In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha? 1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas. 2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest

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Q: 26 (IAS/2012)
In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha?
1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.
2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.
3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.
Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

question_subject: 

Polity

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,122,374,36,122,48,290

keywords: 

{'gram sabha': [0, 0, 0, 5], 'panchayat': [0, 0, 1, 5], 'mining lease': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'scheduled areas': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'areas': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'licence': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'minor forest produce': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'role': [2, 1, 2, 6]}

The question discusses the powers and roles of the Gram Sabha in Scheduled Areas according to the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.

Option 1 suggests only the first statement is correct; the Gram Sabha does have the power to prevent alienation of land in Scheduled Areas.

Option 2 suggests both first and second statements are correct; the first statement is correct, as for the second, the Act doesn`t explicitly specify Gram Sabha`s ownership of minor forest produce but does emphasize on the community`s role in conserving and managing such resources.

Option 3 suggests that statements two and three are correct. We`ve already discussed statement two. As for statement three, it`s true that the Act necessitates Gram Sabha`s recommendation for granting mineral-related leases in Scheduled Areas. Still, the power isn`t absolute, and some discretion lies with the higher authorities.

Option 4 suggests that all three statements are correct, which, as discussed, is not entirely accurate.

Hence, Option 2 - `1 and 2 only`, is the most correct amongst all.