Youth voice
Do smaller states mean more development?
Smaller the better!
FOR
The decision to give separate statehood to Telangana has given rise to many questions and issues. Now the demand for separate statehood for various regions like Gorkhaland from West Bengal, Vidarbha from Maharashtra or Bundelkhand and Western UP from Uttar Pradesh has gained momentum.
Considering the record of three states that were formed from larger states in 2000 - Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, it can be found that they have grown fabulously fast since then.
If we try to look at the economic development of these states, then it will be known that many big industries have rushed to Uttarakhand due to concession in excise duty, thereby giving a boost to the state’s economy. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have also developed a lot recently. Both the states had ample mineral resources like coal and iron ore, which remained untapped when they were a part of the larger states. Most of the time, their mineral revenues were diverted to state capitals but this ended as soon as they became separate states.
Looking at the political aspect of the smaller states, one cannot deny the fact that smaller states will surely lead to efficiency in administration. Central Government will be able to focus on various issues closely as compared to larger states due to smaller area of focus. There will be less bureaucracy and more political transparency. Clear delegation of duty and accountability of work will reduce the blame game prevailing in Indian politics. The police and administration will be able to maintain law and order in smaller states more easily. Local leaders who understand the state very well will have a say in the politics of the state. Corruption and red-tapism will also reduce and the government work will be done without much delay and local development will take place faster with resources belonging to the locals being used in most of the work. There will be more employment opportunities as well.
There will be more funds available for all the work of the state as the boundaries and the population of the state will be limited. Infrastructure will be readily available. All this will lead to the progress of backward regions.
Avani Jain is a student of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.
How much more can you divide India?
AGANIST
United we stand divided we fall! A dictum long forgotten in our tryst with history. There was a time when we were one, and together we won, but today we are bruised and battered. We are chopped into pieces in an effort to uphold peace. I am referring to the “request for smaller states” issue that has been in the headlines for quite some time. An issue so very pertinent, it well means the revamp of geography textbooks of school children, and an identity changed forever. I feel against the boundaries that we draw within, I wonder how beautiful would the world be with no lines, but just with landmarks.
The manipulative scheming schemes to disintegrate and divide are the ultimate display of dismay. What would one achieve with these new boundaries? I wonder. Does it help governance? I think not. Given the topography of various places in India and the interdependence between states even in terms of basic necessities, I strongly opine that interstate octroi and other costs could be widely avoided by this. In addition to this, we are well aware of the fact that politics is no habitat of sacred cows. These small states that would be formed could well vanish into the oblivion with a minuscule representation at the Centre.
Do we have lesser issues in hand to deal with that we are adding to the list? Wouldn’t it be more prudent a decision to find solutions to problems in hand amicably and diligently which would involve inclusive strategy with an intent to celebrate and accept differences? Couldn’t there be a middle ground for negotiation? Coming back to where I started, it has already created a trend… The spark set at Telangana has created a wild fire with Mayawati diverting media attention from her statue spree to fresh new demands for new states. Such frivolous demands are not all legitimate and mostly laughable. A thought to ponder by Farooq Abdullah that I have no answer to “How much more can you divide India?”
Harish Iyer voices his concern for a diverse ensemble of social causes. Professionally, he works as a creative resource at Shobiz Experiential Communications and is an avid blogger. He is an active voice against child sexual abuse and underway is a film and a book inspired by his life.