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| Formation of New States in India. | | | Er. H.R. Phonsa | 1/28/2012 11:24:08 PM |
| The line of thinking for formulation of Linguistic States was set in motion by Mahatma Gandhi himself in December, 1920 by formation of PCC’s on Linguistic basis when delegates were named as from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka rather than from Madras presidency a unit of all these regions. The Madras session of the Congress in 1927 adopted the resolution "The Congress is of the opinion that the time has come for the redistribution of the provinces on linguistic basis, a principle that has been adopted in the constitution of the Congress. This Congress is also of the opinion that such readjustment of provinces is immediately taken in hand and that any province which demands such reconstitution on the linguistic basis be dealt with accordingly." The Nehru Report of 1928 had stated that "The present distribution of the provinces of India is on no rational basis. It is merely by accident that a particular area fell in a particular province." About the principle that should govern the redistribution of the provincial boundaries, the Nehru Report gave priority to "The linguistic unity of the area concerned.” Dr. Ambedkar the Father of Indian Constitution and first Law Minister of Free India, while writing on “Maharashtra As A Linguistic Province” he wrote “History shows that democracy cannot work in a state where population is not homogeneous. In a heterogeneous population divided into groups which are hostile and anti –social towards one another the working of democracy is bound to give rise cases of discriminations, neglect, partiality, suppression of the interests of one group at the hand of another group which happens to capture of political power. The reasons why in an heterogeneous society, democracy cannot succeed is because power instead of being used impartially and on merits and for the benefit of all is used for the aggrandisement of one group and to the detriment to another. On the other hand, a state which is homogeneous in its population can work for the true ends of democracy, for there are no artificial barriers or social antipathies which lead to misuse of political power”. After attaining independence The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) was formulated in 1953 to study the problem in depth , so instituting the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) under Act of 1956. Besides Dr. Ambedkar, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr Rammanohar Lohia, Choudhary Charan Singh, Satish Kumar and other Indian leaders have expressed their views in favour of Linguistic and smaller states. This set in motion the process of Reorganisation of states on Linguistic divisions. Till 1971 India had 16 States adding up to total of 28 States and 7 Union Territories now.
Towing with recommendation of SRA, On November 1, 1956, Telangana was merged with Andhra and as a result Andhra Pradesh was formed with Hyderabad as its capital. But against its recommendation states of Kerala and Karnataka were formed the same day in 1956. This process once set in motion resulted in formation of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960, Chandigarh(UT ) Haryana & Punjab in 1966,Himachal Pradesh in1971, the States of the North East Region took shapes from 1960 to 1980, Goa in 1987 and in 2000 States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand& Uttaranchal were formed . Almost all political parties have supported the formation of new linguistic states in their own way as the States of Chhattisgarh; Jharkhand& Uttaranchal were formed when NDA headed by BJP was bearing the Government crown of Delhi. The formation of linguistic states is the single most important event in the history of South Indian languages, as it provided an opportunity for these languages to develop independently, each of them having a state to support. Factors other than language also crept in the criterion for separation, as a separate state of Uttarkhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 by NDA Government headed by Shri A.B. Vajpai caring less of these both being Hindi speaking regions.
History is witness to the fact that for achieving formation of the Andhra State Shri Potti Sreeramulu an Indian revolutionary the Fast-unto-death. In the process he lost his life. On the midnight of 15 December (i.e. early 16 December 1952), Shri Potti Sreeramulu died after fastting for over 58 days to achieve his objective. His sacrifice became instrumental in the linguistic re-organisation of states. On 19 December1952, the Prime Minister of the India made the announcement for the formation of separate Andhra Pradesh out of Madras State and subsequently on 1st October 1953, the state of Andhra was established with Kurnool as capital . However, the Telugu speaking Telangana was part of Hyderabad state until 1956. Again the fast unto death by Sh. K .Chandrasekhara Rao, the President of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti compelled the Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram, to make an announcement in the Parliament on 9th December, 2009 to initiate action for the formation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh as 29th Indian State.
The Centre has received demands for creation of at least 11 new states, including a separate Mithilanchal in Bihar, Saurashtra in Gujarat and Coorg or Kodagu in Karnataka, Gondwana in Madhya Pradesh, Mahakoshal in Orissa, Bodoland in Assam, Gorkhaland in west Bengal, Vidarbha in Maharastra, Bundelkhand in UP &MP ,Harit Pradesh & Pooranchal from UP, Telangana from Andhara Pradesh . Voices are also being forcefully raised to give Ladakh at UT status & Jammu separate state in J&K, special status for Gulbarga,Bidar,Raichur,Koppal and Yadagir districts areas in Karnataka as their progress is lacking behind as compared with their parent states more advanced regions
per survey the smaller states have better performance after their creation than when they were a part of larger state territories. As per the 11thPlan document, the yearly achieved Gross State Domestic Product ( GSDP) of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand& Uttaranchal during 10 th Plan Period were 9.2%,11.1% & 8.8% respectively as compared to their parent state combined expected targets of only 6.1%,6.9% and 6.8%. This shows that these regions as part of greater states remained finance starved with their creative energies remaining suppressed. Avenues for better governance with more time to attend to the needs of the peoples, exploring new resources, their analysis, planning and proper utilization due to relatively homogeneous status of the smaller states. Another example being quoted by Telangana State propagandist’s quote that allocation made for 26 projects during late Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy’s chief Minister ship to irrigate 58 Lakh hectors land had only 16 Lakh hectors from Telangana region, where as the need for irrigation water is more for Telangana being semi- arid area with water starved fields & peoples. The sectors for better health, education, road connectivity, power distribution, irrigation remain the privilege of the few living near the seat of power. Far flung rural areas do not get attention till people resort to forced Dharnas, agitation methods which too is resisted till the last. British time adopted police and bureaucratic suppression is still prevailing in the out of site far flung and remote areas. These factors promted Sh. K .Chandrasekhara Rao, the President of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti to undertake fast unto death so compelled the Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram, to make an announcement in the Parliament on 9th December, 2009 to initiate action for the formation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh as 29th Indian State. The agitation is continuing for the formation of Telangana separate state out of Andhara Pradesh with Hyderabad as its capital. The demand is just and is bound to be accepted may be after still more avoidable trouble.
