Hyderabad, April 18: The CPM unequivocally opposes the division of Andhra Pradesh in any manner.
We urge the Srikrishna Committee to keep in mind that the state’s bifurcation will open up a plethora of demands for new states to be carved out from the existing linguistic states. Instead of tackling the root cause of regional imbalances, backwardness and underdevelopment, the demand for setting up of new states will be a diversion and open up a host of intra-state problems which can heighten differences and weaken the unity of the people of the country.
Division of Andhra Pradesh, which was the first major state to be formed on a linguistic basis, is not a solution to the problem of backwardness in any region. The arguments put forward by the proponents of division are not based on a scientific or rational foundation. It is misleading to conclude that a separate state per se will ensure development. Underdevelopment and socioeconomic backwardness have to be tackled through specific measures.
Telangana has been an underdeveloped since the days of the Nizams. Although the oppressive, regressive feudal regime of the Nizam was overthrown in the 1950s, and Telangana became part of the united state, the vestiges of feudalism were not thoroughly destroyed to pave the way to modern democratic development at the grassroots level.
Out of the 54 years of existence of Andhra Pradesh, Congress has ruled the state for 40 years and the Telugu Desam Party for 14 years. Both these parties failed to implement the agreements and promises made by them to overcome the backwardness of Telangana. During the last five decades, a lot of changes have taken place in the development picture of the state.
The nature, extent and location of underdevelopment have changed. In spite of these changes, the development of Telangana has lagged behind and employment opportunities have not been commensurate with needs. The proportion of irrigated area to the total sown area is less in Telangana and Rayalaseema. Most of the educationally backward mandals are situated in Telangana and North Andhra. A large section of those who suffer due to Telangana’s underdevelopment are tribals, Dalits, artisan communities and the minorities.
Several measures have to be taken to address the problem of underdevelopment in Telangana as well as other backward areas of AP.
These include: irrigation projects targeted at the backward areas including Telangana; a comprehensive land distribution programme with special focus on Telangana to break down the grip of feudal forces; a crash programme to improve educational facilities in backward mandals throughout the state; special attention to areas where health indicators are poor; special steps to improve the economic and social position of dalits, tribals, minorities and artisan communities; a comprehensive study of the imbalanced development among different regions, sub-regions, districts and mandals; strict implementation of GO 610 and rectification of past distortions; constitutional amendment to remove exemption given to the police department pertaining to Hyderabad in the Presidential Orders; special funds for the development of backward mandals in every budget; a separate mechanism to oversee implementation of special plans for the backward areas; and special incentives to attract investment to backward areas.
The withdrawal of the state from development activitiy, leaving the field to market forces as a part of new economic policies is the primary reason for the present state of affairs.
Without addressing the fundamental policy problem, formation of a new state is not going to solve the problem of regional imbalances.
–Agencies