A Bill that seeks to amend the existing law governing exploration and production of oil and gas as well as delink petroleum operations from mining operations was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (March 12, 2025). The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, is aimed at boosting investment …
This report describes the findings of a rapid survey conducted by Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) to evaluate the performance of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the 50 poorest dalit villages of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. The rapid survey was conducted in …
The State Finance Commission, although a technical and quasijudicial constitutional entity like the Union Finance Commission, has to help local governments plan for economic development and deliver social justice and public services at the local level. This article evaluates the history of the performance of SFCs in general and shows …
The status report on implementation of the Scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers act, 2006 by the states. Provides details of claims received, titles distributed and the extent of forest land for which titles distributed (individual and community) for major states till 30th June 2010. Status report on implementation …
Numerous countries have undergone decentralisation reforms in the management of natural resources. However, the policies implemented are often not applied in ways compatible with the democratic potential with which decentralisation is conceived. The paper analyses the issue of decentralisation in resource management, in Thanagazi block, Alwar District, Rajasthan. In this …
Mendha lekha in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra was one of the first two villages in India to claim community ownership over its forests last December. Six months after they got their forest titles, the tribal villagers find bureaucratic hurdles are hampering their powers under the Forest Rights Act of 2006. …
The Decentralisation Community of Solution Exchange, an initiative of the United Nations in India, provides a platform for increasing our understanding of local governance-both rural and urban-through knowledge sharing and collaboration.
A tribal village inside the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has decided to sue forest authorities for mining sand and gravel from their community-owned (nistaar) land. On January 26, the villagers of Kolsa held a gram sabha meeting where they passed a resolution to this effect. This was after …
Mendha a tribal village in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra is showing the way to conserve forests and manage natural resources. Mendha is mainly inhabited by 480 Gond adivasis. Mendha village may be called country's first village to get a legal record of rights to manage its forest, water and forest produce …
Panchayats at different levels play an important role in the implementation of rural development schemes. Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Panchayats are the principal implementing agencies. However, most of the panchayats do not have proper place to efficiently discharge their duties and responsibilities. Inclusion of construction of …
The Union Government, especially the Ministry for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj deserve all credit for declaring 2009-2010 the year of the Gram Sabha
Considering the potential of works carried out under NREGA for strengthening the livelihood resource base of marginalized groups of people provides good linkages with other development initiatives so that the coordinated work can lead them for sustainable livelihood support. Long term benefits and sustainable development are however possible only when …
Maharashtra's efforts to enforce the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act have brought forth many sticky issues.
A RECENT decision of the Goa government to amend the Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, has been opposed by civil society groups. The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2009 empowers the panchayat secretary, a governmentappointed official, to bypass the elected sarpanch and members of the gram sabha while executing government orders. …
Maharashtra is the first to recognize their rights over forests two villages in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra have become the first in the country to win community rights over forests under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. On August 15, Ramesh Bang, the …
Vedanta and POSCO may find going tough in Orissa in a move likely to benefit tribal people and forest communities, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (moef) has made the law tougher for industries and government agencies that want to divert forestland for industrial and infrastructure projects. On August …
Ministry of Panchayati Raj has formulated a Model Panchayats and Gram Swaraj Act (MPGSA) for states. The Ministry invited members to give their comments and suggestions.
In 1993, India introduced quota-based political reservations for women in rural areas with the objective to promote gender equality in human development by making rural service provision and local governance inclusive and responsive to the needs of women. Recent evidence shows that reservation policies for women stimulate the political participation …
Maharashtra is the first state in India to formulate a women policy in 1994, which was subsequently revised in 2001. This policy provides for participation, protection, economic development, capacity building and creation of a supportive environment for women. Recognising the spirit of this policy, many development projects and programmes in …
Land purchase deals amid gunshots in Jharkhand village investigations into the murder of four security guards at a proposed power plant in Jharkhand are revealing uncomfortable truths about industrialization in the state. The company that wants to buy land in Chakla village of Latehar district called the guards martyrs and …
