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Lok Sabha Debates

Further Discussion On The Resolution Regarding Steps For Balanced And Equitable ... on 18 August, 2006

an> Title: Further discussion on the resolution regarding steps for balanced and equitable development of all parts of the Country moved by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal on the 16th December, 2005. (Discussion not concluded).

   

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: We will now take up item no. 17.

            Shri J.M. Aaron Rashid         -           Not present SHRIMATI TEJASWINI SEERAMESH (KANAKAPURA): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Resolution moved by our hon. colleague Shri Sarbananda Sonowal who comes from the hilly area of North Eastern India. He is pressurising the Government to take steps for balanced and equitable growth of different parts of the country by removing regional imbalances.

 

15.37 hrs.                              (Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya in the Chair) Sir, we are living in a federal structure where every State deserves equal development on the basis of its topography, cultural background, natural wealth and population. Without considering the population and its population, we cannot equate every part of India by one policy.

            India comprises of the great Himalayas in the North, the southern parts of our country are having sea coasts and the Central India comprises of the Vindiyas and other hilly areas. According to the topography and according to the ecology, we must formulate policies to develop our country which will benefit our 100 crore people.

            Today, basic necessities are our rights. We can clearly see two sections of India in our country, that is, backward India and forward India or rural India and urban India. In rural India, even though our people are provided the fundamental right to have equal development, the majority of our people, that is, more than 60 per cent of the people in rural India are deprived of equal development.

            Let us look at the allocation of funds. I do not want to divide the country, I do not want to divide the politicians with figures that I am going to quote, but I would like to express my concern regarding the plight of agriculture in our country. What is the amount that we are allocating to agriculture today in our Budget? We are allocating only 2 per cent of our Budget to 80 per cent of the population and the remaining money goes to the rest of the population. This is a worrying factor. What sort of India can we build with this 2 per cent allocation of funds to agriculture?

            Then, we are allocating a lot of funds to education, health and infrastructure sectors and successive Governments, whether it is the NDA Government or the UPA Government, are implementing a lot of programmes and projects to improve the basic life of the people living in rural India, but it is not adequate. Why are the rural people moving towards urban areas today? Look at Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Why are these cities flooded with population?

            Sir, in 1947 the population of our country was 35 crores. Today our population has crossed 100 crores. But what is our allocation of funds towards rural India[k57] [k58] ? We [Rs59] have not raised our allocation, according to this, for the rural India.  I mean to say that rural India deserves more and more attention with more and more funds for the development of its infrastructure.

            Sir, our youths are suffering from unemployment because in rural India they are unable to get themselves in the agricultural activities due to lack of land or proper housing.  We have been discussing so many issues in this House.  How many Indians are there who have been deprived of housing?  Housing is the basic need, drinking water is the basic need of the people. 

On the one side, India is suffering from floods and on the other side it is suffering from drought, which has resulted in the suicide by farmers.  We cannot differentiate India like this.  In the coastal belt, due to land erosion, the farmers are losing their land, the fishermen are suffering and in the Jammu & Kashmir region, there are natural calamities like earthquake and all that.  It is a unique picture.  So, there is earthquake in the hilly regions and there is Tsunami in the coastal belt.  The agony of the common people is the same.  I do not want to divide India on their topographical background.  So, I would urge upon the Government to give more attention to equal development of all the regions of India. 

Why are people migrating to big cities? On the one side, we can see malls, bungalows, multi-storied buildings and next to that, we can see the drainage and common people living in the surrounding area, that is, in the slums.  It is very painful.  We can see that 55 per cent of the population of Mumbai is living in slums.  It indicates the regional imbalance.  Even in Bangalore, same is the case.  I think, it will escalate the major regional problems, like language and culture.  

In Bangalore, I feel that the native Kannadigas have been reduced to 28 per cent only.  My fellow Indians have every right to live anywhere in the motherland, but it should not disturb one’s basic right to live on its own land.  Today, our native people cannot afford to stay 25 kms. near the city of Bangalore.  The rich ones come and buy malls, flats by paying crores of rupees.  Why are they coming to big cities? It is because they lack business and other opportunities in their areas.  By providing proper roads, by providing proper infrastructure in the rural areas, we can restrict migration of these people to big cities.

We must take Panchayati Raj Institutions into confidence.  When I visit villages in my constituency, the experience is and it may be the experience of all of us here, lower level people demand more and more funds.  They demand more and more funds from the MPLAD Funds to have proper drainage facilities and to have proper roads, etc.  From where can we afford such a huge amount to provide these infrastructural facilities?  It is not the duty of the Member of Parliament to provide basic infrastructural facilities.  It should be the duty and responsibility of the respective State Governments, respective Zila Panchayats, respective Gram Panchayats and all that.

I appreciate and congratulate the UPA Government for giving a lot of importance to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.  The village should be our unit.  We must stop migration to big cities by providing them every opportunity.  Unless, we strengthen the rural employment by encouraging jobs like handlooms, by encouraging cottage industry, which was the dream of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, we cannot restrict migration to big cities.

Jobs like seri-culture and animal husbandry are the livelihoods in our villages.  But their knowledge is limited because the people are deprived of proper education and health.  Recently, an epidemic disease called ‘Chikungunia’ attacked severely the people in the State of Karnataka.  Of course, it also attacked the neighbouring States.  But the plight of the poor people is that they are unable to pay the medical fees and are unable to afford the costly drugs.  Many of the MLAs in my constituency paid from their pockets to see that these people must get good medical care to cure ‘Chikungunia’.  So, Sir, health should be ones basic right.  It should be the responsibility of the Government to provide basic health facilities to its people and then only we can maintain hygienic atmosphere for the people of our country[Rs60] .

Otherwise, in an unhygienic condition, what sort of citizens will be there?  It must be the basic right of the rural people.  Today rich can afford good education.  Even though the village boys and girls are equally talented, with their limited environment they are not the privileged ones to live in a good environment, and to acquire the best knowledge.  Today, we are living in an era of globalisation, and  the children living in rural areas and the children of the farmers  are all able to see the computer and internet.  We ourselves were deprived of such facilities in our childhood. Whatever we claim today, the fruits of the independent India must reach every nook and corner of the rural India.  Unless we achieve this, we cannot see equality in the nation.  One day it may disturb the peaceful atmosphere.  Why are we seeing so much of disturbance in the country?  Why our youths are picking up weapons?  Today, one-fifth of India is under the Naxalite influence.  It is an alarming situation.  Why is it so?  Why these bright boys and girls are picking up weapons?  That means, they are deprived of their basic right to education, right to employment and right to a decent living.  That is why, I urge upon the Government to allocate more funds for education.

            States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are suffering from flood.  I do not understand the logic why my State was deprived while allocating flood relief fund recently.  It may be a technical mistake; I do not know.  Northern Karnataka was very much affected by the flood menace.  River Bheema has caused a lot of problems in northern Karnataka.  I urge upon the Government to release more funds to address the problems created by the flood menace in Karnataka. 

            I urge upon the Finance Minister to strengthen the cooperative banks.  Only cooperative banks were encouraging and addressing the needs of the farmers in the rural areas of the country.  These banks were not getting enough concessions by the Government.  I would like to request our Prime Minister and our Finance Minister to pay attention to this sector also.  We should strive to develop the hilly areas like North-Eastern States; coastal belts like Kerala, Mangalore and Tamil Nadu.  Also, rural and urban imbalance should be reduced.  Otherwise, one day we may see more criminals, more beggars and more orphans in our independent India.  So, we must strive to reduce this inequality by adopting a good policy which should be rural oriented.  It is because the people in rural areas are more in number and they are deprived of this.  If they stop producing food, what would we eat?  Already many of them have left farming because it is no more viable and profitable.  We cannot eat money; only we need food to eat.  So, we must protect our annadata and the children of our farmers; we must protect the poor people through our pro-poor people policies. 

            With these words, I would like to support the resolution moved by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.  My Government is already doing it, and my Government is pro-people.  I am hundred per cent confident that my Government will address to these problems. 

            With these words, I conclude. 

श्री कैलाश मेघवाल (टोंक) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, जिस संकल्प पर आज यहां चर्चा हो रही है, यह संकल्प बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण संकल्प है और इस पर हमें बहुत ही गंभीरता से चिन्तन करना चाहिए। मैं इस संकल्प को एक बार पढ़ देता हूँ और इसलिए पढ़ देता हूं कि यही आदेश भारत के संविधान में २६ जनवरी, १९५० को इस देश के शासनकर्ताओं को दिया गया lÉÉ[h61] ।

संकल्प यह है कि – “यह सभा देश के वभिन्न भागों में विकास के अभाव से उत्पन्न क्षेत्रीय असंतुलन पर अपनी चिन्ता व्यक्त करती है और सरकार से आग्रह करती है कि वह देश के संघीय ढांचे को मजबूत बनाने के उद्देश्य से देश के वभिन्न भागों, विशेष रूप से सुदूरवर्ती क्षेत्रों में संतुलित और साम्यापूर्ण विकास के लिए तत्काल कदम उठाए।” माननीय सभापति महोदय, हमने एक संविधान लागू किया और उस संविधान में जिस शब्द पर मैं सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान देना चाहता हूं, वह है नागरिक, नागरिक को आधार बनाया। हमारा जो प्रियम्बल है, उस प्रियम्बल में जब न्याय की बात की गई तो यह कहा गया कि हम इस लोकतांत्रिक गणराज्य में प्रत्येक नागरिक को न्याय देंगे। सामाजिक, आर्थिक और राजनैतिक उपासना की स्वतंत्रता भी है। इसमें प्रत्येक नागरिक को प्रतिष्ठा और अवसर की समता प्राप्त कराने के लिए प्रयत्न किया जाएगा। फिर आगे कहा गया है कि सारे देश की अखंडता को सुनिश्चित रखते हुए बंधुत्व को बढ़ाने के लिए हम काम करेंगे। यह उद्देश्य संविधान को लागू करने का था। इस उद्देश्य की प्राप्ति के लिए अनुच्छेद ३९५, शेडयूल १२ में दिया है। मैं यहां निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि जो फेडरल करेक्टर है, राजनीति शास्त्र में फेडरल करेक्टर को जिस रूप में लिया जाता है, हमारे यहां का फेडरल करेक्टर उस तरह का नहीं है।

