INDIA, the country famous all over the world for its unique cultures and traditions. The country known for diversity in region, diversity in languages, diversity in food, diversity in clothes, diversity in festival, diversity in states, diversity in everything which uniquely represents it and it's people. So when we talk about our country, it is not just a particular state which is focussed upon but all the states together, which make our INCREDIBLE INDIA. However, this ceases to be the case and we are introduced to the sad reality of "REGIONAL IMBALANCE" that exists in our country.
Regional Imbalance lead to frustration, discontent and injustice. It can be said that the naxalism has spread to more than 100 districts including Maharashtra and Karnataka. Before the census 2011 Jammu & Kashmir and Assam were never included in any of the census which led to the feeling of unfairness and inequality. In state like UP communal tension is the result of regional imbalance. States like Maharashtra and Gujarat are favoured because of their physical location by the entrepreneurs whereas North Eastern states are completely isolated because of their remoteness, poor connectivity and hilly area. Also the states like Maharashtra, Gujurat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu are ranking in per capita income compared to Bihar, Odisha, Rajasthan and North Eastern states. Punjab and Haryana are states which are high in agricultural development because of developed irrigation facilities and high fertiliser consumption compared to other states. Kerela, Lakshwadeep and all the union territories including delhi have literacy rate above 85% and on the other hand Bihar, Arunanchal Pradesh and Rajasthan have low literacy rate with average of 65%.
There also exists urban & rural disparities among states. Tamil Nadu is said to be the highly urbanised states. All villages there are 100% electrified. Goa is the next most urbanised state. All union territories including Delhi are higly urbanised followed by Kerela, Maharahtra and Gujurat. Kerela and Tamil Nadu have highly developed network of roads. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan are not at all well connected through roads. Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern States due to their hilly terrain have less developed road network. This data clearly shows how regional disparity has adversely affected our country.
It was felt that the state had a major role to play in removing disparities. This commitment was reflected in the Constitution and in planning objectives, but there was a drift away from these goals because of the strategic position of the ruling classes, and the macro and sectoral model of development which was adopted by our planners.Two major institutions, which were expected to work towards reducing the regional imbalances after independence, were the Finance Commission and the Planning Commission. Although the recommendations of the Finance Commission have aroused interest in regional disparities, it has not had much role to play.
However, there are programmes implemented to reduce regional imbalances. The two programmes were 'Integrated Area Approach & Local Planning' and 'Spatial integration in sectoral plans.' The former programme includes hilly area development programmes which covers J&K, North Eastern States, development of horticulture, animal husbandry, wee keeping and soil construction. It also includes tribal area development programme and states covered are Gujurat, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Special funds are allocated by the centre for preserving tribal rights. It also includes drought prone area development programme and covers states severely hit by natural calamities. The latter programme includes community development programmes, decentralisation of industrialisation and intensive agricultural development.
A special fund centrally sponsored known as BRGF (Backward Region Grant Fund) is introduced in the 11th FYP to remove regional disparities.
Regional disparity is a major hurdle in the development of the country, It endangers the peace of the country. Hence, for an economy to be fully developed it is necessary to eradicate such evils completely from the country.
"WE HAVE FLOWN THE AIR LIKE BIRDS, AND SWUN THE SEA LIKE FISHES, BUT HAVE YET TO LEARN THE SIMPLE ACT OF WALKING THE EARTH LIKE BROTHERS"
-Martin Luther King Jr
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