The correct answer is Tribal Gram Sabhas. Explanation & Key Takeaways: • The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, commonly known as the PESA Act, was enacted to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution (related to Panchayats) to the Scheduled Areas of the country. • The cornerstone of the PESA Act is the empowerment of the Gram Sabha (village assembly) in tribal areas. It recognizes the Gram Sabha as the competent authority to safeguard and preserve the traditions, customs, cultural identity, and community resources of the tribal people. • Under PESA, the Gram Sabha has mandatory consultative powers in matters of land acquisition, resettlement, and control over minor forest produce. It also has control over local plans and resources for these plans. • As a Fifth Schedule state, Maharashtra applies the PESA Act to its tribal-dominated areas to ensure self-governance through these empowered Gram Sabhas. Related Concepts: • District Collector: The District Collector is part of the state's administrative system and, while involved in the administration of tribal areas, does not receive special powers directly from the PESA Act in the way the Gram Sabha does. • Tribal Advisory Council: This council is constituted under the Fifth Schedule to advise the Governor on matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of Scheduled Tribes, but PESA focuses on grassroots governance through the Gram Sabha. • State Legislature: The State Legislature has the role of enacting laws that are in conformity with the PESA Act, but the act itself is designed to devolve power away from higher bodies to the local village level.