Intense frustration is mounting among tribal and indigenous communities in Jharkhand over the government’s persistent failure to enact the PESA law. Vijay Shankar Nayak, Central Vice President of the Adivasi-Mulvasi Janadhikar Manch, stated that PESA is fundamental to the survival and self-determination of Jharkhand’s people, not merely a legal formality. He criticized the administration’s lack of transparency, asserting that it weakens the traditional power structures centered around Gram Sabhas. “The public wants to know the reason behind the government’s inaction and who is influencing their decisions,” Nayak remarked. He expressed concerns that regions heavily involved in mining and land acquisition are particularly vulnerable, leading to suspicions that corporate pressures might be influencing the government’s delay. The organization demands transparency regarding the forces impeding decisive action on PESA. Nayak noted the current deficiency in rights and power for village assemblies. Despite official pronouncements, the state government has yet to issue the PESA implementation notification or provide clear guidelines for Gram Sabha empowerment and the roles of local Panchayats. This ambiguity leaves the populace uncertain and disheartened, viewing the sluggish approach as a deliberate obstruction of a constitutional mandate. Nayak warned that the absence of PESA poses an existential threat, leading to land dispossession, resource drain, and greater marginalization of the Jharkhandi population. He issued a stern warning of escalating displacement, the erosion of traditional governance, and intensified resource plundering if the government continues its passive stance, urging an immediate ‘act now or lose forever’ approach. With the first year of the government’s second term concluding, Nayak emphasized the significance of this period for fulfilling the aspirations of the Jharkhandi people. He called for a firm commitment and a clear implementation date for PESA, ideally by or shortly after November 28, 2025. The Adivasi-Mulvasi organizations are prepared to mobilize a state-wide movement if the government remains unresponsive, as the patience of the people has run out.
