Tribal and Indigenous Rights Forum expresses strong displeasure over the Jharkhand government’s persistent delays in implementing the PESA Act. Vijay Shankar Nayak, Central Vice President of the forum, emphasized that PESA is more than just a legal document; it’s fundamental to the existence, identity, and self-governance of Jharkhandi society. The government’s silence and ambiguous stance directly undermine the traditional village assembly-based power of the people. Nayak questioned whose pressure the government is succumbing to, stating the public wants answers. He highlighted that regions with accelerated mining and land acquisition processes would be most affected by PESA’s implementation, fueling societal fears of corporate influence on government decisions regarding the law. The government must clarify the reasons for its inaction.
Currently, village assemblies lack proper authority. Despite repeated assurances, the state government has yet to issue a notification for PESA’s implementation. There’s a lack of clarity on rules for empowering village assemblies and the ground-level role of panchayats, leaving the people of Jharkhand confused. This slow process appears to be an attempt to stall a constitutional right rather than empower local governance. Nayak warned that without PESA, the existential crisis for Jharkhandi society will deepen, leading to land alienation, resource depletion, increased marginalization, widespread displacement, weakened traditional governance, and intensified exploitation of mineral resources. He urged the government to act now, stating ‘now or never.’ As the government nears the end of its first year in its second term, this period is crucial and symbolic of Jharkhandi aspirations. Nayak called for a clear implementation date for PESA, either before or immediately after November 28, 2025. He warned that if the government maintains its silence, tribal organizations will consider launching a statewide public campaign, as the people are no longer willing to wait.