माननीय सभापति महोदय, अगर हम दुनिया में अमेरिका का उदाहरण लें तो अमेरिका में फेडरल स्टेट की दोहरी नागरिकता है, यूएसए की एक नागरिकता है और वहां के राज्य की एक नागरिकता है। उन्होंने अपनी कुछ सर्वोच्चता सोवरेंटी को सरंडर किया, कुछ विषयों में फेडरल स्टेट को और बाकी सारे स्टेट्स की आटोनोमी भी कायम है। यहां हमने एक संघ का निर्माण किया, लेकिन इसका निर्माण ऊपर से हुआ। हमारे यहां स्वतंत्रता का आंदोलन चला। हमारे देश का हजारों साल का इतिहास है और यह इतिहास एक राज्य की इकाई के अंतर्गत भी शासन आता है और उस शासन को हमने यह कहा है कि हम नये राज्यों का भी निर्माण करेंगे, भारत का एक संघ होगा और उस संघ में राज्यों का निर्माण करेंगे। हम राज्यों के निर्माण को बदल भी सकते हैं और बढ़ा भी सकते हैं तथा कम भी कर सकते हैं। आर्टिकल एक, दो और तीन, ये सब इस बात को व्यक्त करते हैं कि यह जो हिन्दुस्तान है, इस हिन्दुस्तान की प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था के लिए हम राज्यों की स्थापना करेंगे और उनकी स्थापना करने के बाद उनकी सीमाएं भी तय करेंगें तथा अभिवृद्धि भी करेंगे, यहां हिन्दुस्तान की एक नागरिकता होगी। इसलिए फेडरल स्ट्ररक्चर दुनिया में जिस रुप में समझा जाता है, हमारे यहां इस फेडरल स्ट्रक्चर का एक विशेष स्थान है।

माननीय सभापति महोदय, हमारे संविधान में अनुच्छेद ३८ में राज्य की नीति निदेशक तत्व के बारे में कहा है - “राज्य लोक कल्याण की अभिवृद्धि के लिए सामाजिक व्यवस्था बनाएगा। राज्य की ऐसी सामाजिक व्यवस्था की, जिसमें सामाजिक, आर्थिक और राजनैतिक न्याय, राष्ट्रीय जीवन की सभी संस्थाओं को अनुप्रमाणित करेंगे, भरसक प्रभावी रूप से स्थापना और संरक्षण करके लोक कल्याण की अभिवृद्धि का प्रयास किया जाएगा। राज्य वशिष्टतया आय की असमानताओं को कम करने का प्रयास करेगा और न केवल व्यक्तियों के बीच, बल्कि वभिन्न क्षेत्रों में रहने वाले और वभिन्न व्यवसायों में लगे हुए लोगों के समूहों के बीच भी प्रतिष्ठा, सुविधाओं और अवसरों की असमानता समाप्त करने का प्रयास करेगा।” यह जो संकल्प है, १९५० में ही इसके आधार पर संविधान में प्रावधान कर दिए गए। अनुच्छेद ३९ कहता है कि - “राज्य अपनी नीति का वशिष्टतया इस प्रकार संचालन करेगा कि सुनिश्चित रूप से पुरुष और स्त्री, सभी नागरिकों को समान रूप से जीविका के पर्याप्त साधन प्रोप्त करने का अधिकार हो[R62] ।”     सभापति महोदय, जिसकी तरफ मैं आपका ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहता हूं वह है -

“ समुदाय के भौतिक संसाधनों का स्वामित्व एवं नियंत्रण इस प्रकार बंटा हो जिससे सामूहिक हित का सर्वोत्तमरूप से साधन हो, आर्थिक व्यवस्था इस प्रकार चले जिससे धन और उत्पाद के साधनों में सभी का हित समन्वित हो। ”     संविधान के ये निर्देश थे। दुर्भाग्य है कि हमने अपने यहां जिस प्रकार की राजनीतिक व्यवस्था बनाई और जिस तरह की राजनीति विकसित की, उसमें इन उद्देश्यों की प्राप्ति की बजाय, ठीक इसके विपरीत काम हुआ।

महोदय, मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि हमने राज्यों की इकाई बनाई, लेकिन मेरी अपनी राय में, ऐसा करते समय एक सबसे बड़ी गलती हुई कि हमने भाषा के आधार पर राज्यों की स्थापना की जिसके कारण देश में दो ऐतिहासिक भूलें हुई। इतिहासकार यदि कभी इसका आकलन करेंगे, तो लम्बे समय तक आजादी के आन्दोलन में भारत एक रहा। उसमें भारतीयता और देश की राष्ट्रीयता रही। इस प्रकार की एक जो भावना पृथक होकर आई, वह भावना हमने आजादी के बाद ५० साल में खो दी। आज भारतीयता पीछे रह गई, प्रादेशिकता और प्रान्तीयता आगे आ गई।

महोदय, इसके साथ-साथ देश की राजनीति के सिद्धान्तों में परिवर्तन हो गया। हम कई प्रकार के राजनीतिक विचार करते हैं। सारी दुनिया में राजनीति चल रही है और अलग-अलग राजनीतिक दर्शन के आधार पर चल रही है, लेकिन इस देश में हमारा दुर्भाग्य है कि हम सैद्धान्तिक राजनीति को, पॉलटिक्स ऑफ प्रिंसीपल्स को, कायम नहीं रख सके। उसके कारण राष्ट्रीयतावाद का रिप्लेसमेंट आया प्रदेशवाद और हम जो सैद्धान्तिक राजनीति को कायम नहीं रख सके, उसका रिप्लेसमेंट आया जातिवाद। अगर सारे देश में देखा जाए, तो कुल मिलाकर आज की सारी राजनीति जातिवाद के आधार पर चल रही है। इसके बड़े खतरनाक नतीजे होंगे।

महोदय, हम जिस दिशा में चल रहे हैं, यह ठीक दिशा नहीं है। इसलिए आज हमें पूरे देश में प्रान्तीयता देखने को मिलती है। तामिलनाडु चले जाओ, तो तमिलों के लिए तमिल भाषा। असम में चले जाओ, तो असमियों को असमी भाषा। महाराष्ट्र में चले जाओ तो मराठों के लिए मराठी भाषा, पंजाब में चले जाओ, तो पंजाबी भाषा फॉर सिख्स, आंध्रा प्रदेश में चले जाओ, तो तेलुगू भाषा आंध्राप्रदेश वासियों के लिए। इसका नतीजा हुआ कि जो प्रान्तीय दल विकसित हुए, वे ज्यादा शक्तिशाली हो गए। इनके ज्यादा शक्तिशाली होने के कारण हमारी केन्द्रीय सत्ता धीरे-धीरे कमजोर होती गई, राजनीतिक कम्प्रोमाइज होते गए जिनका नतीजा यह निकला कि आज किसी प्रदेशों से संबंधित किसी समस्या का निदान नहीं हो पाता है। जहां देश के भौतिक संसाधन, सारे राष्ट्र के स्वामित्व के होने चाहिए, वहां आज राज्यों का बोलबाला है। दुर्भाग्य से आज स्थिति यह है कि जो राज्य अपना जितना राजनीतिक अस्तित्व रखता है, आज की राजसत्ता में उसका जितना दबाव है, वह उतनी ही अधिक प्रान्तीयता के स्वामित्व की राजनीति कर रहा है।

महोदय, मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि आज पंजाब ने हमारे राजस्थान का पानी रोक रखा है। पानी के बंटवारे के फैसले १९८४ में हो गए, लेकिन आज तक पंजाब उसे मानने को तैयार नहीं है। केन्द्रीय सरकार ने उस फैसले को कराया। सारे देश में बिजली के फैसले बहुत पहले हो गए, लेकिन उन्हें नहीं माना जा रहा है। सारे देश में पानी के झगड़े, इंटरस्टेट रिवर्स के झगड़े, बिजली के झगड़े और दूसरे किस्म के झगड़े चल रहे हैं। आज कोयले का मालिक बिहार हो गया है। तेल का मालिक असम हो गया है। इस प्रकार की जो स्थिति बनी है, यह बहुत खतरनाक स्थिति है। यदि यह मजबूत होती गई और इसे कंट्रोल नहीं किया गया, तो मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि इस देश की बहुत बुरी हालत हो जाएगी।

महोदय, जहां सिद्धान्तों की राजनीति चली वहां यह बात देखने में नहीं आई। मैं बधाई देना चाहता हूं अपने कम्युनिस्ट भाइयों को, जिन्होंने कम से कम केरल, त्रिपुरा और वैस्ट बंगाल में सिद्धान्तों की राजनीति को कायम रखा। इसलिए वहां पर कोई कट्टरवादी आन्दोलन खड़ा नहीं हुआ। हिन्दी बोलने वाले जो हिन्दी प्रदेश हैं, वहां भी कोई कट्टरवादी आन्दोलन पैदा नहीं हुआ। इसलिए मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि यह जो जातिवादी राजनीति चल रही है, जो प्रदेशवाद की राजनीति चल रही है, वह बहुत खतरनाक है। अब मैं आपके सामने कुछ आंकड़े रखना चाहता हूं[rpm63] ।

16.00 hrs. [c64]  महोदय, भारत की साक्षरता ६४.८ प्रतिशत है। इसमें पुरूषों का ७५.३ प्रतिशत और महिलाओं का ५३.७ प्रतिशत है। इसमें अधिकतम साक्षरता केरल की है, जो ९०.९ प्रतिशत है। वहां पुरूषों की साक्षरता ९३.२ प्रतिशत और महिलाओं की ८७.७ प्रतिशत है। न्यूनतम औसत साक्षरता बिहार राज्य की है, जो ४७ प्रतिशत है। पुरूषों की ४९.७ प्रतिशत और महिलाओं की ३३.१ प्रतिशत है। ५३.७ प्रतिशत और ३३.१ प्रतिशत साक्षरता के बीच में जो बड़ा अंतर है, यह हमारी आंखें खोलने वाला होना चाहिए। शिक्षा का सबको अधिकार है। शिक्षा में एक राज्य नीचे और बाकी राज्य बीच में, मैं इसकी गहरायी में नहीं जाना चाहता हूं। पुरूषों की अधिकतम साक्षरता ७५.३ प्रतिशत है, जिसमें २३ प्रदेश हैं और ११ प्रदेश इससे नीचे हैं। महिलाओं का अधिकतम प्रतिशत ५३.७ प्रतिशत है, जिसमें २३ प्रदेश हैं और ११ प्रदेश इससे नीचे हैं। यह ऊपर और नीचे के बीच में जो असमानता है, इसका जिक्र संकल्प में किया गया है।

