Separation is no Solution to the Problem of Regional Imbalance in Development

The States Reorganisation Commission completed the task of reorganisation of the states in India on the basis of language. But, two other tasks remained: the problem of very large states, and the related problem of "one language, one state", instead of "one state, one language", which was what that Commission had created. Over time, discontent developed in many states about unequal regional development. The Fact Finding Committee on Regional Imbalance in Maharashtra identified imbalance on individual aspects of development, mainly with the district as a until, and formulated a step-by-step approach to its eradication by identifying the physical quantum of imbalance and successively bringing the lagging districts to the state average level. Unfortunately, this approach does not appear to have been properly followed in the last two and half decades. The lack of development of inter-regional social empathy, as reflected in the attitudes and concerns of the political entities, appears to have led to the persistence of the feeling of neglect. That can be a basis of separation. But, creation of one or two separate states by itself can not solve the problem of regional imbalance and neglect, unless persistent effort is made in that direction. Proper decentralisation of power and resources to the Zilla Parishads and lower levels alone can atone for this.