Bhopal. Panchayat Provisions (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Rules-2022 are in force in Madhya Pradesh. These rules recognize the spirit of self-governance of the tribal communities residing in the state by keeping their natural lifestyle at the center. A new positive wave is being seen in all the Pesa Gram Panchayats of the state these days. The contribution of Pesa Mitras or Pesa Mobilizers is proving to be important in connecting the villagers with the schemes of the Central and State Government. 4 thousand 665 Pesa Mitras are working in 5 thousand 133 Pesa Gram Panchayats of the state, who are playing their role with full loyalty and dedication. These Pesa Mitras are not only giving information about various schemes of the Central and State Government to the villagers, but are also motivating them to take advantage of these schemes and become self-reliant. The work of Shahdol district in this direction has been especially commendable. Here Pesa Mitras went to Gram Panchayats and conducted awareness campaigns, which has increased the interest of villagers towards schemes like education, health, cleanliness, agriculture and employment. Along with connecting rural (especially tribal) communities with government schemes, Pesa Mitras have also created a strong social network in Gram Panchayats, which is promoting self-reliance of all at the village level.
This initiative of Pesa Mitras is showing positive change in Gram Panchayats. Villagers, who were earlier unaware of government schemes, are now not only getting acquainted with them but are also taking advantage of the schemes. This is strengthening their economic condition and they are able to improve their lives. This work of Pesa Mitras in the state is not only a commendable step towards rural development but is also developing a sense of collective awareness and participation in the society.
Pesa Mitras are becoming true helpers
Pesa Mitras (mobilizers) appointed in Pesa Gram Panchayats of Shahdol district are playing an important role. Various other works such as beneficiary-oriented development works mentioned in the PESA Act, Samagra e-KYC, encouraging tribal communities to do fish farming, collecting financial penalty under Mineral Committee and Narcotics Control Committee are being done on priority by Pesa Mitras. Pesa Mitra (Mobilizer) of Gram Panchayat Thengraha of Jaisinghnagar block of the district, Mr. Ajay Singh Paraste, made people aware about fish farming by the Water Committee in this Gram Panchayat area, about not consuming drugs by the Narcotics Committee. Along with this, he also played an important role in passing the proposal of taking market tax by the Gram Panchayat through the Market Committee. Along with this, works like Samagra ID, e-KYC, Samagra Verification, adding name in Samagra, Samagra family division, housing registration, feeding of eligible families in the ration portal, PM Jan-Man Pucca Housing Registration, issuing muster roll of MNREGA related works, coordination work under Peace and Dispute Resolution Committee, geo-tagging of PM Jan-Man Pucca Housing were done. Similarly, PESA Mitra (Mobilizer) of Jaisinghnagar Block, Ms. Muskan Gupta, Ms. Vedkali Patel, Ms. Kalpana Tiwari, Mr. Kuldeep Singh and other PESA Mitras self-motivated service work to provide the benefit of beneficiary-oriented and community-oriented schemes run by the Central and State Government to the concerned people.
It is noteworthy that 11 thousand 596 villages come under PESA area under 5 thousand 133 Gram Panchayats of 88 development blocks of 20 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Alirajpur, Jhabua, Mandla, Barwani, Anuppur and Dindori are identified as full PESA districts. Whereas Balaghat, Betul, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Dhar, Khandwa, Narmadapuram, Khargone, Seoni, Shahdol, Sheopur, Sidhi Umaria and Ratlam are partial PESA districts. There has been rapid progress in the implementation of PESA Act in the state through village level, panchayat level, development block, district and state level training programs. Pesa Mitra is playing a leading role in this direction.
