Resource information
These Rules, consisting of 52 sections divided into twelve Parts, regulate Maharashtra Village Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas. They shall extend to all the Scheduled Areas in the State where the Act is in force. The Rules establishe composition duties and responsibilities of the Gram Sabha, entitled to safeguard and preserve the natural resources located in its area including traditional rights over water, forest, land and minerals as per local tradition and the spirit of the laws of the Central and State Governments. To fulfill this role, the Gram Sabha may play active role in natural resources management. The Gram Sabha shall ensure that resources are utilized in such a way that: livelihoods are sustained; inequality amongst the peoples does not increase; resources are not confined to a few people; sustainable use of local resources. The Gram Sabha is competent to plan and control the excavation and use of all the minor minerals including soil, stones, sands, etc. found in its area; as well as undertake activities in order to ensure full utilization of the village labour force by preparing a work plan under various schemes of the Central and State Government and executing them either by itself or through the Panchayat.If the Gram Sabha finds that any person other than a member of the Scheduled Tribe, is in possession of any land belonging to a Scheduled Tribe, without any lawful authority, the Gram Sabha shall pass a resolution to restore the possession of such land to that person to whom it originally belonged and if that person is dead, to his legal heirs.
Implements: Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA No. 40 of 1996). (1996-12-24)
