For years, residents of Abu Road block’s Neechlagarhpanchayat have been trying to oust the government liquor shop located bang nextto the village school, but in vain. Thisyear, however, they might just succeed. Having made rules of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA)last year, the Rajasthan government is all set to implement the law this yearin “fifth scheduled areas” (localities with dominant tribal population) of fivedistricts, including Abu Road block in Sirohi.
Enacted by the centre in 1996, PESA empowers gram sabhas todecide on the existence of liquor shops in their villages, among many otherpowers including control over moneylenders, community resources, minor forestproduce. It also gives gram sabhas the power to maintain peace and resolvelocal disputes.
“Our first priority would be throwing out liquor shops fromour villages,” Narsa Ram, the up-sarpanch (deputy head) of Neechlagarh panchyatsaid. Locals and activists operating in the area said alcohol addiction hasbeen a long-running problem in this tribal block. “Many men drink even throughthe day,” Uplakheda resident Sawa Ram said. Such is the state of affairs thatoutsiders are warned against venturing in the tribal-dominated area after 6 pm.“There’s a big chance that you will be stopped by an inebriated man or a group.You could even be mugged,” he added.
The Rajasthan government’s liberal excise policy has led tomushrooming of liquor shops in villages, with at least one such in each villagepanchayat. With the implementation of PESA, Narsa Ram hopes his panchayat willbe able to uproot these shops. But inorder to down shutters of these shops, each village will have to convene aspecial meeting of the gram sabha, and pass a resolution to this effect with atwo-third majority. The resolution will then will be forwarded to the districtcollector, who will subsequently write to the excise department. On receivingthe communication of the gram sabha, the collector will stop renewing thelicence of that particular shop in the new financial year, as per rules.“Though a lengthy and complicated process, PESA Act vests a gram sabha with thepower to eject them (liquor shops) from our villages,” said Narsa Ram. The lawgives primacy to the voice of women, stating that their opinion would beconsidered the opinion of a gram sabha.
Besides the prospect of removing liquor shops by usingprovisions of PESA, Narsa Ram and company of Neechlagarh and other panchyats ofAbu Road are equally excited about other provisions of the law. A powerful law,PESA devolves powers to govern a village in the hands of its residents byenabling the formation of gram sabhas at the level of a revenue village insteadof the panchayat, as is the case now.
Typically, there are several revenue villages in a grampanchayat, and gram sabhas were conducted at the panchayat level before PESAcame into reckoning. In its earlier avatar, it was difficult for a sarpanch tomonitor implementation of various schemes in his/her panchayat, especially ifthe panchayat had four to five villages.
While the law is being hailed by all those connected withtribal welfare, its actual implementation, though, remains to be seen. “Whilepanchayats like Neechlagarh and some others, which have educated and pro-activesarpanches, will ensure the law is implemented, there are others who need to beeducated about it,” said Lakma Ram, who, the sarpanch of Chandela and alsopresident of the sarpanch association of Abu Road block.
On its part, the government has begun educating its staff,along with elected representatives, about the law. Last month all districtofficials from departments that would deal directly with PESA ” such asrevenue, police, excise, forest and mining ” underwent a three-day workshop.Elected representatives, or members of zila parishad, panchayat samitis andpanchayats were given separate orientation classes.
Meanwhile, Narsa Ram, has begun preparation for convening agram sabha that would take a resolution to shut the liquor shop in his village.“It has to be convened before the next financial year in April, when freshtenders for these shops are renewed,” he stressed.
in association with Governance Now
