Published Paper Details:

Abstract In India, the Panchayati Raj system is considered the cornerstone of democracy. After the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, Gram Panchayats received constitutional recognition. However, recognizing the need for local self-governance in Scheduled Areas in accordance with the traditional systems of tribal communities, the PESA Act, 1996 came into existence. In Maharashtra, Gram Panchayats in 13 districts with a predominant tribal population come under the ambit of the PESA Act. Through this Act, the Gram Sabha has emerged as the supreme decision-making body, while Gram Panchayats have been granted autonomy in matters of local development, resource management, and traditional justice systems. Yet, the crucial question remains: has the implementation of this Act been truly effective across all regions? This requires careful analysis. Tribal areas continue to face several challenges, such as the impact of COVID-19, migration, difficulties in health and education, as well as external interventions over mineral resources. Hence, it becomes important to conduct a realistic study of the implementation of the PESA Act to identify the barriers in empowering Gram Panchayats and to suggest appropriate measures to overcome them. For this research, descriptive and analytical methods have been adopted, and secondary sources have been used for data collection.