In the areas covered under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, what is the role/power of Gram Sabha?\n1. Gram Sabha has the power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas.\n2. Gram Sabha has the ownership of minor forest produce.\n3. Recommendation of Gram Sabha is required for granting prospecting licence or mining lease for any mineral in the Scheduled Areas.\nWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Option: (B) 1 and 2 only

The Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act was enacted by the Government of India to cover the "Scheduled Areas", which are not covered in the 73rd Constitutional amendment. This particular Act extends the provisions of Part IX to the Scheduled Areas of the country. PESA brought powers further down to the Gram Sabha level. Under PESA Act, the Gram Sabha are endowed specifically with:\n- The power to prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas and to take appropriate action to restore any unlawfully alienated land of a Scheduled Tribe. (Statement 1 is correct)\n- The ownership of minor forest produce. (Statement 2 is correct)\n- The recommendations of the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be made mandatory prior to grant of prospecting licence or mining lease for minor minerals in the Scheduled Areas. (Statement 3 is not correct).