महोदय, जीवन जीने के लिए, रोटी-कपड़ा और मकान के लिए, शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य के लिए आवश्यक है कि आदमी की आर्थिक स्थिति ठीक हो। भारत की पर-कैपिटा इन्कम २००३-०४ के आंकड़े के अनुसार ११७९९ रूपये है। सबसे कम पर-कैपिटा इन्कम बिहार राज्य की है, जो कि ३५५७ रूपये है। इसके बाद उत्तर प्रदेश की ५९७५ रूपये, असम की ६४६६ रूपये, उड़ीसा की ६८८५ रूपये है। सबसे ज्यादा पर-कैपिटा इन्कम गोवा राज्य की है, जो कि ३०५०६ रूपये है। इसके बाद गुजरात की १६७७९ रूपये है। इस तरह भारत की औसत आय से १५ राज्य ऊपर हैं और १४ राज्य नीचे हैं। अगर हमने ठीक ढंग से पॉलिसी विकसित की होती तो ऐसा न होता। आर्थिक व्यवस्थाओं को नीति-निर्देशक सिद्वांतों में और प्रिएम्बल में प्रतिपादित किया गया है, उसके हिसाब से देश का विकास करते तो यह पर-कैपिटा इन्कम बराबर की होती। पर-कैपिटा इन्कम जब तक बराबर नहीं होगी, तब तक ये सारी बातें उठती रहेंगी। इन सारी बातों का निचोड़ यह है कि यदि हमको इस देश को विकसित बनाना है तो प्रत्येक व्यक्ति को समृद्ध करना होगा और उन्हें आर्थिक न्याय देना होगा।

महोदय, इन असमानताओं का कारण क्या है? हमारी राजनीति इस तरह की विकसित हुई है कि जो ताकतवर लोग हैं, जैसे कि केन्द्र में सबसे ताकतवर प्रधानमंत्री होते हैं। यदि उनकी किसी प्रदेश के प्रति अधिक कृपा है या किसी नेता से उनका लगाव है, वही केन्द्र से अधिक से अधिक पैसा ले जाने में सफल रहे हैं। गाडगिल फार्मुला गरीब प्रदेशों के प्रतिकुल है और अमीर प्रदेशों के पक्ष में है। इस फार्मुले को बदलने की मांग लगातार चली आ रही है[c65] ।

[m66]        VÉÉä ÉÊ´ÉBÉEÉʺÉiÉ |Énä¶É cé, ´Éä BÉEciÉä cé ÉÊBÉE càÉÉ®ÉÒ {É®{ÉEÉä®àÉåºÉ, càÉÉ®ÉÒ +ÉɪÉ, càÉÉ®ä BÉEÉàÉ BÉEÉä näJÉBÉE® càÉBÉEÉä {ÉèºÉÉ nÉä +ÉÉè® VÉÉä ¤ÉèBÉE´ÉbÇ º]ä]弃 cé, ´Éä BÉEciÉä cé ÉÊBÉE càÉÉ®ÉÒ ¤ÉèBÉE´ÉbÇxÉèºÉ BÉEÉä näJÉBÉE® {ÉèºÉÉ nÉä, <ºÉÉÊãÉA MÉÉbÉÊMÉãÉ {ÉEÉàÉÇÚãÉä àÉå {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ +ÉÉxÉÉ SÉÉÉÊcA* nںɮä +ÉÉVÉBÉEãÉ ABÉE xÉ<Ç {ÉÉÊ®{ÉÉ]ÉÒ +ÉÉè® +ÉÉ MÉ<Ç cè…( व्यवधान) 

सभापति महोदय : अब आप समाप्त करिये। कारण यह है कि उतना समय नहीं है और सब को एलाऊ करना है।

श्री कैलाश मेघवाल : राज्यों की सैण्ट्रली स्पोन्सर्ड स्कीम्स जो हैं, ये भी पक्षपात का बहुत बड़ा कारण बन रही हैं और इनमें मैचिंग ग्राण्ट के बारे में मैं आपके द्वारा निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि आपने सैण्ट्रली स्पोन्सर्ड स्कीम्स में जो मैचिंग ग्राण्ट रखी है, जो विकास की स्कीम्स हैं, जो राज्य पैसा दे सकते हैं, जो धनवान राज्य हैं, वे मैचिंग ग्राण्ट दे सकते हैं और जो पैसा नहीं दे सकते, उनको सैण्ट्रली स्पोन्सर्ड स्कीम्स में हिस्सा नहीं मिलता है और इसलिए यह बड़ा खतरनाक है। जहां जिस तरह की विकास की स्कीम की आवश्यकता है, उसका पूरा पैसा भारत सरकार को देना चाहिए और भारत सरकार ने यह जो मैचिंग ग्राण्ट का नियम बनाया है, इनको तुरन्त खत्म करना चाहिए, यह तो सार्वजनिक रूप से, सामान्य रूप से आपको एक निवेदन किया। लेकिन प्रत्येक प्रदेश की हालत खराब है, उस प्रदेश में अलग-अलग वर्ग हैं, शैडयूल्ड कास्ट्स हैं, शैडयूल्ड ट्राइब्स हैं, नोमेडिक ट्राइब्स हैं, दूसरे ट्राइब्स हैं, दूसरे गरीब तबके हैं। आज उनके साथ यह सब औसत आ गया, लेकिन इस औसत में एक धनाडय करोड़पति को और एक गाड़ी चलाने वाले को, दोनों को शामिल किया गया है। यह असमानता भी प्रत्येक प्रदेश में बहुत बड़ी असमानता है। इसलिए प्रत्येक प्रदेश की नीति, प्रत्येक प्रदेश के कार्यक्रम ऐसे होने चाहिए कि वहां पर गरीब से गरीब व्यक्ति भी लाभान्वित हो और धनवानों पर थोड़ा अंकुश लगे।

अब आप समय की कमी बता रहे हैं, वरना मैं सारे प्रदेशों के आंकड़े आपके सामने रखता। आपके प्रदेश में तो शैडयूल्ड ट्राइब्स सबसे ज्यादा हैं और जब शैडयूल्ड ट्राइब्स आपके यहां सबसे ज्यादा हैं तो आपको तो सबसे ज्यादा लाभ मिलना चाहिए, आर्थिक सपोर्ट मिलनी चाहिए, लेकिन सौतेला व्यवहार हो रहा है। राजस्थान की स्थिति भी वही है, कहीं शैडयूल्ड कास्ट्स ज्यादा हैं, कहीं शैडयूल्ड ट्राइब्स ज्यादा हैं, गरीब ज्यादा हैं, कहीं हिली एरियाज़ हैं। हिली एरियाज़ में विकास का इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर लगाने के लिए बहुत पैसा लगता है। रेगिस्तानी एरिया में भी और हिली एरियाज़ में भी जो डेन्सिटी ऑफ पोपुलेशन है, वह कम है। जहां डेन्सिटी ऑफ पोपुलेशन ज्यादा है, वहां कम पैसे से ज्यादा लोग लाभान्वित होते हैं और कम डेन्सिटी वाले इलाकों में ज्यादा पैसे से कम लोग लाभान्वित होते हैं तो हमारी योजनाओं में जो एक विरोधाभास इस देश में आया है, उसको ठीक करने की आवश्यकता है और तभी हमारे माननीय सांसद श्री सोनवाल ने जो यह प्रस्ताव रखा है, यह बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। इस पर गम्भीरता से विचार करके इस पार्लियामेंट को अपनी राय रखनी चाहिए।

यही निवेदन करते हुए, आपने समय दिया, इसके लिए आपका आभार प्रदर्शित करता हूं।

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA (SAMBALPUR): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a very important issue that this House is discussing. India, in the last 60 years of our Independence, has, no doubt, recorded remarkable growth in many sectors. But, as you know, India is a country of diversities. It has many languages, many cultures and it has different climates in different parts of the country. It has different geographical situations and different economic conditions at different places. So, a country like this, with so much of diversity, cannot be said to have properly grown without the fruits of growth being equally tasted by all the States of the country, by all the regions of the country and by all the people of this country, as this is a vast country.

            There is no denying the fact that in India there are large regional variations in the level of development which, no doubt, pose a danger to our national unity. You know that on the basis of our per capita Net Domestic Product, India has been divided into three categories of States, namely the higher income States, the middle income States, and the lower income States. Thus, all the 30 States in our Union have been divided into three categories as per their development. The most important question is that there is a regional variation in the country[krr67] .

There is variation in development between different States. It is also a fact that there is regional imbalance within the State. That is also another important thing that we should not and cannot ignore.

            Sir, during the last 60 years of our Independence, a number of schemes has been formulated and many of those schemes are now under implementation. Most of the schemes are poverty alleviation schemes, but still, we have not been able to completely eradicate the regional imbalance. We have not been able to completely remove the imbalance in development, the imbalance in economic growth, and the imbalance in per capita income. There are many reasons for this, like defective implementation of schemes. Maybe, the schemes are good, the intention is good, but the implementation is defective.

            The second reason is the wrong selection of an area for its implementation. There are many good schemes, but when we are selecting areas, when we are deciding the States, when we are finalising the regions where the good schemes are to be implemented, we are making mistakes. I think, that is one of the various reasons which is helping  growing gap between States, so far as economic development is concerned.

            Another important thing with which we may or may not agree is that there is political interference in the announcement of packages for the underdeveloped States or underdeveloped regions. Even now, we talk of ideals, we talk of uniform growth of economy all over the country, but whoever may be in the Government, whoever is the leader, whichever political party is there, there are occasions when the decision-makers are not able to free themselves from political interference and influence. That is one of the reasons why the regional imbalance in this country has been growing.

