20.02.2013 Views

Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

developed centres and urban localities to weaken the growth and progress<br />

while spreading terror and insecurity among citizens. Such forces <strong>of</strong><br />

destabilization and disorder must be put down with an iron hand. These issue<br />

which pose serious threats to the cause <strong>of</strong> national integration need to be<br />

addressed with a strong and united political will or else the nation would pay a<br />

very heavy price.<br />

In his address to the National <strong>Integration</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on August 31, 2005,<br />

Hon'ble Prime Minister has said<br />

"One <strong>of</strong> the drivers <strong>of</strong> divisive regional identities has been the persistence<br />

<strong>of</strong> regional economic imbalances. They remain and may have even increased.<br />

Even though it is true that all regions <strong>of</strong> the country are today generally better<br />

<strong>of</strong>f than forty years ago, some regions have developed at a faster pace than<br />

the others. Relative inter-regional disparties are a problem that must be<br />

addressed. This is not just in the interest <strong>of</strong> national integration but also in the<br />

interest <strong>of</strong> the welfare <strong>of</strong> our people. I urge the chief Ministers from the less<br />

developed states to learn from the example <strong>of</strong> the more developed ones and<br />

find new pathways <strong>of</strong> progress for the people <strong>of</strong> their region."<br />

However, very little effort has been made by the Government <strong>of</strong> India to<br />

address the issues <strong>of</strong> regional economic disparities. It is in this context <strong>of</strong><br />

honest admission by the Hon'ble Prime Minister that there was a greater<br />

expectation from the Government <strong>of</strong> India in formulation <strong>of</strong> Terms <strong>of</strong><br />

Reference <strong>of</strong> the 13 th Finance Commission.<br />

It is a fact that during the last sixty years <strong>of</strong> operations <strong>of</strong> various Finance<br />

Commissions, the inter-regional or inter-state and the intra-state economic<br />

disparities have only increased. This is admitted by the 12 th Finance Commission<br />

in its report, stating that there has been progressive increase in income<br />

disparity. (p.59, 12th FC report)<br />

Economic strife on account <strong>of</strong> growing disparities is widely acknowledged<br />

as the root cause in promoting divisive feeling and hindering the process <strong>of</strong><br />

national integration. The ongoing consultative process <strong>of</strong> the 13 th Finance Commission<br />

provides an excellent opportunity to evolve a more equitable division<br />

<strong>of</strong> resources for an "inclusive development process". In Gujarat, we have<br />

embarked upon an ambitions plan to improve the HDI and mitigate the<br />

backwardness <strong>of</strong> certain regions through focused programmes.<br />

133

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!