Jharkhand PESA Act 2025 approved by cabinet #jharkhand #pesaact

On December 24, 2025, the Jharkhand Cabinet made a decision that has been pending for decades, approving the PESA Rules 2025, a move that promises to redefine democracy in the tribal heartland of India. Welcome to The Rational Desi, where today we are doing a deep dive into this legislative milestone to understand if this is genuine empowerment or just paperwork. To understand the gravity of this decision, we first need to look at the history of the PESA Act itself. The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act was passed by the Parliament of India way back in 1996. It was a revolutionary law designed to extend the 73rd Constitutional Amendment to the Scheduled Areas of India. The core philosophy was simple yet profound: in tribal areas, the community is supreme, and their traditions regarding natural resources must be respected. However, while the Central Act provided the skeleton, the "muscle and blood" had to come from the State Governments in the form of specific State Rules. For 29 years, despite being a state formed specifically for the welfare of tribal people, Jharkhand struggled to frame and implement these rules. Governments changed, promises were made in every election manifesto, but the bureaucratic framework to actually empower the Gram Sabha remained absent. That silence ended on December 24, 2025. The approval of the PESA Rules 2025 effectively operationalizes the provisions of the 1996 Act across the 15 districts of Jharkhand that fall fully or partially under the Scheduled Areas. This includes regions like Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Simdega, Lohardaga, East and West Singhbhum, Latehar, and others. But what does this "operationalization" actually mean for the common villager? Previously, the concept of "consent" in matters of development was often treated as a mere formality. Under the new clear system, the Gram Sabha—which consists of every adult member of the village, not just a few elected representatives—becomes a powerful statutory body. The most significant shift is regarding "Jal, Jungle, Zameen" (Water, Forest, and Land). The new rules mandate that for any land acquisition, rehabilitation, or resettlement projects, the consultation and consent of the Gram Sabha are mandatory. This is a game-changer in a mineral-rich state like Jharkhand, where mining projects often lead to displacement. Now, the people who live on the land will have a decisive say in whether their land can be given away for mining or industrial use. Furthermore, the control over Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is another critical aspect. For generations, tribals have collected Mahua, Tendu leaves, Tamarind, and other forest produce, but the pricing and trade were often controlled by state departments or middlemen. The PESA Rules 2025 are expected to transfer the ownership and management of these resources back to the Gram Sabha, allowing the village to fix prices and manage the trade, ensuring the economic benefits stay within the community. The rules also extend to the management of local markets (haats), control over money lending to prevent exploitation, and the power to enforce prohibition or regulate the sale of intoxicants. It essentially creates a system of self-governance where the village is not just a beneficiary of government schemes but an active participant and auditor. The police and administration are also required to interface more transparently with the Gram Sabha, providing a layer of protection against arbitrary actions. However, as we analyze this on The Rational Desi, we must remain cautiously optimistic. The existence of a rulebook does not automatically guarantee justice. The challenge now shifts from "legislating" to "implementing." There are valid concerns about whether the bureaucracy, which is used to a top-down approach, will willingly cede power to the villagers. There is also the danger of "manufactured consent," where powerful mining lobbies or political groups might coerce Gram Sabhas into signing agreements. We have seen in other states how Gram Sabha meetings can be hijacked or manipulated if there is a lack of awareness among the villagers. Therefore, the success of the PESA Rules 2025 depends entirely on capacity building. The villagers need to be educated about their new rights, the legal procedures, and the power of their collective voice. If the Gram Sabha remains unaware of its statutory powers, the PESA Rules will remain a paper tiger. Keywords :- pesa act 2025 Pesa act news Pesa act Hindi Jharkhand news live Jharkhand Jharkhand news Hemant Soren pesa act gram sabha jharkhand news live jharkhand and bihar news live jharkhand and bihar news #pesaact #Pesaactjharkhand #cabinetmeeting #cabinet #pesa #pesaact #sarnacode #adiwasi #adiwasiandolan #hemantsorenjharkhand #hemantsoren #hemantcreationkirtan #cabinetdoors #therationaldesi #jharkhand #jharkhandnews #jharkhandnewslive #jharkhandhighcourt