Bhubaneswar: The tribals from 13 scheduled districts of Odisha on Tuesday staged a massive demonstration at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar in support of their demand for enactment of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996.
Hundreds of tribals under the banner of Odisha State PESA, Gram Sabha Coordination Committee took out a rally from the Master Canteen Square before staging the demonstration.
Their other demands included implementation of PESA Act in true form and spirit, recognition of Gram Sabha as the decision-making authority, ensuring protection under Odisha State Immovable Property Transfer Act 1956, Regulation-2 and withdrawing the proposed amendment of Regulation-2 as raised in Tribal Advisory Council.
Addressing the gathering, advisor of the Committee Sudarshan Chhotoray, president Budhua Jojo and secretary Panduram Hembrum appealed to both Central and state governments to protect the tribals’ constitutional rights, heritage and culture and empower Gram Sabha as the ultimate decision-making unit at the grassroots level.
Later, a five-member delegation of the tribals submitted a memorandum to Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal and apprised him of their long-standing constitutional rights. The Governor assured them that he would take up the issue with the state government and the Centre.
At present eight of 10 Tribal populous States have enacted this national Act except Jharkhand and Odisha.
