New Delhi: In a significant development for tribal governance, Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat has urged the Central Government to expedite the passage of the Municipal Extension to Scheduled Areas (MESA) Bill)—a legislation pending for over two decades and considered crucial for safeguarding tribal land rights.
Roat has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that Scheduled Areas across several states are facing increasing pressure due to municipal expansion without proper legal safeguards. He noted that despite constitutional provisions that exempt Scheduled Areas from regular municipal laws under Article 243ZC, many state governments have continued to convert tribal panchayat regions into municipalities, leading to administrative and legal conflicts.
The MP warned that the absence of the MESA law has left tribal communities vulnerable, as urban bodies operating in these areas lack a framework that respects the Fifth Schedule protections. This situation, he said, has weakened the authority of gram sabhas and diluted the safeguards provided under the PESA Act, which governs rural tribal regions.
Tribal rights experts have repeatedly cautioned that unchecked municipal expansion could lead to land alienation, displacement, and the erosion of traditional governance systems in tribal belts. Reports show that several municipalities are functioning in Scheduled Areas without constitutional backing, raising concerns about violations of tribal consent and legal norms.
Roat’s appeal emphasises that the MESA Bill, first introduced in 2001, is essential to ensure accountable, culturally sensitive municipal governance in tribal-inhabited regions. The Bill proposes stronger safeguards, mandatory tribal representation, and clear guidelines for urban administration in Scheduled Areas.
The MP has requested the Centre to prioritise the Bill in the upcoming session of Parliament, stating that its passage is vital to protect tribal land, identity, and autonomy amid rising urbanisation pressures.
