Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said PESA Act is a social revolution, it is empowering gram sabhas in tribal development blocks. Gram Sabhas have now started the effective implementation of this Act, which came into force from November 15. The villagers should use their rights to make the village self-reliant and provide them financial support.
Chief Minister Chouhan today interacted with the villagers by attending gram sabhas in village Shahpura and Guraiya for awareness of PESA Act in Dindori district. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan told the villagers that “I have come today to teach you the Pesa Act, not to give you a speech”.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that PESA Act has been implemented by taking a historic decision for the tribal community on the soil of Madhya Pradesh. In this, each tribal village will have a separate gram sabha and it will be empowered. For this, it is necessary that the people of the village understand the spirit of pesa act and implement it in their village interest.
Chouhan said that by implementing the PESA Act, we have ensured that now the government will run from Chaupal and not from Bhopal.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that PESA Act is not against anyone, it does not harm anyone, it is for everyone’s benefit. Today I have come to give you the right to water, forest and land. Now every year in the gram sabha of the village, patwari and forest guard will bring map, copy of khasra, copy of B-1 and read it to the villagers. If irregularities are found, the gram sabha will rectify. Strict action will be taken against those who create disturbances.
Chouhan said that now the Gram Sabha will decide for which government work, scheme to give land. Land acquisition of village land cannot be done without the permission of gram sabha. No person will be able to occupy the land of a tribal person by allurement, through marriage or by conversion. The gram sabha will decide whether the mines of ballast, stone, sand etc. of the village are to be auctioned or not. The mine will be given first to the tribal society, then to the sister of the village and then to the man on priority basis.
Chouhan said that gram sabha will have the right to manage the ponds of the village, fish farming, singhara production etc. in them and the villagers will have the right to the income received. Irrigation ponds and dams up to 100 acres will be managed by the Gram Sabha. The gram sabha will have the right to collect and sell forest produce like harr, bahera, awla, gum, karanj etc. It will also be able to determine their prices. The income of forest produce will also come to the Gram Sabha. Tribal brothers will now have the right to pluck and sell tendu leaves. Also, the income will also go to their account. By December 15, the gram sabha should decide whether it will collect tendu leaves this year or not.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that the Gram Sabha will decide what to do with the money that comes in a year in the Gram Panchayat. If someone takes the labourers of the village to another place, then he will have to take permission from the Gram Sabha. If an outsider comes to the village, he will also have to take permission from the gram sabha. Gram Sabha will monitor MNREGA works. The muster roll of the work will also be kept in the Gram Sabha.
Chouhan said that gram sabha will decide whether to open new liquor shop in the village or not. If the liquor shop is near the hospital, school, religious place, then the Gram Sabha will be able to recommend closure or relocation of it. The Gram Sabha can recommend to the Collector to declare a day as dry-day. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that any private moneylender, loan giving person will be able to give loans to the villagers only after getting a license and at the interest rate fixed by the government. Loans given illegally will become zero.
Chouhan said that village peace and dispute redressal committee will be formed to resolve small disputes of the village, which will settle them. In cases where FIRs are registered, the information will have to be given by the police to the gram sabha. Gram Sabha will be able to manage markets, fairs, festivals. Gram Sabhas will also have the right to manage anganwadis, hostels, schools, ashram schools, hospitals.
On the demand of the villagers,Chouhan announced construction of divider on the main road in village Shahpura, upgradation of community health center to civil hospital, posting of women doctor there, road construction, pipeline and tap water to every house etc. Chouhan released “Mama Ki Pati Mukhiya Ke Naam” and “Jeevandayini Prasad” prepared by the district administration for sickle cell affected people at Shahpura.
Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste also addressed the gathering. State Higher Education Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and others were present.
