NAGPUR: The Centre's reported move to offer Gorkhaland-like autonomy model as solution for contentious issue of Telangana statehood has been dismissed by the proponents of separate Vidarbha. They have rejected the model as way to resolve the issue of Vidarbha statehood too.
The Gorkhaland-model envisages formation of a council with wide-ranging powers and a big financial package. But the model has proved ineffective in easing socio-political turbulence or meeting aspirations of people. Statehood activists ask: "When the Gorkhaland model did not succeed in Darjeeling how will it succeed in Telangana? All options have been experimented with and the only alternative is statehood for Telangana and Vidarbha."
Most Vidarbha protagonists were of the opinion that the Gorkhaland model would not help remove grievances. They cited the example of Vidarbha Statutory Development Board formed in 1994 to remove backlog. Despite successive governors' and state governments' efforts, they miserably failed to remove Vidarbha's backlog, said former MP Banwarilal Purohit.
Economist and Vidarbha protagonist Shrinivas Khandewale said that the Board, whose formation was proposed in 1950s, actually came into existence in 1994. The four-decade delay resulted in Vidarbha's backlog increasing manifold. He also claimed that the board was not getting allotted funds for development.
Owing to a huge rise in backlog and poor opportunities to grow, Purohit alleged, farmers from Vidarbha were being driven to commit suicide. The VSDB was a fit example of how such autonmous boards fail to make a difference, he said.
Khandewale said Gorkhaland model won't help in removing backlog of Telangana region. The natural resources in Darjeeling were inadequate and the place could not be compared with Telangana or Vidarbha. He pointed out that Vidarbha was rich in all the basic resources. The issue of forming smaller states was more relevant today, said Purohit.
Khandewale said that the question was not of viability of Vidarbha but whether Maharashtra would be viable without Vidarbha. He said geography and not economics had been the basis for formation of states and Vidarbha had a justifiable claim to become an independent state.
"The progressive regions are not able to care for backward regions like Vidarbha and Telangana and there is no mechanism by which you can make both the state governments accountable," he pointed out. So according to him, such model won't help anyway.
Former chief commissioner of income tax Dhananjay Dharmik also had similar views. "Over the past 18 years, VSDB has endeavoured to accelerate development in the region. It has highlighted poor irrigation facilities, shortage of irrigation pumps and disparities in electric supply, while using its meagre resources to build infrastructure. But not much has changed," he said.
Dharmik, who recently joined Congress, said that autonomous bodies cannot help remove backlog. According to him the board failed due to lack of funds. "In fact, development is not possible without finances. Such bodies will have to depend on mercy of both state and central governments for budgetary allocation. Hence, it is not going to work for Telangana. At least the government should ensure balanced development of Vidarbha and Telangana," he said.
Staunch supporter of separate Vidarbha and former MP Jambuwantrao Dhote also ridiculed the move of Congress to offer the Gorkhaland model for Telangana. He wondered how that when people from Darjeeling were not accepting the model, how would it help Telangana. Moreover, there is nothing common between both regions.
The demand for separate Telangana has already been accepted by various committees. According to Dhote, in 1918, the constitutional review committee, the Dar committee and even the JVP panel comprising former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel had agreed to grant statehood to Vidarbha and Telangana. "In 1955, the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) comprising Justice Fazal Ali and Pandit H N Kunzru had unanimously recommended carving out Vidarbha state as it would be viable, stable and surplus," said Dhote.
According to Dhote it is ultimately a political decision. The government should have formed separate state as demanded by the people of Telangana. Member of Parliament and senior Congress leader from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar who once led the separate Vidarbha state movement, did not want to comment.
There are some who feel such steps can help remove backlog. Welcoming the move of Congress, Akhand Maharashtra Samiti president Madhukar Kukde said that similar move should be mooted for Vidarbha. He also pointed out that the state government had made funds available for various developmental works, but due to differences between public representatives the region lagged behind.
The Gorkhaland-model envisages formation of a council with wide-ranging powers and a big financial package. But the model has proved ineffective in easing socio-political turbulence or meeting aspirations of people. Statehood activists ask: "When the Gorkhaland model did not succeed in Darjeeling how will it succeed in Telangana? All options have been experimented with and the only alternative is statehood for Telangana and Vidarbha."
Most Vidarbha protagonists were of the opinion that the Gorkhaland model would not help remove grievances. They cited the example of Vidarbha Statutory Development Board formed in 1994 to remove backlog. Despite successive governors' and state governments' efforts, they miserably failed to remove Vidarbha's backlog, said former MP Banwarilal Purohit.
Economist and Vidarbha protagonist Shrinivas Khandewale said that the Board, whose formation was proposed in 1950s, actually came into existence in 1994. The four-decade delay resulted in Vidarbha's backlog increasing manifold. He also claimed that the board was not getting allotted funds for development.
Owing to a huge rise in backlog and poor opportunities to grow, Purohit alleged, farmers from Vidarbha were being driven to commit suicide. The VSDB was a fit example of how such autonmous boards fail to make a difference, he said.
Khandewale said Gorkhaland model won't help in removing backlog of Telangana region. The natural resources in Darjeeling were inadequate and the place could not be compared with Telangana or Vidarbha. He pointed out that Vidarbha was rich in all the basic resources. The issue of forming smaller states was more relevant today, said Purohit.
Khandewale said that the question was not of viability of Vidarbha but whether Maharashtra would be viable without Vidarbha. He said geography and not economics had been the basis for formation of states and Vidarbha had a justifiable claim to become an independent state.
"The progressive regions are not able to care for backward regions like Vidarbha and Telangana and there is no mechanism by which you can make both the state governments accountable," he pointed out. So according to him, such model won't help anyway.
Former chief commissioner of income tax Dhananjay Dharmik also had similar views. "Over the past 18 years, VSDB has endeavoured to accelerate development in the region. It has highlighted poor irrigation facilities, shortage of irrigation pumps and disparities in electric supply, while using its meagre resources to build infrastructure. But not much has changed," he said.
Dharmik, who recently joined Congress, said that autonomous bodies cannot help remove backlog. According to him the board failed due to lack of funds. "In fact, development is not possible without finances. Such bodies will have to depend on mercy of both state and central governments for budgetary allocation. Hence, it is not going to work for Telangana. At least the government should ensure balanced development of Vidarbha and Telangana," he said.
Staunch supporter of separate Vidarbha and former MP Jambuwantrao Dhote also ridiculed the move of Congress to offer the Gorkhaland model for Telangana. He wondered how that when people from Darjeeling were not accepting the model, how would it help Telangana. Moreover, there is nothing common between both regions.
The demand for separate Telangana has already been accepted by various committees. According to Dhote, in 1918, the constitutional review committee, the Dar committee and even the JVP panel comprising former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel had agreed to grant statehood to Vidarbha and Telangana. "In 1955, the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) comprising Justice Fazal Ali and Pandit H N Kunzru had unanimously recommended carving out Vidarbha state as it would be viable, stable and surplus," said Dhote.
According to Dhote it is ultimately a political decision. The government should have formed separate state as demanded by the people of Telangana. Member of Parliament and senior Congress leader from Nagpur Vilas Muttemwar who once led the separate Vidarbha state movement, did not want to comment.
There are some who feel such steps can help remove backlog. Welcoming the move of Congress, Akhand Maharashtra Samiti president Madhukar Kukde said that similar move should be mooted for Vidarbha. He also pointed out that the state government had made funds available for various developmental works, but due to differences between public representatives the region lagged behind.
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