Day 66 – Q 3. With an increase in demand of separate State status, is there a need of a new State Reorganisation Commission to divide states on administrative convenience?
3. With an increase in demand of separate State status, is there a need of a new State Reorganisation Commission to divide states on administrative convenience?
Introduction
There has been increasing demand for separate state status fuelling in various regions of India such as Gorkhaland in West Bengal, Bodoland in Assam etc. There are multitudes of reasons for such demands such as differential development levels (eg: Vidharba in Maharashtra), cultural subjugation (eg: Gorkhaland), ethnic differences etc.
First State Reorganisation Commission(SRC) was formed in 1953 which stated language as the basis for state formation. However, with these rising demands the need for new SRC has been felt which can decide the basis to divide states on administrative convenience.
Body
Need for new SRC:
- It will help to lay down the sound criteria for reorganisation.
- State reorganisation is not a one stop exercise but an evolving process.
- Almost 30 years of LPG(Liberalisation, Globalisation and Privatisation) has altered the socio-economic, political and demographic realties. Regional imbalances have grown leading to regional sentiments of neglect.
- Some states have become disproportionately large, thus became administratively inconvenient to govern them.
- Reorganisation will allay the fear of communities demanding separate states.
- States formed on basis of administrative convenience have performed better. 10th Five Year plan comparisons show Chhattisgarh (9.3%), Jharkhand (11%) and Uttarakhand (8.8%) performed better in GDP growth rate than Madhya Pradesh(4.3%), Bihar(4.7) and Uttar Pradesh(4.6%) respectively which were formed in 2000.
Challenges that might occur:
- Domino effect with respect to demands from other regions of India.
- Problem of interstate, centre-state management will become exceedingly complicated.
- Adversely affect the political climate with more demands coming in for political mileage.
- Smaller states are no guarantee for human development. Example – Average per capita spending on health is highest in Kerela (small state) and lowest in Jharkhand (also small).
- Financial viability also needs to be ensured. A new state implies duplication of infrastructure –capital, legislature, courts etc.
Conclusion
Thus, keeping in view the demands of various sections of people, formation of new SRC is a valid proposition which will help to set the sound criteria for reorganisation.
Best answer: Achilese
SID
