BHUBANESWAR: On Tuesday, the Odisha government assured the Assembly of its commitment to implementing the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act) shortly. The move aims to ensure that the rights of local leaders, particularly sarpanchs, are safeguarded and empowered.
In response to a query from Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik revealed that the PESA Act has been operational in most states, with Odisha and Jharkhand being notable exceptions. Naik assured that the state government is dedicated to enforcing the Act, which will restore the autonomy of sarpanchs and bolster the role of gram sabhas in decision-making.
Minister Naik criticized the previous BJD administration for its handling of local governance. He noted that while the Naveen Patnaik-led government had temporarily granted sarpanchs powers akin to district collectors during the Covid-19 pandemic, these powers were later retracted. Under the current government, however, Naik emphasized a commitment to fully implement the PESA Act and delegate all 22 powers outlined within it to the elected representatives.
Addressing concerns raised by Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati, BJP MLAs Padma Lochan Panda, Saroj Padhi, Sidhant Mohapatra, Independent legislator Sarada Pradhan, and others, Naik acknowledged allegations of financial mismanagement in the execution of the ‘Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha’ scheme and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He admitted that job cards under MGNREGA were issued to affluent individuals, diverting wages away from the intended beneficiaries and contributing to a rise in bonded labor in the state.
The minister assured that corrective measures are being implemented to address these issues. The state government is actively working to eliminate bonded labor and improve the efficiency of the schemes.
Regarding the status of projects funded under the ‘Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha’ initiative, Naik confirmed that all projects will be completed. He explained that while 30 to 40 percent of payments have been disbursed, remaining funds will be released upon project completion. Additionally, the scheme has been rebranded as ‘Viksit Odisha, Viksit Gaon’ to better reflect its objectives and progress.
The government’s new measures reflect a clear intention to enhance transparency, empower local governance, and rectify financial discrepancies in ongoing development projects.