            Sir, selection of wrong parameters in allocating Central assistance to different States is also one of the reasons. The previous speaker referred to the Gadgil Formula. There has been a consistent demand to make necessary changes in that Formula, but so far, we have not been able to do that. The application of wrong parameters in allocation of Central assistance is, no doubt, one of the major reasons for the regional imbalance.

            These are the reasons for which the regional imbalance is widening, and the gap between States and regions, so far as economic development is concerned, is growing. I will cite one example. After Independence, no doubt, we have to admit that there has been industrial growth in this country. Industry has grown. Our income from industrial growth is very substantial, and there is no doubt about it. However, this growth is not uniform. There has been a total imbalance in this industrial growth. A particular region or particular States have tremendously developed, so far as industrial growth is concerned. But there are States in this country, there are regions in this country, and there are areas in this country, which are far, far away, as far as industrial growth is concerned. As you know, there are underdeveloped regions in different States of the country where not even a single industry is located. How do we expect that there will be uniform economic growth in this country?

            The Economic Census of 2005 has exposed this skewed nature of industrialisation in our country with only five States accounting for nearly 50 per cent of total enterprises in the country[R68] .

I will not hesitate to name those States. I am not envious of any State. I do not say that industries should not grow in a particular State. I just would like to make a point that fifty per cent of industries are concentrated in only five States out of 30 States of the Country. Which are those States? They are: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This is not a story that I am making up. It is a report of a survey that says 50 per cent of the industrial growth has been concentrated in five or six States in the country. What about the rest of India? Under these circumstances, regional imbalance will grow and nobody can check it unless we point out this problem and try to eradicate it, unless we try to distribute our economic growth uniformly all over the country in different regions.

            As I said at the outset, we have many good schemes. After Independence, Governments after Governments have evolved many good schemes and there is no doubt about it. But the implementation of those schemes has been defective. Selection of the areas for implementation of those schemes has been wrong. That is one of the major reasons why there has been regional imbalance. I will cite an example, a recent one. There are two schemes called National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), a very widely known and a fresh scheme, and the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). I welcome these schemes. There are many backward regions in the country which need development. The Government has promised the country that a substantial amount of money will be earmarked and a corpus will be created to help the backward regions of the country. However, let us see how these two good schemes are being implemented which is resulting in creation of regional imbalance. Implementation of these schemes is creating a gap in the development of different regions and increasing regional imbalance.

            An allocation of Rs.300 crore has been made for NREGP this year and for BRGF this year’s allocation, if I am correct, is Rs.3,500 crore. Two hundred Districts have been selected for implementing NREGP and 250 Districts have been selected for implementation of BRGF. Out of these 450 Districts, there are 200 Districts which figure in both the lists. That means, these 200 Districts out of 450 have been chosen to implement both these important schemes under which funds are allocated for development of the backward regions of the country. As a result of this, there is one District, whose name I do not want to mention, would get the benefit of both the schemes while the neighbouring District which is equally poor would be deprived of the benefit of either of the schemes. Is it justice? Are these Schemes aimed at removing the regional imbalance? Is this our plan to bring uniform economic development in all the backward regions of the country? So, the Schemes are good but the implementation is wrong. That is the point I wanted to make. We have to analyse and rectify these defects. We have to plug the loopholes. Unless we do it, in spite of our sincere efforts, in spite of good schemes prevailing in the country, regional imbalance cannot be removed.

            Which are the most neglected areas of the country? Which are the most underdeveloped regions in the country? The irony of the situation is, the most underdeveloped regions of the country are those which are full of natural resources. God has not done injustice to them. God has done sufficient justice to them. God has gifted those regions or States with plenty of natural resources[KMR69] . 

            But the Government  is doing injustice.  I would cite the names of a few States – my own State, Orissa; my neighbouring States, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.  There are some States like Jharkhand and North-Eastern States where plenty of natural resources are there but we have not been able to develop necessary infrastructure and make sufficient investment to create infrastructure to exploit those natural resources even after 60 years of Independence. Therefore, those States are still called poorer States.  As I said, these mineral rich States like Orissa, even West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and North-Eastern States are relatively most backward States.  Surprisingly, those States are tribal dominated States.  Most of the tribal population in this country live in these under-developed States are full of natural resources but they are still under-developed and are reeling under poverty, starvation.  There is still migration taking place from those States.  There are reported starvation deaths in those States which are rich in natural resources.  Where lies the defect? God has not done injustice; we are doing injustice to all those under-developed areas.  Lateral transfer is taking place from the backward States to the rest of the country.  I was mentioning about the natural resources and minerals.  I would like to give an example – coal.  Coal-bearing States because of the defective coal royalty policy of the Central Government are suffering the most.  Those there is a provision that every three years, coal royalty policy has to be revised, Government has been refusing to do so.  Thus, depriving the coal bearing States of their natural claim.  How those under-developed States would develop?  … (Interruptions)

सभापति महोदय : प्रसन्न आचार्य जी, आपकी पार्टी से अभी एक और माननीय सदस्य बोलने वाले हैं। इस तरह उनका समय कम हो जायेगा।

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA : The Chief Minister of my State has sent a proposal to the Central Government requesting that a Special Corpus Fund should be created for such States for infrastructure development, to expedite the projects of rail, road, port construction, etc.  Our proposal is, let there be a minimum of Rs.3,000 crore Corpus Fund for development in the under-developed areas in those States.

Railways play a major role in development.  If we go through the history of Railways, after Independence, how many kilometers of new railway line have been constructed in the under-developed States? We are refusing to create infrastructure.  How can we dream of bringing regional balance and economic development in this country? 

This morning, in the form of Calling Attention, we were discussing Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) , which are the most under-developed areas of the country.  Shri Tripathy was citing all the data in his speech this morning.  I do not want to repeat it.  Illiteracy is the highest there; percentage of people living below the poverty line is the highest there; SC population is the highest there; migration is there; starvation is there in spite of natural resources.  To redeem those areas from poverty, there was a scheme, which is called KBK Scheme.  Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs has decided to withdraw that Scheme. When such is the policy of the Government of India, how do you expect that regional imbalance would be removed? I would give an example of Telengana.  … (Interruptions)

सभापति महोदय : इस संकल्प के लिए जितना समय एलॉट किया गया था, वह पूरा हो गया है। अभी दस मैम्बर्स और बोलने वाले हैं। अगर सदन की राय हो, तो इस संकल्प पर चर्चा के लिए एक घंटे का समय और बढ़ा दिया जाए।

कई माननीय सदस्य :  ठीक है।

सभापति महोदय :  आचार्य जी, अब आप अपना भाषण समाप्त करिये।

gÉÉÒ |ɺÉxxÉ +ÉÉSÉɪÉÇ : मैं केवल दो प्वाइंट कहकर अपनी बात समाप्त कर रहा हूं।…( व्यवधान) 

प्रो. रासा सिंह रावत (अजमेर) : सभापति महोदय, आप कोशिश कीजिए कि अगला विषय आज ही प्रस्तुत हो जाये।

सभापति महोदय :  हम जरूर कोशिश करेंगे।

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA : As I said at the outset, regional balance is there between State and State; it is there within the State.  There has been a demand from many of the States for the creation of new States[s70] . Why is this happening? Why is the mindset growing like this? Why do people demand creation of more States? In my own State of Orissa, there is a demand for a new State of Koshal. Why is there such a demand? Unless regional imbalance within the State is removed, this demand will go on. Has not the Central Government a role to play? Poor States like Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand cannot meet the growing demands.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Okay; you have made very good points. Please conclude.

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA : Therefore, it is the utmost duty of the Central Government to come out with a corpus to assist such poor States to remove regional imbalance within the State.

            My last point is this. Language plays a major role in one’s life and in a country’s life also.

सभापति महोदय : श्री प्रसन्नाचार्य जी, आपकी पार्टी के एक अन्य माननीय सदस्य को बोलना है, अब उनके लिए समय नहीं बचेगा।

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA : Therefore, there is a demand for many States. As you know, language created Bangladesh. There is a demand for Bhojpuri to be included. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, you have very well spoken; please conclude.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI PRASANNA ACHARYA : There is a demand that Koshali language in Orissa should find a place in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. So, if you soothe the feelings of the people, the growing resentment, discontentment, etc. will come down.

            Therefore, the Centre has to take into consideration all these factors. The Centre has a vital role to play to remove regional imbalance.

 

सभापति महोदय : श्री प्रसन्नाचार्य जी, आपकी पार्टी के दूसरे सदस्य के लिए समय कम रह गया है।

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA (GUWAHATI): Sir, I thank my colleague, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal for bringing a very important topic for discussion in this House. This is a Resolution  regarding balanced and equitable development of all parts of the country. It reads, in short, like this: This House expresses its concern over the regional imbalance and it is in order to strengthen the federal structure of the country.

            A number of speakers have highlighted a number of significant aspects regarding the prevalent regional disparities in this country. Very few tend to realize that this country was not really a united country till we attained Independence.

 

16.28 hrs.                              (Shri Arjun Sethi in the Chair)             When we talk about the concept of India, very few understand that India perhaps was really born, in its true sense of the term, in its present form with its present ethos, only because of the struggle of Independence, led by the Congress Party and of course, with Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.

            There was India before that. There was a mythological India; there was an India during the times of Moghuls; there was a golden India during the golden Hindu period, as you read in the history of ancient Indian Hindu period. But India as it exists today is really the creation of Gandhi’s Independence movement and the British scheme of partition.

