The PESA deadlock in Jharkhand intensified with former CM Champai Soren blasting the draft rules as an ‘outright fraud on Adivasis.’ In a fiery video statement that went viral, Soren dissected the document’s flaws, from diluted land governance to emasculated village panchayats, urging tribals to reject it en masse.
‘Years of struggle for PESA, and they serve us this diluted soup?’ Soren questioned, highlighting how the rules empower SDOs over traditional councils in sanctioning works above Rs 5 lakh. This, he said, paves the way for unchecked mining and dams, threatening the livelihoods of 1.3 crore tribals who depend on community forests.
Background: PESA, a 1996 central law, extends Panchayati Raj to scheduled areas but leaves implementation to states. Jharkhand’s 132-page draft, unveiled amid fanfare, promises conflict resolution via Gram Sabhas and MFP trade control. Critics like Soren argue it falls short of the Act’s intent, mirroring dilutions in states like Chhattisgarh.
Congress spokesperson Soma Mondal dismissed it as ’empty rhetoric from a failed leader.’ ‘PESA rules are pro-tribal; Soren’s prattle exposes his bitterness post-resignation,’ she said, pointing to safeguards against forced evictions. The ruling alliance is racing to finalize rules before monsoon disrupts outreach.
The row has tribal forums split: JMM hardliners back the draft, while BJP allies demand rework. With 2024 elections on horizon, PESA has become a referendum on governance. Soren’s intervention injects urgency, potentially swaying fence-sitters in key districts. Jharkhand’s future hinges on whether this empowerment tool truly delivers or dissolves into another political ploy.