3.4. Importance of PESA

Effective implementation of PESA will not only bring development but will also deepen democracy in Fifth Schedule Areas. There benefits of PESA include:

♤ It will enhance people’s participation in decision making.

♤ PESA will reduce alienation in tribal areas as they will have better control over the utilisation of public resources.

♤ PESA will reduce poverty and out-migration among tribal population as they will have control and management of natural resources will improve their livelihoods and incomes.

♤ PESA will minimise exploitation of tribal population as they will be able to control and manage money lending, consumption and sale of liquor and also village markets.

♤ Effective implementation of PESA will check illegal land alienation and also restore unlawfully alienated tribal land.

♤ And most importantly PESA will promote cultural heritage through preservation of traditions, customs and cultural identity of tribal population.