Odisha’s grant cut due to not making PESA rule, Jharkhand also in danger

Ranchi, Shakeel Akhtar: Due to not making PESA rules, the Central Government has reduced the amount given to Gram Panchayats of Odisha. Due to this, Jharkhand is also facing the threat of reduction in the amount it will receive in the current financial year 2023-24. However, in the meeting of the Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), the draft of PESA rule prepared by the Panchayati Raj Department has not been agreed upon. The Council has directed to seek more suggestions from the people on the issue of this PESA rule. Due to this decision of the Council, the matter of notifying PESA rule in the state has become complicated. The Central Government had directed all the states included in the Fifth Schedule to notify the PESA rule. Also, the states which did not make the rules were warned not to give the amount recommended by the 15th Finance Commission. During the review of PESA rules, the Center had found that 10 states included in the Fifth Schedule (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana), Jharkhand and Odisha have not notified the PESA rule despite the instructions of the Central Government. During the review, assurance was given by both these states that PESA rules will be made and notified soon. But neither of these two states prepared the PESA rule and notified it.