Role of PESA in Forest Conservation | 26 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

A recent study has examined the connection between representation and forest conservation in India's Scheduled Areas.

• It has been found that providing political representation and decision-making power through acts such as PESA to tribal populations has helped in the conservation of forests.

What are the Key Findings of the Study?

• About:
  • The authors arrived at their conclusion by conducting a data-driven study on the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), which provides political representation to Scheduled Tribes (STs).
  • The study compared villages with mandated ST representation in local self-government to those without it and villages that adopted PESA earlier to those that did later, tracking deforestation and afforestation rates.
  • This allowed them to isolate the impact of PESA on forest cover using a "difference-in-differences" framework.
  • This study used satellite data to analyze forestation changes on a global scale from 2001 to 2017, diverging from the traditional method of fieldwork in small communities.
• Key Findings:
  • PESA has granted STs greater political representation, allowing them a say in how forests are managed.
    • PESA strengthens STs' ability to resist large-scale commercial activities like mining that can cause deforestation leading to a greater reduction in deforestation in PESA villages near mines.
    • The introduction of PESA also increased the incidence of conflict around mining.
  • The PESA Act led to an average increase in tree canopy by 3% per year and a reduction in the rate of deforestation.
  • PESA increased economic incentives to ST communities, in protecting the forest, for non-timber forest products (medicinal plants, fruits, etc.) and food security.
  • The study found that the Forest Rights Act, 2006 had no additional impacts on conservation beyond those caused by PESA.
  • The study advocated for a single institution that can balance conservation and development objectives.
    • Such an institution would better navigate the complexities of balancing local economic interests with sustainable conservation practices.

What is the PESA Act?

• About:
  • The PESA Act was enacted on 24^th December 1996 to ensure self-governance for people living in tribal areas, called Scheduled Areas, through traditional village assemblies known as Gram Sabhas.
  • The Act extended the provisions of Panchayats by providing self-tribal rule to the tribal areas of Fifth Schedule states.
• Legislation:
  • The Act defines Scheduled Areas as those mentioned in Article 244(1), which states that the Fifth Schedule applies to Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • Scheduled Areas of India, which are areas notified by the President as predominantly inhabited by tribal communities.
  • 10 states have notified Fifth Schedule areas that cover (partially or fully) several districts in each of these states.
    • These include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
• Significant Provisions:
  • Gram Sabha: The PESA Act establishes the Gram Sabha as a forum for community participation in the development process. It is responsible for identifying development projects, preparing development plans, and implementing these plans.
  • Village-level Institutions: The Act mandates the establishment of village-level institutions, including the Gram Panchayat, the Gram Sabha, and the Panchayat Samiti, to carry out development activities and provide basic services to the community.
  • Powers and Functions: Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat are granted significant powers and functions related to managing natural resources and regulating economic activities.
  • Consultation: The Act requires consultation with the Gram Sabha before any development projects or activities are undertaken in the Scheduled Areas.
  • Funds: It provides for the transfer of funds to the Gram Panchayat to enable them to perform their functions effectively.
  • Land Rights: The Act provides for the protection of land rights of tribal communities in the Scheduled Areas, requiring their consent before any land is acquired or transferred.
  • Cultural and Social Practices: The Act safeguards the cultural and social practices of tribal communities in the Scheduled Areas, prohibiting any interference in these practices.

What are the Provisions Related to Scheduled Tribes in India?

• Definition:
  • The Constitution of India does not define the criteria for recognition of STs. As per Census-1931, STs are termed as "backward tribes” living in the "Excluded" and "Partially Excluded" areas.
  • The Government of India Act of 1935 called for the first time for representatives of "backward tribes" in provincial assemblies.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Article 243D: Mandates reservation of seats for STs in Panchayats
  • Article 330: It provides Reservation of seats for SC and STs in the House of the People (Lok Sabha).
  • Article 332: Reservation of seats for SC and STs in the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
  • Articles 341 & 342: Define STs and empower the President to identify them through a public notification for each State/Union Territory.
• Statutory Provisions:
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 against Untouchability.
  • Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
  • Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
  • Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
  • The Tribal Panchsheel Policy