“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”

Marathwada is spread over eight districts –Chhatrapti Sambhaji Nagar, Jalna, Beed, Dharashiv, Nanded, Latur, Hingoli, and Parbhani. So far, it has experienced scant rainfall in some parts, making a water crisis likely. Though there are several dams in the region, the little water storage in them is ringing alarm bells.

Marathwada is described as the most neglected region of Maharashtra due to its lack of natural resources and is prone to perpetual water shortages with frequet droughts. Nearly 30 percent of its 64811 sq km area is plagued by the rain shadow region. The annual average rainfall is 750 mm. hence, droughts are its permanent feature. Though there are a number of irrigation projects, water is available to a minuscule proportion of the cultivable land. Supply of drinking water even twice a week is a luxury for some towns and many villages. Almost 95 percent of the region’s agriculture is dry land farming. Soyabean and cotton are the major crops. But they are dependent on water availability and the latest development package has made a substantial provision for water resource availability.

In recent years, some industrial development is seen but it is confined to mainly Chhatrapti Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangaad) district and its environs. The industrial growth is possible due to an automobile hub there. Some international car brands are now manufactured at Chhatrapti Sambhaji Nagar, which is the headquarters of the revenue division of the same name. A string of manufacturing projects have also begun their operations at and around Chhatrapti Sambhaji Nagar. Their products are exported to many nations of the world. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and some other government agencies are involved n developing Marathwada.

Economic prosperity of the Marathwada region is coming slowly over the years. As it has no history of a development culture, it is taking a long time. Entreprenuership in a people cannot be destroyed or created at a short notice. This is evident around the world. While some nations are wealthy, some others are poor. Various factors are responsible for such a phenomenon. In some cases, it becomes imperative to provide a boost, moral or financial. The state government has done its contribution. Now, it will be up to the leadership and individual initiative by the people of the region to join this process and bring in development in real terms. Mere economic package will not do the trick.

The cultural history of Marathwada Region endorses the observation that it was not a fertile ground for the promotion of modern values like social egalitarianism and free thought for a long time. According to some observers, this could be the main reason for the backwardness of the region. Freedom fighters tried hard to provide congenial atmosphere for modernity and rational thought but were successful only to a certain extent. While Marathwada was struggling to overcome this handicap, the western belt of Maharashtra relatively became more progressive in cultural, educational, political and industrial fields. On the other hand, along with Vidarbha, Marathwada suffered almost on all the indicators like  literacy, skill promotion, knowledge building, mobility and natural resources. Economic disparity of a very high order was the depressing reality. While the majority languished with a low standard of living, the gentry enjoyed a luxurious life. As the region’s main source of employment remained the agriculture Sector, there was little industrialization and this was the genesis of Marathwada’s chronic backwardness.

The state government has announced a financial package of around Rs.40000 crore. This package will be distributed among various sectors, including irrigation, public works, agriculture, and medical education, to name a few. The timing of the announcement is viewed against the coming Lok Sabha and assembly elections next year. The occasion coincides with the government’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Marathwada liberation from the state of Hyderabad and its merger with free India.

As noted already, Marathwada has been in the grip of chronic rainfall deficits, giving birth to a number of resultant issues which the region’s populace has been facing. The financial package, hence, will prioritize critical sectors like irrigation, education, health, and employment generation. The proposed package plans to allocate Rs.21000 crore for irrigation, Rs.12000 crore for public works, Rs.1200 crore for rural development, Rs.600 crore for promotion of sports, Rs.500 crore for medical education, Rs.300 crore for school education, Rs.200 crore for cultural development and Rs.150 crore for urban development.

It has become habitual in Maharashtra that while the government announces special developmental packages, they invariably face criticism from the opposition, no matter which party is at which side. In this instance, the opposition has recalled that the previous Marathwada development package of over Rs.49000 crore package, announced by then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2016, has remained on paper. It has not yielded any discernible results. If the decisions taken for this package are not implemented effectively, it will mean that the government is misleading the people of Marathwada. In fact, this is the concern of all the people in the state as it is desirable to bring Marathwada on par with western Maharashtra in as short a time as possible.

The government’s proposed financial package is expected to bring about significant changes in Marathwada. If the projected major investments in various sectors do take place, the package has the potential to overcome the region’s backwardness regarding the issues related to irrigation, education, public health and generation of employment. The moot question is, however, of a successful implementation of the package. If it happens within the prescribed timeline, the overall development of Marathwada will receive a boost much needed.