Bifurcation of states
Sunday, 2 March 2014
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The idea of ‘One India’ as
envisioned jointly by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel to
strengthen the Union of India stands jeopardised today with an ever increasing
clamour for creation of smaller states from the existing ones. Be it carving
out of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, Saurashtra from Gujarat, Vidarbha from
Maharashtra, Bodoland from Assam or Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and
Harit Pradesh from Uttar Pradesh, India is facing an alarming threat of
balkanisation of its federal structure and straining of its social fabric.
Is the size of a state in terms
of its geographical boundaries the only measure of its performance? Can a state
sustain itself without access to adequate water, land and human resources? Can
a state equipped with shambolic infrastructure embark on the path of growth and
development? Can regionalism and nationalism go together in strengthening the
federal structure of India?
Bifurcation of state is an issue
of contention and calls for a serious analysis of the cause and effects it can
possibly have on India. Decentralisation of power to empower the people at
grassroots level and making the process of policy formulation and implementation
more inclusive is a decision in the right direction. But to follow the policy
of divide and rule as a means to achieve this end might only lead to more and
more alienation of people in one state from their counterparts in other states.
Not only might it inflate regional aspirations but it may also incite communal
passions thereby sowing seeds of hatred. It might increase the dependence of
one state on the other for water, land, skilled manpower and other resources.
In case of unfriendly relations between two states, it might become
increasingly difficult to administer growth and create infrastructure, thereby
aggravating resentment among the masses. Differences along linguistic and
cultural lines might even lead to internal aggression which might subsequently
culminate in armed rebellion and anarchy. No territory confined within a
geographical boundary is self-sustainable and therefore requires negotiation
and mutual agreement on vital issues to ensure harmony and equal growth and
development. Creation of new states will require the creation of new
infrastructure in terms of schools, colleges, hospitals, judicial courts, state
assemblies, police stations, factories et al. It will also require the election
of a new council of ministers to form and run the government. This might lead
to more and more regionalism with the regional political parties squabbling
with one another over resources, caste, religion and culture.
The need of the hour is to
improve the quality of governance and administration to pool the diverse talent
available. The bureaucracy should be made more transparent and accountable to
the people. The State and the Central governments should work in unison to
carry out economic and developmental activities. India is known for its unity
in diversity; demanding its bifurcation is akin to inflicting wounds on this
nation by its own citizens.
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