            These are two very important aspects which we have to take into account when we talk about regional disparity, when we talk about regional imbalance, when we talk about the problems relating to that and when we think of going ahead with all these problems. Let us not be very defamatory against one another; let us not blame governance of any particular party; but let us accept the fact that when India was born in 1947 in its present form, India was a land of diverse – not only language, not only religion – levels of development, because of historical, because of geographical and because of psychological reasons of isolation. There were huge gaps between parts and parts, regions and regions and what you now Even the concept of State came as per the linguistic formation of States.  The States were formed not on the basis of the kingdoms that had been there during Mughal or old Hindu period but on the basis of language.  At the time of Independence, the concept of Indian unity was in its very nascent stage.  Parities were bound to be there.  But, there were disparities between regions, States, cities, the rural India and the urban India.  We all remember very well how Mahatma Gandhi used to talk about Bharat, the rural India and the urban India.  There are regions like Northeast, from where I come.  There was the South, where people did not like to speak Hindi.  Then, we had the Hindi-belt, which felt that since majority of the people speak Hindi so, it was the real India.  There was the West, which thought that it was prosperous and it contributed to India’s economy, and hence it had perhaps the biggest claim for  India’s economic resurgence.  So, we had different kinds of people with all kinds of pride and prejudices.

            There is a regional imbalance because of different geographical divides and because of different psychological and mental make ups.  The Indian civilisation has suffered for ages from several other ills, like caste, religion, ethnic divide and so on.  All these ills were there when this country came into being.  Fortunately or unfortunately, the priority at that time was not really to address the regional imbalances but to keep India united.  That is how our Constitution was framed in 1950.

            Our Constitution did not adopt the American Federal structure.  It rather went for a combination of unitary and federal structure.  It became somewhat unitary in nature.  I am referring to it because the Resolution speaks about the federal structure and says that we have to go for removal of regional imbalance to strengthen the federal structure of the country.  I would suggest that instead of saying, ‘strengthening the federal structure of the country’ it should say ‘to strengthen the unity and integrity of this country’.

            I have gone through some of the speeches made by the earlier speakers.  Various Constitutional changes in the political system have been suggested.  According to me the more important thing now is to go for economic measures with a lot of caution and time-bound framework and to see that different regions remain united and progress equally.  We have to see that the backlogs are taken care of and the country starts progressing unitedly to the best extent possible.  How could that be done?

            One of my friends has referred to the Constitution of 1950 and said how Fathers of our Constitution had given importance to regional disparities.  The Tenth Five Year Plan has also referred to regional disparities in a very emphatic term.  It says:

“Economic and social development of a country must also take full cognizance of the growing regional imbalances in practically all indicators[R71] . ”   These indicators are: per capita income, development, industry, infrastructure, etc.  Then it says:

“Not only had theper capita income in the various States of the Union started diverging rapidly during the past decades, the disparities in social attainments also appear to be persistent as brought out by the National Human Development Report 2001.”               It is very serious.  Now, the Tenth Five Year Plan – Strategic Concerns says:

“These trends indicate a growing polarisation of the country which can have an extremely damaging effect on national unity.  However, there is also evidence that protectionists and beggar-thy-neighbour behaviour is becoming increasingly more prevalent among the States.  In the context of a country as a whole, it is in the process of fostering greater integration with the rest of the world.  Such behaviour is fraught with serious dangers.”               Hon. President of India had also drawn the attention to the regional imbalances when he said:

“Regional imbalances have been accentuated not only by historical neglect but also by distortions in plan allocation.”               This has come from the President of the country.  I remember my great leader with whom I had the privilege of working.  He was a great visionary, the former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi.  Whenever he visited the North-East or any of the backward regions like Orissa or Jharkhand or any other tribal area, he always paid attention to the different levels of development in different regions.  He said:

“There is a need for the creation of parities between regions and regions and States and States.”               During the last Budget Speech of hon. Finance Minister when he was going eloquent on the great divide between rural and urban India, I had asked him to talk not only about the great divide between rural and urban India but also about the advanced and less advanced Indian regions, and the regions like East, North-East, etc.              I do not exactly remember where I read it but there was one prediction made by a great economist that 20 years from now perhaps the prosperous India would be in the coastal region and the big cities and the poorest India somewhere in the eastern side.  It may be Orissa barring the coastal districts, the top part of the West Bengal, northern part of Bihar and perhaps the whole northern lot up to Kashmir.   If a man has to develop, his whole body has to develop together.  You cannot have very good hands without a brain.  You cannot have very good eyes if you have a limb in your legs.  Have our economists given due importance to this aspect or not?  Have the various Committees and Commissions that have been formed taken it into account like the Sarkaria Commission which looked at the political aspect or the Gadgil Formula which looked at the economic aspect?  Have these been able to deliver the goods or not? 

I would like to know whether a new mechanism is now needed, especially after the liberalisation.  When liberalisation came and when we were talking about bringing in foreign investment to this country with a lot of hope to build a resurgent India, I was a young Member at that time.  I had expressed my apprehension that the foreign investment will come only to the best of the places like Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.  Will a foreign investor come to a place like Guwahati or to my home town?  Will they come to a remote village in Kerala or perhaps in Orissa?  The foreign investment will not come there.  They do not have a five star hotel there to attract foreigners.  So what will happen?  I said that maybe Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai would grow but other cities or the smaller States will become the dumping ground of Indian civilisation[r72] .

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now.

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I am just concluding my speech in a minute or two.

            I come from a State, I will not go into the psychological aspect, which my friends have said, is a mineral rich State and is a State where oil was first struck. Do you know that as a student I had to agitate to build a refinery in Assam? Do you know that as a young student I had to agitate to have a bridge over the river Brahmaputra? With that kind of a background I became a nationalist but there are many others who took to gun asking for Independence. Non-development and regional disparity is becoming the breeding ground for insurgency and terrorism. Let me tell this august House that if we do not arrest this process right now, then maybe, after 20 to 30 years we would not have an India that Gandhiji dreamt of; we would not have an India which is a symbol today of unity in diversity to the rest of the world. We cannot afford to ignore regional imbalances any further.

            I would just make one or two more points and then conclude. I would not take much time of the House. We must not forget that the North-East is bound to India by a very small piece of land and in Bengal it is called the Chicken Neck. Let that Chicken Neck not be a psychological neck also. Areas like the North-East and States like Orissa, Jharkhand -- it may not be proper to say this, but it is a fact – are suffering because of rich neighbours. When you have rich culture on one side and a poor culture on the other; when you have a rich State on the one hand and a poor State on the other, then that rich State with a rich culture dominates the poor State with a poor culture. This domination has to stop. Everybody has to be given things on par. In fact, the weaker ones would have to be propped up by the great Indian machinery. If we try to bully, if we try to show muscle power and if we try to show dominance because of strength of population, then it is not going to help our cause. I wanted to make a point on this aspect of population.

            Why should development be based only on population? On the one hand we say that we need to go in for family planning in order that our population does not grow, on the other hand we make population the only criteria for allocation of funds. Can that take place all the while? A more populous State gets more funds and a less populous State gets less funds. A tribal dominated States would not have much population. Can we continue to deprive them of their dues because they have less population? Are we pushing them towards a stage where we are indirectly asking them to go in for mass production of children? Will that help us? Will these incongruencies and these contradictions and these concepts which are no longer legitimate today and may become redundant in the creation of a resurgent India help our cause? Do these policies not require a new look? I hope, the House will endorse my point.

MR. CHAIRMAN: You have taken 15 minutes. You are making a good speech, but now, you may please conclude.

SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I am a very disciplined Member. I have full respect for you. Please be considerate to me for another two to three minutes.

            Sir, my last point is that recently we have seen some kind of a dilution of some of the special measures that are being taken to remove regional disparities. Some of the special schemes that have been evolved over the years for development of acutely backward, these are now being given to almost all other States, every State is demanding that and because of that the States for whom those were meant are suffering. It is a dilution of the special measures to remove regional disparities. The special packages, their import should never be diluted and Government should be aware of the problems of those acutely backward States[snb73] .

I suggest that, instead of passing a resolution for changing the political structure,  we should urge the Government unitedly saying that the time has come for the House as a whole to perhaps recommend for the formation of a new economic or political committee or commission to look into the problem of regional disparities in the country. We should go in for a Commission like the Gadgil Commission.  I hope you will give your ruling on this.  We should go in for the formation of a commission which will look into all the aspects of regional disparities, of differences between States and States and of differences between rural and urban areas.  It will come with a solution so that we can go ahead with a time-bound programme.

                                                                                                           

श्री कीरेन रिजीजू (अरुणाचल पश्चिम) : सभापति महोदय, आपने मुझे बोलने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपको धन्यवाद देता हूं। मैं यहां संविधान के पन्नों को उलटना नहीं चाहता और न ही कोई थ्योरटिकल आर्गुमैन्ट देना चाहता हूं। मेरा भाषण प्रैक्टिकल चीजों पर ही केन्द्रित रहेगा। यहां बहुत से माननीय सदस्यों ने जो कहा है, मैं उससे सहमत हूं और माननीय सदस्य श्री सर्वानन्द सोनोवाल ने हाउस में जो रेजोल्यूशऩ मूव किया है, मैं उसका समर्थन करते हुए अपनी बात कहना चाहूंगा। एक सांसद होने के नाते अगर मुझे दिल्ली से लन्दन या जर्मनी जाना है, तो मैं आराम से एयरपोर्ट जाता हूं और वहां छ:-सात घंटे में पहुंच जाता हूं। लेकिन जब मैं दिल्ली से अपने गांव की ओर रवाना होता हूं तो पहले मैं गुवाहाटी पहुंचता हूं, गुवाहाटी के बाद दो दिन का सफर गाड़ी से शुरू होता है और चार दिन पैदल चलकर मैं अपने गांव पहुंचता हूं। आजादी के ६० सालों के बाद आज भी हिन्दुस्तान में यह हालत है। इसके बाद प्रधान मंत्री जी और वित्त मंत्री जी जब मुस्करा कर कहते हैं कि हमारा देश प्रगति की ओर बढ़ रहा है तो यह उन लाखों लोगों की तौहीन है, जिनके पास आज भी गाड़ी नहीं है, चलने के लिए सड़कें नहीं हैं और रहने के लिए मकान नहीं है। यह सब देखने के बाद अपने आपको हिन्दुस्तानी कहने में तब फख्र महसूस नहीं होता है। मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि सदन को इस भावना को समझना पड़ेगा। मैं अपने दर्द को यहां प्रकट कर रहा हूं। बहुत से माननीय सदस्यों ने कहा कि इसके बाद हम पूर्व और पश्चिम से अपनी तुलना करते हैं। यह हिन्दुस्तान की विडम्बना है कि जो राज्य सबसे ज्यादा अमीर हैं, जिन्हें प्रकृति ने प्राकृतिक संसाधन दिये हैं, जहां मिनरल रिसोर्सेज हैं, उन जगहों पर गरीबी क्यों है? गरीबी उन्हीं जगहों पर क्यों है, जहां कुदरत ने भरपूर खजाना दिया है। मैं आपको अरूणाचल प्रदेश का उदाहरण देता हूं। भारत की ५० प्रतिशत हाइड्रो पावर मेरे राज्य में है। हमारे राज्य में सबसे ज्यादा जंगल हैं। वहां कुदरत ने सब कुछ दिया है। अगर नहीं दिया है तो भारत सरकार ने अपना ध्यान वहां कभी नहीं दिया है। यह बहुत दुख की बात है। हम लोग बार-बार यह कहते आये हैं कि कभी हमारी तरफ भी ध्यान दीजिए। हम कभी-कभी राष्ट्रवाद की बात करते हैं। मैं सदन में बार-बार कहता हूं कि आज राष्ट्रवाद की जमीन में राष्ट्रवाद कैसा है, यदि यह देखना है तो आप अरुणाचल प्रदेश के जंगलों और गांवों में जाइये। यदि आज भी वहां बाहर से कोई मेहमान आता है तो उसका स्वागत जय हिन्द के नारे से किया जाता है। यह हमें महसूस क्यों नहीं होता है। जब हम यहां कहते हैं कि हमारे यहां बहुत सी समस्याएं हैं तो कहा जाता है कि आपका गरीब इलाका है, दूरदराज का इलाका है।

