Dec 16, 2009
Formation of new states: Criteria and right path
- Reorganizing South Asia as it should be – introduction
- Formation of new states: Criteria and right path
In recent times there have been demands for carving out smaller states, latest being great hoop-hulla around Telangana and anti-telangana agitations. The main apparent reason is sense of economic deprivation of certain areas in large states like UP, WB, AP MH etc. Cultural and political reasons are also responsible for such demands. It is argued that smaller and medium sized states will bring functional politics closer to people by making state government more responsive to local demands. Such an arrangement will also ensure proper distribution of centarl development funds to various regions of the larger states with subregional needs highlighted well.
Therefore such an arrangement expected to bring regional development.
On the other hand the demand for creation of smaller state is opposed on the ground that it is likely to raise dormant statehood demands like Bodoland, Gorkhaland, Coorg etc which are not economically viable and may set a bad precedent for the creation of too many smaller states, leading to balkanisation of India. It may also place impediments in the growyh of interstate trade and other economic activities, as large number of local taxes may be introduced by these new states.
What I think is that the smaller size of state by itself cannot gaurantee economic development of a region as has been experience in the North-east, Goa and recent pocket filling incidents by Jharkhand polititians, whereas Gujarat, tamilnadu had shown that big state can be very advanced if governed properly. There is a need to balance local aspirations with the macro level needs of country. One main point why I think Telangana, Harit Pradesh, Poorvanchal, Vidarbha etc (new medium sized states) should be constituted because of administrative problems of erstwhile bigger/giant states. Carving out smaller states should neither be opposed nor supported on the basis of short term political gain, as being done by Samajwadi party as it feels that it will be marginalized in new Harit Pradesh.
The ultimate criteria should be administrative convenience, economic viability and political consensus, in that order. I hope a new state reorganisation committee is formed to reorganise country properly and not just under pressure of some people going on indefinite fast.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:29 PM
If one’s staying is a place is the sole determinant of its corresponding knowledge…then I have living in India for whole of my life without breaks of 3 years to one island nation… May be then I have better Prospects in Its Critical analysis.
Regional CHAUVINISM is one omen an Indian can feel running in nerves of the nation…Economic aspects of administration can only be following the deeper sensibility of unity in the denizens…A Nation or even a state can not prosper consistently when regional,ethnic or religious strives are ubiquitous. Tackle these issues first…then only the dictum of : smaller state, efficient state can be applicable.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Republic of China controls Taiwan and nearby islands…PRC doesn’t…..ROC claims its control on Taiwan .How does that deter the statement made regarding China, Lord Raj????
Could you please elaborate your point on Second State Reorganisation Committee???
February 20th, 2010 at 8:50 AM
Sir Vaibhav, FYI, Taiwan(Republic of China) is NOT A Province Administration of Mainland China (People’s Republic of China,PRC). I stayed in Taiwan for 3 years and so know pretty well about Taiwan.
However, HongKong is a Province Administration of PRC
February 20th, 2010 at 8:48 AM
Hi, Happy Nw Year!!!
I am in S.Korea now
was quite occupied and could Not post here for long(nearly months)
regarding, Second State Reorganization Committee, it is a farce.
It’s unfortunate that We vested interests are not allowing the country to prosper.
Smaller states is good for efficient administration and the demand for smaller states should Not be seen as “Regional Chavinism”
January 18th, 2010 at 5:24 PM
we need to understand the root causes that have cumulated to trigger such demands(some overtly unjustified and others subjectively).The Indian struggle for Independence saw Movements like Home rule in 1916 where Provinces on basis of Languages were proposed.Perceived as a way to buttress unity;arguably it let the Pandora’s box open.
Headed by Justice Fazal Ali, the State Reorganization Commission identified lingua franca as basis for demarcation of boundaries in 1956(Creating the current state in Question,Andhra).Such Jurisprudence is also under scanner with the current spat of events.
China With its demography and the success story that it is an object of envy…All with 22(+1 with Taiwan) provinces.Administration is more a function of willpower than a derivative of geographic area.The solution lies in empowering Local Self Government,Creating and executing Citizen Charters,Scrapping the colonial Police act,1861, IPC and so on….
Yes! Size does matter(the Medium size dictum)…yet the Bihar of 2004,of Laalu didnot Compress itself to become the Bihar of 2010,of Nitish.The other side shows a medium sized Jharkhand born off Bihar in 2000 struggling rather succumbing to Naxalism and under development.
More states means worse coordination of law and order bodies,Tax related hassles,water Disputes,Centre-State Funds sharing issues,newer opportunities for Local politicians to enslave the sovereign India in clutches of parochial Interests and what not???
Need is better State, not the smaller state…
December 25th, 2009 at 3:29 AM
administrative convenience for sure should be the criteria, but think it this way, creation of every new state will raise the number of new regional parties and sartaps, which will lead to further fractionation of mandate in that state not only in state assembly but also at parliamentary levels. which will in turn give rise to number of madhu kodas and shibu sorens. as far as mayawati is concerned she was dreaming of becoming pm and now she is saying she cant even govern u.p.
hey, charkesh can you give me some background of “autonomy status to j&k” issue and lets blog on “mandatory voting” is it possible to implement this at national level.
December 24th, 2009 at 1:08 AM
I am in love with this cute writer with lips like a fish
December 17th, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Chakresh, what you said is right, I accept that too small states would become burden to the country, but creating a telangana state is a genuine demand. having medium sized states like Telangana is good for the country. And cultures also differ from region to region and telangana culture is straight forwardness and Andhra culture is mostly like American Culture. They develop relations on the basis of Business Which is a cultural change for Telanganites. They accepted Andhraites just because they are not Business Oriented now the underdevelopment of the region is clearly understood by them and they are trying to revolt. Its not a recent demand its been there since 53 years. I completely accept with your statement of medium sized states.