Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Updating The Scheduled Areas (Maharasthra) Order, 1985-Laid. on 19 July, 2021
Seventeenth Loksabha an> Title: Regarding updating the Scheduled Areas (Maharasthra) Order, 1985-laid.
DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT (NANDURBAR): The President of India had issued the Scheduled Areas (Maharashtra) Order, 1985 under Fifth schedule of the constitution which provides for specification of “Scheduled Areas” in relation to a State after consultation with the State Government concerned. Parliament in 1996 enacted the PESA Act to extend the Panchayati Raj system to the Fifth Schedule areas. However the 1985 order has not been updated for the last 36 years and as a result of this several newly formed villages and Gram Panchayats have not been included under scheduled areas and therefore they are not governed by PESA Act which results in denial of several benefits to the substantial tribal population residing in these areas. I request the Government to kindly pass necessary orders to update the 1985 order at the earliest by considering the proposal sent by Government of Maharashtra for including eligible Village and Gram Panchayats as Scheduled Areas.