महोदय, समस्याएं समझने से कुछ नहीं होता है, समस्याओं को समझकर उन्हें दिल से महसूस करना पड़ेगा, तब कहीं उनका इलाज हो सकता है। कई अधिकारी कहते हैं कि हमने असम, अरूणाचल प्रदेश और नॉर्थ ईस्ट को इतनी स्कीम्स दी हैं, मैं जानना चाहता हूं कि क्या हम भीख मांग रहे हैं? हम इस देश के नागरिक हैं, यह हमारा हक है। आप किस प्रकार कहते हैं कि हमने इतनी स्कीम्स आपको दे दी हैं और बाकी राज्यों के मुकाबले में आपको इतना दे दिया है। यदि आप राष्ट्रीयता की द्ृष्टि से देखेंगे तो यह कोई नहीं पूछता कि करगिल में एक भी आदमी नहीं रहता है, तब भी भारत सरकार वहां पर दस करोड़ रुपये प्रति दिन क्यों खर्च कर रही है,जबकि वहां जनसंख्या नहीं है। लेकिन यह सब देश के हित में खर्च करना पड़ता है, देश की सिक्युरिटी के लिए खर्च करना पड़ता है।

सभापति महोदय, १९६२ में अरुणाचल प्रदेश दो महीने चीन के कब्जे में रहा है। …( व्यवधान) 

श्री रामदास आठवले (पंढरपुर) : आप हमारे साथ आ जाइये, हम आपको बहुत ज्यादा दे देंगे।

श्री कीरेन रिजीजू : आठवले जी मुझे न्यौता दे रहे cé[R74] ।

मैं यह कह रहा हूं कि दो महीने जो हम चीन के कब्जे में रहे और आज तक आप इतिहास का पन्ना खोलकर देखिए कि एक भी अरुणाचल प्रदेश का आदमी भी नहीं मिलेगा जो यह कहता हो कि हम भारत से अलग होना चाहते हैं। आपको एक भी ऐसा व्यक्ति नहीं मिलेगा। हम टैरेरिज्म का नाम सुनते हैं लेकिन आप बताइए कि अरुणाचल प्रदेश का एक भी युवा जो यह कहता हो कि हम भारत से अलग होना चाहते हैं। अगर आप राष्ट्रवाद की झलक देखना चाहते हैं और मैं सभी माननीय सदस्यों को न्यौता देना चाहूंगा कि आप मेरे प्रदेश में चलिए, राष्ट्रवाद का खून आपको सबमें दौड़ता हुआ नजर आएगा। मैं सांसद हूं और मैं अपने गांव पैदल जाता हूं। मैं यहां पर एक छोटी सी छोटी स्कीम के लिए भटकता हूं। लेकिन मेरी बात सुनी नहीं जाती । पिछली बार जब बजट के समय में ग्रामीण विकास मंत्री जी ने कहा था कि हम नॉर्थ ईस्ट को स्पेशल नज़र से देखते हैं, उस वादे का क्या हुआ ? कुछ भी नहीं हुआ। उदाहरण के तौर पर यह ग्रामीण रोजगार योजना का बिल सर्वसम्मति से सदन में पास हुआ और जो रुरल एम्पलॉयमेंट एक्ट के मुताबिक २०० जिलों को इंक्लूड करना था, हमारे प्रदेश के १६ जिले हैं, उनमें से सिर्फ एक छोटे से जिले को इंक्लूड किया गया है। इस सरकार को आये हुए दो साल से ज्यादा हो गया है और उस योजना के तहत सिर्फ पांच प्रतिशत टार्गेट बनाया गया है और जब अभी दो प्रतिशत भी अचीव नहीं किया है तो आने वाले दो साल में कैसे अचीव करेंगे ? कपिल सिब्बल जी आप कैबिनेट में हैं, आप यह बात कैबिनेट में बोलिएगा और हमारे वहां से विजय हान्डिक जी हैं, आप भी बोलिएगा कि १६ जिलों में से केवल एक छोटे से जिले को इंक्लूड किया गया है - यह किस तरह का इंसाफ है? या तो आप बोल दीजिए कि हम नॉर्थ-ईस्ट को नहीं देखेंगे लेकिन यह मत कहिए कि हम देखना चाहते हैं लेकिन आप काम उसके विपरीत करते हैं। आप खुद सोचिए कि इससे कितनी चोट पहुंचती है? आप नेशनल यूनिटी की बात करते हैं और जो इतना पिछड़ा इलाका है, आप चाहते हैं कि वह पिछड़ा ही रहे, उसका उत्थान न हो। नीति तो आप यही अपना रहे हैं। आप बात को समझते क्यों नहीं हैं ? सरकार में जो लोग बैठे हैं और हम भी सांसद होने के नाते अपना कर्तव्य जानते हैं लेकिन जानते हुए भी अगर लोगों तक आपका कार्यक्रम नहीं पहुंचेगा तो उसका कोई लाभ नहीं है क्योंकि चाहे कोई भी भारत सरकार हो, कभी भी हमारी तरफ सही मन से काम नहीं किया गया है, यह मुझे दुख के साथ इस बात को कहना पड़ रहा है।

आप जब प्लानिंग करते हैं तो प्लानिंग करने वाले कौन लोग होते हैं? बंद कमरे में एयरकंडीशंड कमरे में बैठकर प्लानिंग करते हैं। उदाहरण के तौर पर एक साल में छह महीने तो बारिश होती है और बाकी समय में हमारे वहां इलाका बर्फ से ढका रहता है। निचले इलाके में बारिश होती है और तीन-चार महीने आप काम कर सकते हैं लेकिन जब नीति तय करते हैं तो २७५०० रुपये में इंदिरा आवास योजना के तहत मकान बनाने हैं। मैं माननीय प्रधान मंत्री जी से कहूंगा कि हमारे वहां आप २७,५०० रुपये से मकान बनाकर देखिए। अगर ऐसा आप कर पाएंगे तो आप इस सदन में बताइएगा। आप ऐसी नीति क्यों बनाते हैं जिसका कोई मतलब नहीं है ? गांवों से जुड़ी हुई बातों को लेकर आप कागज में प्लानिंग कीजिए तब जाकर मतलब होता है। जो आप सड़क बनाने का कार्यक्रम बनाते हैं, हमारे वहां आप फरवरी महीने में फंड रिलीज करते हैं और मार्च में काम पूरा करना होता है तो समय ही कहां है क्योंकि बारिश या बर्फ रहती है। उसके बाद हमारे पास काम करने का समय नहीं है। यहां पर आप एक करोड़ रुपये से दो कि.मी. सड़क बना सकते हैं लेकिन हमारे वहां दस करोड़ रुपये से कभी-कभी बीस मीटर सड़क भी नहीं बना सकते हैं। यह हकीकत है। हकीकत से जुड़कर अगर आप प्लानिंग नहीं करेंगे तो जो कुछ कागज के पन्ने पर रह जाता है, उसका कोई मायना नहीं रह जाता है। भारत को अगर अखंड भारत रखना है तो हर वह क्षेत्र जो पिछड़ा हुआ है, उनको भी आप साथ में लेकर आइए[R75] । उनका दर्द हमें समझना पड़ेगा। मैं नार्थ ईस्टर्न स्टेट्स की बात कहना चाहता हूं। सरकार ने कहा कि यह स्पेशल कैटेगरी स्टेट्स है। स्पेशल कैटेगरी स्टेट तब कहते हैं जब उसके विकास के लिये हम लिबरल फंडिंग करते हैं लेकिन भारत सरकार ने क्या किया? बोडोलैंड टैरिटोरियल कौंसिंल का गठन हुआ। भारत सरकार ने कहा कि हम पैसे देंगे लेकिन बाद में प्रधानमंत्री और वित्त मंत्री कहते हैं कि बोडोलैंड टैरिटोरियल कौंसिंल के लिये १०० करोड़ रुपया सैंट्रल पूल ऑफ रिसोर्सेज़ में से खर्च कर दिया। सर्व शिक्षा अभियान भारत सरकार की ऐसी स्कीम है जिसका हम लोग भरपूर समर्थन करते हैं। उसके लिये ९२ करोड़ रुपया दिया गया। इस सब का क्या मतलब है, यह कौन सी पौलिसी है? अगर आप नार्थ ईस्टर्न स्टेट्स को पैसा नहीं देना चाहते हैं, तो कहिये कि नहीं दे सकते हैं, तब हम कुछ नहीं कहेंगे। जब उसे स्पेशल कैटेगरी नाम दिया है तो उसे स्पेशल ट्रीटमेंट भी दीजिये।

सभापति महोदय, मेरे पास बहुत से पाइंट्स हैं लेकिन समय की कमी के कारण उन्हे शार्ट कर रहा हूं क्योंकि आप बार-बार घंटी बजाते जा रहे हैं। नार्थ ईस्टर्न स्टेट्स में टैक्स हॉलिडे के संबंध में इंडस्टि्रयल पौलिसी लानी पड़ेगी, उसे सपोर्ट करना है। उत्तरांचल और हिमाचल प्रदेश जैसे पहाड़ी क्षेत्र, जो हम से बहुत आगे हैं, वहां उसी टैक्स हॉलिडे की पौलिसी को अडाप्ट कर लिया गया है लेकिन नार्थ ईस्टर्न स्टेट्स में कौन जाकर इंडस्ट्रीज लगायेगा?

