Two day PESA Mahotsav 2025 concludes with grand celebration of tribal culture

Visakhapatnam: The two~day PESA Mahotsav 2025 held at the Port Stadium in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh concluded with a grand celebration of tribal culture and self-governance. The event reaffirmed the commitment towards effective implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) and strengthening grassroots self-governance in Scheduled Areas.

Panchayat representatives, sportspersons, artisans, craftsmen and cultural artists from tribal communities across all 10 PESA States Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana, showcased their talents and potential in sports (Kabaddi, Archery, PESA Run and Demo Games), food, crafts, different forms of arts and culture, dance and traditions on a national platform.

Union Minister Baghel said that the PESA Act provides strong constitutional backing for tribal rights over water, forests, land and natural resources, with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj successfully training large numbers of elected representatives and officials through structured programs to ensure effective grassroots implementation and documenting best practices for replication across regions..

Participatory development plans prepared at village level give highest priority to local needs and traditions, making tribal society's progress absolutely critical for achieving Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,he said..

Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, said the PESA Act addresses long-standing governance challenges by empowering local institutions and ensuring community-led decision-making.

Emphasising the central role of the Gram Sabha, he said it represents the most direct form of democratic participation, with decisions taken by Gram Sabhas in PESA areas reflecting the true strength of India's democratic framework and enabling tribal communities to manage their resources and guide their own development.

He expressed satisfaction over a significant milestone on the occasion, stating that the Government of Jharkhand approved the draft PESA Rules, making it the ninth of ten PESA States to move towards notification of PESA Rules.

Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development reiterated the State Government's commitment to empowering citizens and improving their lives through Panchayati Raj institutions, with special focus on PESA Districts and Scheduled Areas.

PESA Portal, PESA Indicators, training modules on PESA in tribal languages, and the E-book on Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh, were launched on concluding day.

The two day festival featured vibrant cultural performances, including the Kuchipudi dance, Gussadi dance from Telangana, Galati folk dance from Rajasthan, Dhimsa tribal dance from Odisha. Gavari (Rajasthan), Dhemsa (Odisha), and folk dances from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. Over 68 stalls displayed traditional tribal products, handicrafts, and local cuisine from states like Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.

Exhibition Stalls, including a Craft Bazaar and Food Festival, showcased tribal handicrafts, livelihoods and local cuisines. Parallelly, Gram Sabhas were conducted in PESA Gram Panchayats on ten thematic areas, reinforcing participatory governance, community-led decision-making and the spirit of self-reliant tribal development.

The event also included sports competitions, such as archery and traditional tribal games like Chakki Khel and Mallakhamba. Participants praised the festival for promoting tribal heritage and providing a platform for cultural exchange.

The valedictory session included distribution of prizes for winners of the PESA Run, Kabaddi, and Archery competitions, along with certificates and mementos for participants of tribal demo games. In a symbolic gesture, the PESA Mahotsav Baton was handed over to Chhattisgarh, marking it as the next host State.

Mukta Shekhar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Bijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Mutyalaraju Revu, Commissioner, APSIRD&PR; V. R. Krishna Teja Mylavarapu, Commissioner & Director (Panchayat Raj & Rural Development), Government of Andhra Pradesh, M.N. Harendhira Prasad, Collector, Visakhapatnam, A. S. Dinesh Kumar, Collector, ASR District were present.