Day 25 – Q 3.Comment upon the evolving trends of regionalism in India and the government’s response to it.

3. Comment upon the evolving trends of regionalism in India and the government’s response to it.

भारत में क्षेत्रवाद के बढ़ते चलन और उस पर सरकार की प्रतिक्रिया पर टिप्पणी करें।

Introduction:

Regionalism is defined as a political ideology that favours a specific region over a greater area. It usually results due to political separations, religious geography, cultural boundaries, linguistic regions, and managerial divisions.

Body

Evolving trends in regionalism

• Separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh in 2014 which recently happened.
• Demand for creation of new states from Darjeeling region of west Bengal, Vidarbha region from Maharashtra, splitting up of Uttar Pradesh into four, Union territory status for Kodagu region etc.
• Pathalgadi movement: Started in parts of Eastern India, the movement is based on self-assertion and governance based on customary laws and rejection of Central government laws. 
• Regional politics: Regionals parties like BSP, TMC, YSRCP, JDS, JDU have cropped up from national parties and demanding more rights for states in form of transferring items from Union and Concurrent list to State lists, residuary powers to states among others. 
• Dravidian state: There has been demand for separate Dravidian land consisting of 4 southern states from certain fringe/regional political parties. Ex: United states of South India. 
• Demand for reservation in Jobs: Certain groups in states like Karnataka, Maharashtra have started demanding for reservation in jobs for local people. Ex: Slogans like Mumbai for Mumbaikars etc.  
• Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena, Punjab’s khalistan movement, ULFA in Assam for securing their boundaries, Telangana movement are some of the movements related to regionalism.

After independence Indian government adapted various strategies to overcome the issue of regionalism.

• Provision of autonomy within 5th Schedule and 6th Schedule.
• The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) was a body constituted by the Central Government of India in 1953 to recommend the reorganisation of state boundaries
• Linguistic reorganization of states with passage of States Reorganization Act of 1956.
• North eastern reorganization act, 1971
• Three language formula, special grants to backward states.
• Federal institutions like Inter-State Council, NITI Aayog, GST Council.
• Creation of new states like Telangana and Uttarakhand.

• Initiatives like ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ to promote the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States.
• Incentives for Promoting Investment in Backward Regions like Income Tax Concession and tax Holiday in order to give stimulus to new industries in backward regions.

Conclusion

Regionalism in India is the Expression of the neglected socio-political elements which not succeed to find expression in the mainstream polity and culture. These feelings of frustration and annoyance resulting from exclusion and neglect find demonstration in regionalism