Imbalanced
regional development and improper allocations of resources within Indian States (both
large and small) continue to impact on key social and economic indicators. Development
projects largely remain influenced by political interests and not by actual
need on ground. Revenue generating urban centres tend to receive more attention
and continue to be islands of investments, if not excellence.
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| Image Source : http://www.niticentral.com/2013/08/01/the-list-grows-longer-112403.html |
This inequity
at State level coupled with issues of identity, culture and linguistic differences
has often triggered vociferous demands for smaller administrative units. The
demands tend to be largely proliferated by the political leadership, students
and common citizens who take pride in their distinct regional identity. The
claims are backed by disparity in sharing of infrastructure, water,
power, roads and even government jobs. The process
of carving new states is a tough one and is usually aided with frequent
presence and support of police and paramilitary forces. Sentiments run high and
are supported by self immolation bids that put undue pressure on the machinery.
There is always a risk to buy in bias on boundary identification. It stems from political aspirations, economic gains and several vested interests.
An article by Down to Earth states that demands are usually backed by issues related to
disputes of sharing and utilisation of natural resources with mother states. It
adds that linguistic and cultural reasons, which were the primary basis for
creating new states in the country, have now become secondary in most of these
cases.”
However, from a regional planner’s perspective, there are a few items that gain utmost importance. Balanced regional development is a sentiment that has been echoed in Indian development planning since five year plans were attempted. The failure to do so has continued to show impacts in such inequitable distributions which gain a political magnitude. Further, lack of immediate answers also creates a lot of bitterness and competing sentiments in the people of same State. Thus, it is essentially the failure of planning machinery that triggers social, political and economic unrest in the first place.
Decentralization and stake in participatory development have been promised on paper but still need to be translated to the lowest level. While a robust decentralised environment, could provide a more independent and participatory approach to development, failure to do so has ensured that pettiest decisions remain related to State clearances. While new investments remain a priority to provide for impressive growth rate by State governments, failure to prioritize new investments leads to development that does not relate to true aspirations of people. Even if it happens, it is not accountable to deliver mutually agreed performance levels. Investments continue without regular assessment and monitoring of the dividends that they are delivering at the smallest level.
However, from a regional planner’s perspective, there are a few items that gain utmost importance. Balanced regional development is a sentiment that has been echoed in Indian development planning since five year plans were attempted. The failure to do so has continued to show impacts in such inequitable distributions which gain a political magnitude. Further, lack of immediate answers also creates a lot of bitterness and competing sentiments in the people of same State. Thus, it is essentially the failure of planning machinery that triggers social, political and economic unrest in the first place.
Decentralization and stake in participatory development have been promised on paper but still need to be translated to the lowest level. While a robust decentralised environment, could provide a more independent and participatory approach to development, failure to do so has ensured that pettiest decisions remain related to State clearances. While new investments remain a priority to provide for impressive growth rate by State governments, failure to prioritize new investments leads to development that does not relate to true aspirations of people. Even if it happens, it is not accountable to deliver mutually agreed performance levels. Investments continue without regular assessment and monitoring of the dividends that they are delivering at the smallest level.
There are 53
urban agglomerations in India with a
population of 1 million or more as of 2011 against 35 in 2001.Today about 43
percent of the urban population of India lives in these cities. As
employment opportunities increase in urban centres, the migration of population
in and out of these cities will continue creating pressure points that
challenge the plans for balanced regional development. With smaller
states, the political space will also get more crowded and less clear mandates with
emerge at Centre. As elaborated in Down
to Earth article,
“since 1984 not a single national party has formed
government on its own. The 1980s and ’90s witnessed the electoral boom of
regional political parties. Regional parties have been expanding both in number
as well as in vote share. In the first Lok Sabha election in 1952, of the 55
parties that contested 18 were regional parties. The number went up to 36 in
the 2004 election.
In the 1984
general election the regional parties got 11.2 per cent of the votes; in 2009,
their share went up to 28.4 per cent. In the past 20 years the share of
regional parties in total votes has consistently increased. For the next
elections in 2014, analysts estimate regional parties will contest in 150-180
seats where the two national parties may not be significant players.”
It will thus
create a cocktail of political, social and economic aspirations that may be
challenging to provide for.
