FRA, PESA task force in Chhattisgarh weakens statutory bodies: activists

3 JUNE 2026

The constitution of a task force in Chhattisgarh to fast-track the implementation of laws such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, has led to fresh controversy.
Forest and tribal rights activists and the Opposition Congress allege that this undermines statutory bodies set up under these laws and institutionalises the role of Sangh Parivar-linked outfits in the implementation of these laws in tribal-dominated areas.
The Chhattisgarh government, on May 6, notified the task force, comprising an 18-member apex body headed by the Chief Minister and a 12-member implementation body headed by the Chief Secretary of the State.
This task force is meant to map potential areas for community forest resource rights claims under the FRA, review pending claims, design strategies for PESA-related matters, and assist district authorities with implementation of the FRA.

Violative of law

The Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), a forest rights civil society collective, has noted in a statement that the Chhattisgarh government’s notification of a task force appeared to be modelled on a similar structure established by the Madhya Pradesh government in November 2024.
The CSD also flagged that a similar task force structure is likely to be constituted in Odisha as well.
The CSD has asserted that these task forces are a way to include representatives of Sangh Parivar-linked organisations such as the Janjati Suraksha Manch (JSM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad (ABVKA) in the process for implementing these laws.
Interestingly, on May 24, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had addressed a public meeting organised by the ABVKA and the JSM in New Delhi and hailed Madhya Pradesh’s “model of PESA implementation” as the gold standard, adding that BJP-led State governments across the country are preparing to follow in its footsteps.
One of the key demands of the JSM and the ABVKA leaderships at this event was to ensure that Gram Sabhas under the PESA include only tribal villagers “who had not converted” to any other religion.