Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest announcement of sanctioning over 200 different infrastructure development projects for Maharashtra at an estimated investment of Rs 2,00,000 crore has come as a big relief for the Eknath Shinde—Devendra Fadnavis government though it is yet to be known how the funds will benefit the three geographical regions of the state. Compared with Western Maharashtra region, there is still a serious lack of development in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.
The developmental imbalance in Maharashtra has been a chronic grievance. Sensing its potential to impact general elections, then chief minister Sharad Pawar prevailed upon the Centre to constitute the three statutory development boards for the three regions. Thus, vide a Presidential Order, the board were announced and were formed on 1 May 1994. The boards have been mandated to function under the Governor of the state. Thus, they are technically independent of the state legislature and thus expected to be free of political pressures. However, the experience so far has shown that the supposedly expert members on each board are mostly political appointees and thus try to serve the interests of that particular party which has selected them.
Then Union home minister S.B.Chavan had openly warned the state leadership not to form the boards since is concern was that the legislature would be willingly curtailing its own powers by transferring them to the Governor. However, political expediency won over this logical argument and the boards became a reality. In almost three decades since their formation, it is difficult to claim that the boards have served their intended function. However, politics has won again and the boards have been revived by the present government.
One of the duties of the boards is to ascertain development achievements in that region’s different sectors on the basis of pre-determined indicators against the overall levels of development in the state as a whole. The boards also have to measure the actual benefit of various development schemes in removal of the backlog of that pocket and in achieving overall development within its jurisdiction. After such studies were completed, the board are expected to review developmental expenditure in their areas in a plan period, coordinating it with the annual plan. After this exercise is over, the board has to prepare an annual report on its working and submit it to the Governor, who forwards it to the government for placing it before the legislature.
Demands have been made time and again to either empower the boards or to disband them, depending upon who is making them. However, there is general consensus that the development imbalance among the three regions has not been removed but in fact has worsened over the years. The previous Uddhav Thackeray government had put the issue of granting an extension to the boards in a wet blanket. To score a point, the present government decided in September to reconstitute the boards. Their terms had expired on 30 April 2020. Now, they will be alive for another five years.
Then Uddhav government was criticised by the BJP for not reviving the boards and accused it of neglecting the backwardness of Marathwada and Vidarbha. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, by an order dated April 30, 2015 had extended the term of boards by five years.
Then Governor P.C. Alexander had taken the boards with seriousness and created several parameters which are followed till today. One of the important fiats of the Governor was to direct the development boards to identify select major areas where development was needed urgently, based on the needs of that region and form expert study groups to study the impact of the schemes in those areas.
This noble intention has remained mostly on paper though in formative years, the boards were equipped with the presence of many eminent experts. But gradually, the member slots were filled up with political workers who had little knowledge about the process of development or had any genuine concern for it.
Given this grim picture, demands for basic amenities like water, shelter, health services, education and industrial activity went on increasing all over the state. Against this backdrop, the Shinde-Fadnavis government is taking some steps. One such move is a mass employment drive launched by the Maharashtra government and PM Modi’s video-presence for this landmark conference. Modi said the Central government has approved nearly 225 projects for Maharashtra at a total estimated investment of Rs 2 lakh crore. He declared that while work on some projects was underway, it will begin soon on the other projects, too.
Elaborating on the package, Modi said the Centre has approved railway projects worth Rs. 75000 crore and road projects worth Rs. 50000 crore. It is not clear if these two sectors figure in the total package or are additional. However, the announcement has been generally welcomed since it will result in better rail and road infrastructure for Maharashtra. Modi expressed confidence that when such huge amounts are spent on infrastructure development, lakhs of new jobs are created. “Unlimited job opportunities will be presented for people of Maharashtra,” Modi assured.
To mark the state’s solemn resolve to create 75000 new jobs in a year, chief minister Eknath Shinde presented about 2000 appointment letters to the aspiring youths. Modi congratulated those who had received the appointment letters while addressing the audience in Marathi.
The employment drive is part of the Centre’s initiative to create 10 lakh government jobs in the country to supplement ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav’ celebrations.
The mood was boisterous but it is difficult to ignore the reality that though Maharashtra is the most affluent state in India, it continues to face several challenges. For instance, agriculture and allied activities sector continues to play an important role in the economy of the state. Sadly, it contributes only 11.8 per cent of the GSDP. The crop production in the state is mainly dependent on rainfall, creating economic uncertainties for farmers. Current scenario indicates continuous process of degradation and declining soil quality, with overall impact on loss of productivity and high production costs. The state has only 17 per cent forest cover and 20 percent green cover (vegetation), as compared to the norm of about 33 per cent. Environmental decay is posing another major challenge. Urbanisation is very high in Maharashtra, hence urban infrastructure facilities are overburdened. Large scale migration to urban areas is a cause of concern. Industry and services sector is concentrated in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur belts. Uneven distribution of establishments has caused unbalanced growth, according to official statistics.
Balanced growth and development of all areas of Maharashtra was promised when the state was born on 1 May 1960. It is still a distant dream. Though the PM’s package is welcome, it is clear that the state will have to brace itself to make people’s lives better.
A Column By
Dilip Chaware – Senior Editor
A media professional for 43 years, with extensive experience of writing on
a variety of subjects; he is also a documentary producer and book author.
