rights of tribal communities and accords statutory status to Gram Sabhas, making them the nucleus of all activities.
• Under Section 4(i), the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level must be consulted/consent before making the acquisition of land in Scheduled Areas for development projects.
• The Act aims to ensure self-governance through traditional Gram Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled Areas of India.

Information Booster:

• The PESA Act was based on the recommendations of the Bhuria Committee report submitted in 1995.
• It currently applies to ten states: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

Additional Knowledge:

Only 1 (Option a)

• This is incorrect because statements 2 and 3 are also factually correct provisions of the PESA Act.

So the correct answer is (c)