Bhubaneswar : Seventeen years after Parliament passed the PESA Act that empowers tribal society to take control of their own resources, the Orissa government has finally decided to make necessary changes to the Act to implement it in the state. The Panchayat (Extension to Schedule Areas) Act covers tribal areas of nine states, including Orissa. Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had repeatedly criticised the state government for failing to implement the Act. Ramesh, who had visited Kalahandi early this year, was surprised when members of Panchayati Raj Institutions said they had no idea of the Act. Till date, the mandatory PESA provision like ensuring tribal control over natural resources, granting licenses for minor minerals and their exploitation and acquisition of land by government for development projects were not implemented by the state. Now the draft Odisha Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Rules 2013 says that the gram panchayat would function as executive committee of the gram sabha. It says the land acquisition officer would have to consult the gram panchayat outlining the proposed project, including the possible impact on the area, amount of compensation, job opportunities and rehabilitation of the displaced. But the decision of the government would be final. The Steel and Mines Department would have to consult the gram sabhas for minor mineral production in a village having commercial feasibility. A panchayati raj department official said the gram sabhas would have powers to supervise agriculture strategy plan, conduct of social audit of welfare schemes, functioning of fair price shops and also allowing villagers to use minor minerals.