The PESA Act is important because it legally recognises the capacities of tribal communities to strengthen their own system of self-governance or create new legal spaces and institutions that can only reverse the cultural and political onslaught on them, but also create opportunities to chart and control their destinies. There is a close link between the tribal leadership in the PESA and the Parliamentary representation of tribal MPs who have Fifth Scheduled areas in their constituency.
The PESA Act provides solutions to many issues such as tribal land alienation, deprivation of rights on minor forest produce, lack of control of the residents over natural resources, lack of control over local plans and so forth.
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