सभापति महोदय : अब आप कनक्लूड कीजिये।

श्री कीरेन रिजीजू : सभापति जी, मैं कनक्लूड कर रहा हूं। मैं सरकार से जानना चाहता हूं कि यह कैसा ट्रीटमेंट है। इसके लिये सरकार को आउटलुक चेंज करना पड़ेगा, सोचने का तरीका बदलना होगा। आपने जो ब्यूरोक्रेटिक सेटअप बनाया हुआ है, वे नार्थ ईस्टर्न स्टेट्स को भीख के हिसाब से पैसा देते हैं, उसे सरकार बंद करे।

सभापति महोदय, हिमालयन बैल्ट के लिये हम लोगों ने सरकार से बार-बार कहा है कि वहां स्पेशल रूप से काम करना चाहिये। चीन के साथ हमारा हिमालयन बैल्ट सटा हुआ है। हमने मैक्मोहन लाइन को और दूसरी जगह भी देखा है, जैसे ही हम चीन का इंटरनैशनल बौर्डर क्रॉस करते हैं तो वहां का इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर फस्र्ट क्लास का है जबकि हमारी आर्मी पैदल जाती है। हमें खुद वहां जाने के लिये मना किया जाता है। ब्रटिश सरकार ने यह पौलिसी बनाई थी कि हमारा चीन के साथ संबंध नहीं होना चाहिये, वहां इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर नहीं होना चाहिये। चाहे एन.डी.ए. की सरकार रही हो या यू.पी.ए. की सरकार हो, सब ने एक पौलिसी बना रखी है कि अरुणाचल प्रदेश का डेवलेपमेंट नहीं होना चाहिये। यह सब प्रधानमंत्री जानते हैं। यह कौन सी फाईल में लिखा हुआ है कि वहां सड़क नहीं बनेगी, चीन उसका यूज़ कर लेगा। इस तरह के निगेटिव एटीच्यूड को बदलना होगा। आज कहते हैं कि एम.पी. वहां नहीं जा सकते हैं लेकिन जब हम सब चीजें सैटेलाइट पर देख रहे हैं तब भी आप कहते हैं कि हम लोग वहां नहीं जा सकते हैं। क्या अरुणाचल प्रदेश में जाने के लिये एक हिन्दुस्तानी को पास चाहिये। एक विदेशी को अरुणाचल में कैसे भटकना पड़ता है, वह होम मनिस्ट्री में आर.ए.पी. लेने के लिये जाता है। आज के जमाने में और खासकर २१वीं सैंचुरी में जब टैक्नौलौजी हाई तो हो है, सैटेलाइट का जमाना है, तब कहते हैं कि टूरिज्म का डेवलेपमेंट अरुणाचल प्रदेश में करेंगे? दूसरी तरफ एक टूरिस्ट को जाने के लिये हज़ारों ठोकरें खानी पड़ती हैं, क्या यह आपकी पौलिसी है? सरकार को एक सही पौलिसी अपनानी होगी, एक यूनीफौर्म पौलिसी अपनानी होगी जिसे देखकर लोगों को लगे कि सरकार कुछ करना चाहती है, उसे लागू करना चाहती है।

सभापति जी, मेरे पास और भी बहुत सारे पांइट्स थे लेकिन समय की कमी के कारण मैं इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूं और आपको धन्यवाद देता हूं कि आपने मुझे बोलने के लिये समय दिया।

17.00 hrs. SHRIMATI PARAMJIT KAUR GULSHAN (BHATINDA): Thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak on  the  important subject of “Lack of development of backward areas” in my mother-tongue Punjabi.  Sir, we celebrated the 59th anniversary of Independence a few days ago.  On such an occasion, the Government in power usually waxes eloquent on its achievements.  However the ground reality is far removed from the claims made regarding these achievements.  The backward regions of our country have not yet tasted these so-called achievements. 

            In this august House, we make tall claims regarding the rate of growth of our economy.  The Government claims that our economy is a growing at a healthy rate of 7 to 8%.  But the people of remote and backward areas do not understand the data and statistics. The stark reality is that we have failed to provide even basic amenities to these people.

            We all claim that Punjab is a prosperous state. However, there are backward and remote areas in Punjab too that can not be turned prosperous.  In such areas in Punjab, primary education to children has remained a pipe-dream.  In such areas in Punjab,  there are no schools.  If schools are there, the posts of teachers are vacant.  Infrastructure is in shambles.  Drop-out rate of school children is on the higher side. I am sorry to say that there is no concrete primary education policy in the country.  With the change in Governments, our education policy also keeps on changing. As a result, 70% children in our country are outside the ambit of primary education.  No children from such neglected areas grow up to become doctors, engineers, I.A.S. officers or even teachers. This is the sad state of affairs of the backward regions of our country.

   

*English translation of the speech originally delivered in Punjabi.

 

            The health service in these backward areas is in a mess.  There are no medicines in dispensaries in these areas.  Posts of doctors are lying vacant.  The health-service in these areas is virtually non-existent.

            In Punjab, there are many backward areas that have not been connected by bus-service.  People from these areas have to trudge long distances if they want to come to the nearest town.  In such areas in Punjab, there is no electricity connection. Even in areas where electricity connection has been provided, there are power-cuts for a long duration.  In these backward regions of Punjab, in the absence of electricity, mosquitoes have a field day and the suffering of the people is compounded.  As a result, the people in these areas are plagued by various diseases.

            In these backward areas, a vast majority of people do not have a place of shelter.  Many of them are forced to live in houses that are makeshift and temporary in nature.  The Government grants them a paltry sum of Rs. 25,000/- for construction of a permanent house. It is a cruel joke played on these people. 

            The sanitary condition in these areas are very bad. There is no flush-system or toilets in these houses. A measly amount of Rs.600/- is granted by the Government for the purpose of construction of a toilet. It is a farce.

            There is no one to take care of our old people in these backward areas.  We have no policies for the welfare of our elders. The old people are leading a life of misery in these areas.

            Unemployment is on the rise in such backward areas.  There are no schools in these areas. Even if someone gets educated,  he has no future as there are no jobs.  As a result, the unemployed youths take to social evils.  Suicides are on the rise.  Hence, the Government must launch a  campaign to generate employment for the youths of these areas.  Only then can we dream of development of these areas.

 

            Sir, there are no drinking-water facilities for the people of these areas.  We have miserably failed in our duty to provide potable water to these people.  Women of these areas have to trudge long distances in search of drinking water, with pitchers balanced precariously on their heads.

            There are many villages in Punjab that have seen no development work since ages.  They are completely cut-off from the nearest towns.  No Government official ever visits such villages. They are devoid of even basic facilities.

            The farmers of these backward areas are in a miserable condition.  The farmers cannot take their produce to the city.  These poor and hapless farmers have no purchasing power either.  So, I appeal to this august House that efforts must be made to bail out our farmers.  The Government must chalk out concrete schemes and come to the rescue of the people of these backward areas. When the people of these remote and backward areas make real progress, only then can we realize the dreams of the founding fathers of our country.

 

MR. CHAIRMAN : Hon. Members, I have a list of 12 Members who want to speak on this Resolution. We have to wind up this discussion today. That is the request I have received from the hon. Minister. So, I would request all hon. Members who will be speaking hereafter to confine their speeches to only five minutes each. Please help me in controlling the proceedings of the House.

SHRI W. WANGYUH KONYAK (NAGALAND): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me time to participate in the Resolution moved by my colleague Shri Sarbananda Sonowal regarding balanced and equitable development of all parts of the country. This is a very important subject.

            Sir, we have many extremist groups and underground groups in our country like naxalites and other extremist forces. Why are such groups coming up in our country? What is the reason? The Government of India should think about it very seriously. There are naxalites in different parts of our country. In some States, proper treatment has not been given to these people by State Governments and in some States proper treatment has not been given to them by the Central Government. These extremist groups are demanding autonomous regions have come up only due to regional imbalance. Therefore, I fully support the Resolution moved by my friend Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. Two of my hon. friends from the North-East Shri Kirip Chaliha and Shri Kiren Rijiju have already spoken on this Resolution.

            The Department of Development of North-East Region was created in September, 2001 and it started functioning on 1st November, 2001. It was accorded the status of the Ministry vide a Gazette Notification of the Government of India issued on 27th May, 2004. As my friend from Arunachal Pradesh Shri Kiren Rijiju said, the NDA Government took a decision that all the Ministries of the Government of India should make a contribution of 10 per cent from their budgetary allocation to a Non-Lapseable Common Pool for the development of the North-East. That was the decision taken by the Government of India, but 18 Ministries have been exempted from making that 10 per cent contribution for the development of the North East. Even now, many Ministries are trying to get exemption from making 10 per cent contribution.

            Sir, a special accord was made with regard to Bodoland called Bodoland Territorial Accord and Bodoland Territorial Council was created. The Government of India has committed to give Rs. 100 crore every year for five years to Bodoland for infrastructure development. Then, an amount of Rs. 700 crore was earmarked to be given for the development of the entire North East. Out of this amount, Rs. 100 crore has been allocated to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC[k76] ).

The [Rs77] HRD Ministry has sufficient funds and all the States are not getting  from HRD and they are taking out Rs. 90 lacs from NLCP for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.  This is the injustice meted out to the people of North-East.  On this, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended that special amount should be given separately from the Central Government and that no amount should be managed from the DONOR Ministry.  That was the recommendation given by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.

