A HUGE ISSUE - A SMALL IDEA

Reports of tensions over the formation of new states in the regions of Telengana and Vidarbha have been hogging the space. The theory of statehood has now boiled down to regional aspirations and every regional identity would soon be making a claim for its own share. The ground of administrative ease would be effectively used and states dissected to form multiple states. The basic question as to why the regional disparities arise are never addressed.

Let us take the British Empire which has the unparalleled reputation of being the one on which the sun never set. The races, languages, creeds and sects were so diverse. The colonies were huge and far flung but the administration was sought to be uniform. The protests grew from the awareness that the natives were being ruled by outsiders. Slowly,the empire disintegrated but the cause was that it had the element of being alien. Now how is it that a person from India is alien in India. A Telugu from Rayalaseema is alien to a Telugu from Andhra. Would these end up in the re assembling of the over 500 kingdoms the great Sardar brought together and integrated into administrative states?

If 500 odd kingdoms were carved out then would one Central Govt suffice may become the next issue on hand. It is time the issues are addressed at the base level. Regional strengths and weaknesses are to be identified. Interdependence is to be cultivated. The ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has to be reinforced. The needs of every sector has to be given primary importance over the narrow goals of any single individual. The checks and balances of the systems have to be understood in principle and tuning according to the changing times effected. It is to be understood that the principle of cutting the nose which has caught a cold would also spite the face. The principles of accountability, responsibility and authority is to be restored and then the issue on hand addressed.

A proposal is afoot that a Second State Commission would be constituted. The Commission should then examine alternatives to the language / region formula and go for a zonal formation of States. At no point should the top be heavy. The number of states should not in any event exceed 25. The density of population could be a measure for such state formation. The equity could be restored by giving a weightage to implementation of population control measures in any zone in both positive and negative terms. If the average growth of population say is 5% then if a particular area has a growth of 6% then the weightage would be a negative of 1% and if it were 4% then the weightage would be positive of 1%. This could be formed with the 2001 census as the basis with no provision for further division of states and only provision for amalgamation. This would be in tune with the economics of the big business houses which have also understood the economies of control.

A big issue, a small hat tossed. Any takers. Debate the issue and generate the necessary public opinion