Date: 2025-06-16Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Review of the Constitutional Safeguards, Welfare and Development Schemes implemented for the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
On June 16, 2025, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) convened a review meeting in New Delhi to assess the implementation of welfare and development schemes for Scheduled Tribes (STs), with a particular focus on the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). Key discussion points included fund allocation, monitoring of the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), and enhancing grassroots governance through participatory planning. MoPR highlighted initiatives such as the proposed Centre of Excellence at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), the creation of a PESA portal, and the development of Gram Panchayat Development Plans under PESA. The NCST emphasized the importance of PESA in enabling tribal self-governance and stressed the need for increased awareness among tribal communities. The meeting concluded with a commitment to institutional strengthening and inclusive governance in Scheduled Areas.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: A governmental ministry involved in the review of welfare and development schemes for Scheduled Tribes.
Scheduled Tribes: A group of historically disadvantaged indigenous peoples in India, also referred to as STs.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes: A commission (NCST) responsible for reviewing constitutional safeguards and welfare schemes implemented for Scheduled Tribes.
NCST: Abbreviation for the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
16 JUN 2025: Date of posting the information regarding the review meeting.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - source of the posted information.
MoPR: Abbreviation for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
16th June 2025: Date of the review meeting.
New Delhi: Location of the review meeting.
PESA 1996: Refers to the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, legislation focused on tribal self-governance.
Scheduled Tribe Component: A component (STC) related to fund allocation and monitoring for Scheduled Tribes.
STC: Abbreviation for Scheduled Tribe Component.
Shri Antar Singh Arya: Chairperson of the NCST.
Shri Nirupam Chakma: Member of the NCST.
Smt. Dr. Asha Lakra: Member of the NCST.
Shri Jatothu Hussain: Member of the NCST.
Shri Puneet Kumar Goel: Secretary of the NCST.
Shri Amit Nirmal: Joint Secretary of the NCST.
Shri Vivek Bharadwaj: Secretary of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Ms. Mukta Shekhar: Joint Secretary FD Policy Division of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera: Economic Advisor of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Centre of Excellence: A proposed center at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University: A tribal university, abbreviated as IGNTU, located in Amarkantak.
IGNTU: Abbreviation for Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.
Amarkantak: Location of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.
PESA portal: A dedicated online portal related to PESA.
Gram Panchayat Development Plans: Development plans prepared under PESA provisions.
Gram Sabha: Special Gram Sabha organized on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas: A day on which special Gram Sabhas were organized.
PESA cell: A dedicated cell created at the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR).
State Level Master Trainer: Trainers at the State level who receive training on 7 PESA themes.
Odisha: A state required to notify PESA Rules.
Jharkhand: A state required to notify PESA Rules.
PESA Rules: Rules pertaining to the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
Scheduled Areas: Areas mentioned in the context of inclusive governance.
Aditi Agrawal: Name associated with the release ID.
Release ID: 2136810: Unique identifier for the release.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Review of the Constitutional Safeguards, Welfare
and Development Schemes implemented for the
Scheduled Tribes (STs) of the Ministry of Panchayati
Raj by the National Commission for Scheduled
Tribes (NCST)
Posted On: 16 JUN 2025 8:51PM by PIB Delhi
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), in collaboration with the Ministry of
Panchayati Raj (MoPR), held a review meeting on 16th June 2025 in New Delhi to evaluate
initiatives for protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, with a focus on
the implementation of PESA (1996). Deliberations focused on fund allocation, monitoring of the
Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), and improving grassroots governance through participatory
planning.
The meeting was attended by Shri Antar Singh Arya, Chairperson, NCST; Shri Nirupam Chakma, Smt. (Dr.)
Asha Lakra, and Shri Jatothu Hussain, Members, NCST; accompanied by Shri Puneet Kumar Goel, Secretary,
NCST and Shri Amit Nirmal, Joint Secretary, NCST. Ministry of Panchayati Raj was represented by Shri
Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary; Ms. Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary (FD & Policy Division); and Dr. Bijaya
Kumar Behera, Economic Advisor, among other senior officials.
MoPR highlighted recent initiatives such as a proposed Centre of Excellence at Indira Gandhi National Tribal
University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, creation of a dedicated PESA portal, preparing Gram Panchayat
Development Plans under PESA provisions, and formulation of training manuals based on the seven PESA
themes, organizing of special Gram Sabha on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, organizing of regional and national
workshop/write-shop, compilation of success stories, creation of PESA cell at MoPR and training of the State
Level Master Trainer on 7 PESA themes. NCST highlighted their mandate to monitor and evaluate tribal
development and emphasized PESA’s critical role in enabling tribal self-governance and also emphasized the
need for raising awareness of PESA among tribal communities. NCST Members stressed upon capacity
building at State level, dissemination of success stories in regional languages, and follow up with Odisha and
Jharkhand for notifications of the PESA Rules.
The meeting provided an important opportunity to exchange views, review progress, and strengthen
coordination between institutions committed to the development of Scheduled Tribes, ensuring that
constitutional and legal safeguards translate into meaningful outcomes at the grassroots. The meeting
th
concluded with a shared commitment to institutional strengthening and inclusive governance in the 5
Scheduled Areas.***
Aditi Agrawal
(Release ID: 2136810)