In the absence of proper information on Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), tribal communities are not able to exercise their rights and duties.

PESA empowers tribal Gram Sabhas to approve all developmental plans, control over all functionaries and institutions of all social sectors. Whereas, FRA recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.

These act creates space for people’s empowerment and genuine popular political participation but tribal village communities are in confusion with regard to PESA and Panchayati Raj Institution.

Social welfare schemes and other provisions meant for marginalized communities were hardly shared or informed with them.

Caritas India through its Swadhikarprogramme recognizes the capacities of tribal communities to strengthen their own systems of self-governance. It empowers the tribal communities of Jharkhand by strengthening traditional village level institutions to access the entitlement over resources provisioned for them through various government programmes

In this regard newly elected PRI members of Jharkhand were oriented on the fundamental issues of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI).

The orientation was attended by 154 representatives from PRI, SHG, and progressive farmer’s community from swadhikar project cluster areas.

The resource person for the programme, Mr. PranRanjan and Mr. RameshwarOraon helped participants to understand various provisions and norms made in constitution in favor of tribal community.

During the programme the participants collectively decided to form village committee for forest protection, draw village development plan for various development needs, reactivate the village development committee with greater responsibilities etc.

To get maximum return from the agriculture, they planned to combine indigenous agricultural practices with scientific methods.

They also decided to provide health facilities like institutional delivery, regular immunization, sanitation etc. to every village on regular basis.

Through this program villagers received first-hand information with clarity on different provisions and schemes. The orientation helped the tribal community to gain better understanding of local self-governance and to preserve and conserve the traditional rights over its natural resources.