Visakhapatnam to Host PESA Mahotsav on Dec 23–24
PESA Portal, indicators to be launched; special Gram Sabhas across all PESA States
GG News Bureau
Visakhapatnam, 22nd Dec: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organise a two-day PESA Mahotsav: Utsav Lok Sanskriti Ka in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on December 23 and 24 to mark the enactment of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). PESA Day is observed annually on December 24.
The Mahotsav will be inaugurated by Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with senior officials from the Centre and States, will also attend.
Nearly 2,000 representatives from all 10 PESA States—Panchayat leaders, sportspersons and cultural artists—are expected to participate. The Mahotsav is envisaged as a national platform to celebrate the cultural and traditional heritage of tribal communities from Scheduled Areas.
National Initiatives to Be Launched
On December 24, several key initiatives will be unveiled, including:
- PESA Portal for information dissemination and monitoring implementation
- PESA Indicators to assess implementation status across States
- Training modules in tribal languages to strengthen grassroots awareness
- An e-book on Kinnaur district (Himachal Pradesh) documenting traditional knowledge and heritage
Special Gram Sabhas
As part of the celebrations, special Gram Sabhas will be held in PESA Gram Panchayats of Andhra Pradesh with participation from elected representatives of other PESA States, focusing on ten identified PESA themes. Additionally, special Gram Sabhas will be organised across all ten PESA States on December 24 to promote community participation, protection of natural resources, preservation of customary practices, livelihoods and social justice.
Cultural & Sports Events
The Mahotsav will feature sports and cultural programmes highlighting the diversity of India’s tribal heritage. The main venue will be the Visakhapatnam Port Authority campus, with events also spread across Ramakrishna Beach, the Indoor Stadium, Cricket Stadium and Kalavani Auditorium in the city.
About the PESA Act
Enacted under Article 243M(4)(b) of the Constitution, the PESA Act, 1996 extends Part IX provisions to Scheduled Areas with suitable modifications. Fifth Schedule Areas are currently notified in 10 States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.