The ideal of brotherhood between rich and poor Indians for retaining a larger state as single unit also do not hold water. When we see that prosperity avenues of Mumbai and Maharashtra are inaccessible to the neglected peoples of Vidharbha a part of Mahrastra, majority of whose farmers & laborers are under Bania’s ( Money lenders)debt traps having no choice but to resort to suicides. From 1995 to 2010 over 50,000(17368 IN 2009) Maharashtra farmers are reported to have committed suicides with 70% of them from Vidharba region despite the facts that Vidharba region is gifted with immense natural resources. Is it not a national shame that an average per capita debit (Note:-not income) stands well over Rupees 50,000/= for Vidharba area poverty ridden Maharashtrian brethren. Their poverty is forcing them not to revolt against status quo of inequalities. Rich Mumbai the Business capital of India (Mumbai Contributes15% of India’s Industrial Output & 13.2% of its GDP) seems not worried for their poverty ridden Maharashtrians. Maharashtra State has software parks in Pune, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Nasik, and is the second largest exporter of software with annual exports of Rupees 18 000 cores claiming 30% of India's software exports but to what use this to the poverty suffering Maharashtra population.
Dissenting note of K.M. Pannikar in the report of The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) 1956, along with supporting of division of UP by great Socialist leader Lohia all suggested to have smaller states for administrative benefits. So taking clue from these with other circumstances in view , Behan Mayawati the U.P. Chief Minister wrote letter to the Central government in 2007 itself after taking over government reigns in May, 2007. The present day U.P State has 19.95 crores population with 75 districts and 80 MP’s. It holds the distinction of being world’s 6th largest administrative unit with 2, 36,286 Sq. km area. It is proving un- manageable unit. UP state which have given 8 out of 14 Prime Ministers to India with their commutative 51 years rule since 1947, has the lowest annual growth of 15% against figures of 17.5% for Uttarakhand; for 200-11.Present UP has GDP of $567per head against $1527 of India as a whole, when Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Pondichery respectively had $2746; $2888; $2009 and $1913 respectively. The UP State as approved by Up Assembly shall be divided into four states of Bundelkhand , Purvanchal ,Awadh Pradesh, and Paschim Pradesh .Each new state shall have respectively 17 ; 21 ; 21 and26 districts and population of 80,30,000 ; 7,65,30,000; 3,65,40,000 and7,67,40,000 to care. The easily visible solution to equitable progress of all regions for finding solution to their present day poverty, hunger, lack of development and absence of infrastructures is by dividing the bigger states into smaller administrative units.
Religion, language, territory do not forge a “Nation”. What unites a people is the willingness to suffer together a feeling we are lacking, so the difference of opinions is raised to create more State out of the existing bigger Indian States. Bigger state bureaucracy & political bosses are not playing their roll of responsible bigger brothers towards their left over lot. The bigger states have faired poorly to attend to the needs of the poor rural population. As per Government figures UP& Orissa States stand at poverty ratios of 32.8%&46.1% respectively despite their large sizes. Neglected people need early solution to their poverty alleviation and not to boost to belong to a bigger state in area and population which cannot provide them avenues for improved life conditions. Formation of District Development Boards in J&K State provided some solace to under developed rural far flung areas.
If we study without bias the psyche of Indians they are divided on Castes, religion, region, sex, economic, education, opportunities lines. For long Caste status used to decide their social, education & economic needs. Their views of life and sharing opportunities with peoples of the different status & category were different. This was in theory done away with by adopting Constitution for Free on 26 th January 1950. But majority of elite want to keep the things linger on till the time it starts slipping out of hands .The sense of accommodation is nowhere to be seen. The government funds are utilized more for the advanced section than on left over lot ignoring their first claim on these funds. The Indian elite section have produced since independence a few hundred multimillionaires majority by fraud & deceit, leaving mathematical majority as food-insecure, consuming less than 80 percent of minimum energy requirements and are forced to live below poverty line. According to the report, in 2001 an estimated 23.7 percent of the urban population was living in slums amidst squalor, crime, diseases and tension. A rich Indian spends thousands for his single night stay in multi Star Hotels, where as a poor Indian yet searches out a dust bin outside a Hotel, to live on. One elite Indian gives an airplane to his wife as birthday gift where as another couple from poor strata spends nights in a half filled sewage pipe. An elite Indian eats mangoes priced Rupees 4000/- per dozen where as another dies helplessly having no money to purchase needed medicines. So where is the fellow feeling except on the lip service? Now heart service not lip service shall strengthen India and the world brotherhood.
All these factors in a country of nearly 1652 languages have given birth to over 1000 political parties or groups majority of them with regional character and programmes, projecting their people’s demands for better life avenues so far ignored. To me solution lies in heeding to advice of Baba Sabeb Dr. BR Ambedkar to demonstrate Nationalism in true spirit . The progress of developmental projects needs reversed from present days trends of from Cities towards Villages to from Villages to cities so as to give a sense of belongings to the rural masses. We shall have to reach them quickly else more and more agitations shall be seen & more divisions of the states and territories shall be inevitable. This will give solace to Mahatma Gandhi’s words, “BE.(Civil) MIE, LMIRC FIV(India)
Ex. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER JAMMU (J&K)
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