Odisha Eyes PESA Rollout as Cabinet Decision Awaits on July 15

The Odisha government is set to take a significant step towards implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), with a proposal expected to be placed before the state Cabinet during its meeting on July 15. If approved, the long-pending legislation will pave the way for extending self-governance provisions to tribal-dominated Scheduled Areas across the state.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said the proposal has been finalised and will be presented to the Cabinet for its approval. Once cleared, the state will move ahead with implementing the Act, which is intended to strengthen the role of Gram Sabhas in governance and decision-making in Scheduled Areas.

According to the minister, the draft proposal has already undergone the necessary consultations and administrative processes. The government now intends to place it before the Cabinet for a final decision.

PESA, enacted by Parliament in 1996, extends the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayati Raj institutions to Scheduled Areas while recognising the traditional rights of tribal communities. The legislation gives Gram Sabhas greater authority over local governance, natural resource management, customary practices and community assets, ensuring that development decisions are taken with the participation of local residents.

Despite the central law being in force for nearly three decades, Odisha has remained among the states yet to operationalise it through state-specific rules and procedures. The upcoming Cabinet meeting is expected to address that gap.

The proposed framework is expected to define how Gram Sabhas will function in Scheduled Areas and spell out their role in matters such as land, forests, water resources and local development. It is also expected to establish procedures for consultation before land acquisition and rehabilitation measures affecting tribal communities.

Naik indicated that implementing the legislation would reinforce constitutional safeguards available to tribal populations and strengthen grassroots democratic institutions in Scheduled Areas. The move, he said, is aimed at ensuring that local communities have a greater voice in decisions that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.

The issue has remained under discussion for several years, with repeated demands from tribal organisations, civil society groups and various stakeholders for the state to operationalise the law. The proposed Cabinet approval is therefore being viewed as a major policy milestone in Odisha’s tribal governance framework.

If the Cabinet gives its nod on July 15, Odisha will move closer to bringing the provisions of the PESA Act into effect, marking a significant shift in the governance of Scheduled Areas by expanding the decision-making powers of village assemblies and strengthening local self-governance.