In this article you will learn about Regional Imbalances in Political Science.
Regional Imbalances
Regional imbalances mean the vast differences in per capita income, health and education services, literacy rates, levels of industrialization, etc. between different regions but it also may be within the same state.
The Challenge of Regional Imbalances
The aim of economic planning in India has been to achieve a balanced and all round socio-economic development of all the areas as well as the people. Unfortunately, neither the enforcement of economic policies and decisions nor the implementation of Five Year Plans has been really successful in this respect. Presence of regional imbalances completely brings out this sad fact.
From the social and economic point of view, some states have been in a position to develop more whereas others have continued to lag behind. For example Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been in a position to register good socio-economic development. As against these, Odisha, Bihar and all the North Eastern States, Madhya Pradesh and some others, continue to lag behind. The per capita income in some states like Gujarat and Punjab have been higher than Bihar, Odisha and some others. In fact, some states have earned the dubious distinction of being Bimaru States i.e. states suffering from the disease of under-development, crime and poverty.
Even within the relatively developed states, a sizable gap exists between various sections of society e.g. between the urban and the rural people, between the rural landlords and landless farmers and labour, between the wage earners and the propertied class. Even the Tenth Five Year Plan recorded the continued presence of all these types of imbalances. India continues to present a big picture of regional disparities. Developed regions and under-developed regions, developed and under-developed or even the backward sections of society still co-exist side by side. Sometimes a distinction is made between India and Bharat; India as urban, developed and still fast developing and Bharat as rural, poor, under-developed and still living with growing disparities and imbalances. India shines and yet Bharat continues to remain a weak and poor part of the society. Rural India is still to get freedom from poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy, superstitions, casteism, ritualism, violence and under-development.
Impact of Regional Imbalances
- Inadequate and Slow Development of the National Economy - Regional imbalances have hindered the process of comprehensive economic development of the whole country.
- Source of Regionalism and Communalism - These have been responsible for the presence of the forces of regionalism and communalism in India; and poverty and illiteracy always provide a breeding ground to it.
- Source of Conflict and Tensions - Regional imbalances have been a source of tensions, discontentment and strains in social and economic relations.
- Hindrances in the way of National Integration and Nation-Building - Inequalities have acted as hindrances in the way of nation-building and national integration. Social and economic inequalities and under-development constitute a big obstacle in the way of national integration.
- Source of Violence in Politics and Society - it can be categorically stated that the states and areas which have been suffering from social and economic inequalities have been breeding grounds for such violent activities as being used by the Naxals in the states of Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. ULFA cadres and other terrorist and militant groups have been active in North Eastern States.
There is every need to check all these evil effects of regional imbalances by taking remedial measures against these. Well-planned and concerted efforts for controlling regional imbalances alone can lead to a really widespread process of socio-economic development.
This article on Regional Imbalances in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.