ABSTRACT
Forty-fifth year of Indian independence witnessed an event so momentous that it would be remembered by generations to come as the commencement of the 73rd Amendment Act, 1992. It was helmed as a milestone for Panchayati Raj in post-independent India. The dream, once envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi of a decentralized government, catering to the hopes and aspirations of the rural population, was finally materialized. However, given the dichotomy of diversity vs. inclusiveness of the Indian population, an exclusive act was enacted for scheduled areas having tribal inhabitants, called the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. The PESA Act aimed to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of tribal communities and empower them with a legal instrument for their development. The present paper attempts to demonstrate the prospects of this Act, as enshrined through its provisions. A case study of Chouli village in Ratu Block of the capital city (Ranchi) of Jharkhand was convened to bring forth the striking contrast between desired results and realities on the ground. It endeavors to examine barriers hindering the accomplishment of specified objectives along with exploring outcomes of such lacunas followed by recommendations to improve the current situation.
