Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the has been implemented for the economic and social progress of tribals and to make them empowered. This act is in the interest of all the citizens of the Society. It is not against any citizen of non-tribal society. The PESA Act will be applicable in the villages in the Scheduled Areas, this Act will not be applicable in the cities. The PESA Act will strengthen tribal brothers and sisters who have been left behind in the race for development.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that there is a provision in the rules of the PESA Act that the permission of the Gram Sabha will be necessary for the survey and land acquisition to be done in any project of the governments plan. Now no one will be able to grab the land of any tribal citizen by deceit and force. If someone does so, the Gram Sabha will have the right to get it back. He said that attempts to convert people by Persuasion and then to grab the land of tribal community will not be allowed. Chouhan said that the Gram Sabha will decide whether or not to award contracts for mineral mines, which include sand, ballast and stone mines. The society will have the first right on the mine, then the Women of the village and then the men.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has made ponds in every village. The complete management of these ponds will be done by the Gram Sabha. The Gram Sabha will decide whether to rear fish in the ponds or not. The income from the pond will be given to the Gram Sabha. The management of the pond which irrigates 100 acres of agricultural area will now be done by the Gram Sabha, not the Irrigation Department.