            Sir, the North-Eastern Council was created and the North-Eastern Council had demanded a sum of Rs.1,337 crore for the year 2006-07 and that was the projection made by the NEC.  Against the sum of Rs.1,337 crore, only a sum of Rs.600 crore has been given.  What has happened is that the amount of border fencing with Bangladesh has been done from the amount of that Rs.600 crore.  This imbalance has been created greatly by the Ministry and the Government of India. 

            We talk about justice, but we are not giving justice to the people of India, particularly, to the backward regions.  Why are the people in Andhra Pradesh demanding a separate Telangana State?  Why are they making a demand for an Autonomous Council?  It is because of imbalance that has been created in some parts of the country.

            Sir, in Nagaland, in 1927, one Railway station was established at Naganimora.  After India got Independence, this Railway station was dismantled.  Instead of taking up new projects, this Railway station was dismantled.  The Government of Nagaland and I have taken up this matter with the Railway Ministry several times, but there is no response from the Railway Ministry.

            Sir, in our country, there are three States without any medical colleges.  They are Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.  The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended that each State should have a medical college.  Then, they have included Bodoland Territorial Council because in Upper Assam, there are three medical colleges.  The Government is not taking any interest in this regard.  So, where is the justice and where is the regional balance?

            Sir, I now come to tax holiday on industries.  Nagaland is a State where there is no industry.  We have only one sick unit.  We have written thousands of times to the NDA Government and to the UPA Government but we have got nothing.  The Government is talking about tax holiday on industries, but if there is no industry in the region, how can we avail the facility of tax holiday. 

 

17.14 hrs.                              (Dr. Laxminarayan Pandey in the Chair)          Lastly, the discrimination is there even among the elected Members in the Lok Sabha.  Let me cite one example.  There are more than one MP in all the States, except States like Nagaland, Mizoram, etc.  Sir, I come from Nagaland and there are about 11 districts in the State.  I have to look after 11 districts and the entire State.  I am getting a sum of Rs.2 crore from the MPLAD Fund as the other hon. Members.  In Delhi, which has seven MPs, one Member is getting the same amount for one or two districts.  In one district of big States, there are two-three MPs.  They are also getting a sum of Rs.2 crore.  So, the injustice has started from this House only.  Can I alone look after my whole State with a meagre sum of Rs.2 crore?  There are 80 MPs from Uttar Pradesh.  In one district, there are five to six MPs.  So, we have written a letter to the hon. Prime Minister States that have one MP should be given special priority[Rs78] .

We told, at least,  to enhance our quota but there was no response.  This is the discrimination, and discrimination is starting from here, from this House.  Unlike other States who are having more MPs, we are suffering as smaller and single-MP State.  This is the discrimination. 

            My last submission is this.  There is regional imbalance in the country because any Government of the State or the Central Government is not doing justice to the people. So, they form a separatist group maybe this group or that group, and we are not talking about them.  We are very glad that we are looking after weaker section of the people, but we are not doing that.  Therefore, I would like to suggest that the Government should form a Committee to have an in depth study State-wise and find out why people have gone in the other side and how we can have balance.  The Committee should submit a Report to this House and it should be taken up in a serious manner.  Any scheme announced by the Central Government against any State or region should be implemented properly.  Then only we can talk about balanced and equitable development of all parts of the country.

डॉ. करण सिंह यादव (अलवर) : महोदय, मैं श्री सर्वानन्द सोनोवाल को धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूं जिन्होंने बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे को एक संकल्प के माध्यम से सदन के सामने प्रस्तुत किया है। पूरा सदन इस बात पर एकमत है कि चाहे जो भी कारण रहे हों, आजादी के पहले के कारण हों या ऐतिहासिक कारण रहे हों, राजे-रजवाड़ों से जुड़े कारण रहे हों, यह तथ्य है कि इस देश में अभी भी बहुत ज्यादा असंतुलन है। शहरों में हम देखते हैं कि बड़ी-बड़ी अट्टालिकाएं रोज़ाना खड़ी हो रही हैं, दिनों-दिन विकास हो रहा है। जितने भी सुख-सुविधा, शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य के साधन हैं, वे सभी शहरों में दिखायी देते हैं। सुदूर गांव इस विकास के रास्ते से दूर पड़े हैं। भारत के सभी राज्यों को देखें, तो कुछ राज्य अपनी भौगोलिक स्थिति के कारण, अच्छी उत्पादन क्षमता के कारण, आजादी से पूर्व अच्छे शिक्षा संस्थानों के कारण आगे बढ़ गए हैं। दक्षिण के राज्यों में आजादी से पहले आरक्षण की लड़ाई लड़ी गयी। वहां उन्होंने समाज के दबे-कुचले लोगों को शिक्षा देकर इस लायक बनाया कि वे अपने ज्ञान के बल पर देश और विदेश में गए और साधन कमाकर अपने क्षेत्रों का विकास किया। दक्षिण भारत के केरल, कर्नाटक और तमिलनाडु राज्य को किसी भी मानदण्ड पर देखें, चाहे शिक्षा का मानदण्ड हो, जनसंख्या स्थायीकरण का मानदण्ड हो, रोजगार की उपलब्धता का मानदण्ड हो, विदेशों में नौकरी करने वालों की संख्या को देखें, उससे यह बात सत्यापित होती है। उत्तर भारत में बहुत सारे लोग जो अपने आपको प्रबुद्ध मानते हैं और आरक्षण की खिलाफत करते हैं, यह उनके लिए उदाहरण है कि केरल, कर्नाटक और तमिलनाडु के लोग शिक्षा के माध्यम से इन ५० सालों में आगे बढ़कर के आए हैं।

महोदय, मैं राजस्थान प्रदेश से आता हूं। देश के बहुत से राज्यों की तुलना में यह बहुत पिछड़ा हुआ है। जितने विकास के पैमाने हैं, उन सबमें यह पिछड़ा हुआ है। एक भी बड़ा उद्योग राजस्थान में नहीं है। कोइ ऑयल रिफाइनरी यहां नहीं है, कोई बड़ा शिक्षा संस्थान नहीं है। अब आल इंडिया इन्स्टीटयूट खोलने की बात की जा रही cè[c79] । राजस्थान में भी, जब हम राजस्थान को अलग-अलग बांटकर देखते हैं, तो जो दिल्ली के आसपास का एरिया है, अलवर, भरतपुर, जयपुर, झुंझनूं, इस क्षेत्र में शिक्षा का ज्यादा प्रादुर्भाव रहा, खेती-बाड़ी भी यहां ठीक होती रही, इसलिए यह क्षेत्र राजस्थान का कुछ विकसित क्षेत्र है। लेकिन दूसरी ओर यदि हम जैसलमेर, बाडमेर, नागौर, चूरू, बीकानेर की ओर देखें, जहां दूर-दूर तक रेगिस्तान है, रेत है, हरी पत्ती भी दिखाई नहीं देती, वे इलाकों आज भी शिक्षा की द्ृष्टि से, चकित्सा की द्ृष्टि से, सड़क यातायात की द्ृष्टि से, स्कूल कालेजों की द्ृष्टि से, मैडीकल इंजीनियरिंग कालेज की द्ृष्टि से, इण्डस्ट्रीज़ की द्ृष्टि से बहुत पिछड़े हुए हैं और इस असंतुलन का सामाजिक समरसता के ऊपर बराबर प्रभाव पड़ता जा रहा है। सौभाग्य है कि आज राजस्थान के उन इलाकों में आतंकवाद या इन्सरजेंसी तो नहीं है, लेकिन इस बात का लोगों के मन में मलाल अवश्य है कि जब भी कोई नौकरियां दी जाती हैं, तो शहरों का शक्षित वर्ग उन नौकरियों पर कब्जा करके बैठ जाता है और अगर उनसे कहें कि अब आप बाड़मेर के सीमावर्ती इलाके में या जैसलमेर के सीमावर्ती गांव में जाकर पढ़ाइये, उनका आर.पी.एस. के जरिए सलैक्शन तो हो जाता है, लेकिन उस पिछड़े इलाके में जाकर काम करने को वे तैयार नहीं होते। दूसरे दिन से ही अर्जी लेकर आपके और हमारे पीछे आ जाते हैं कि साहब, वहां तो जंगल है, रहने की जगह भी नहीं है, पीने का पानी भी नहीं है, पास में अस्पताल भी नहीं है, पैदल बहुत दूर तक जाना पड़ता है, ऐसी जगह पर हम अपने लड़के और लड़की को कैसे रख सकते हैं, डॉक्टर साहब, बच्चे का ट्रांसफर जयपुर करवाइये, अलवर करवाइये। पिछले कांग्रेस के शासन के दौरान राजस्थान में वहां की तत्कालीन सरकार ने इस बात की कोशिश की थी, रीजनल रिजर्वेशन देने की बात की थी कि जो पिछड़े इलाके के लोग हैं, वहां के रोजगारों में उन लोगों को प्राथमिकता दी जाये, वहां के लोगों को कुछ ऐसे बोनस अंक दिये जायें, जिससे वहां का सन ऑफ दि सोइल वहां बैठकर पढ़ा सके, वहां का बच्चा मास्टर सलैक्ट हो सके, वहां का बच्चा कम्पाउण्डर सलैक्ट हो सके, वहां का बच्चा पटवारी सलैक्ट हो सके, वहां का बच्चा सरकारी नौकरियों में जाये, वरना आज यह स्थिति है कि कल मेरे पास कोई सज्जन आये, दिल्ली के रहने वाले थे, उनका ट्रांसफर लेह हो गया और लेह कोई नहीं जाना चाहता। मैंने पूछा कि कोई लेह साइड का इंजीनियर नहीं है, जो दूरदर्शन में काम कर सके। बाड़मेर किसी का ट्रांसफर हो गया, वह कहता है कि कालापानी भेज दिया। कोई बाड़मेर साइड का इंजीनियर नहीं है, जिसे वहां लगा सकें। इसलिए आज जहां हम बैकवर्ड एरियाज़ को स्पेशल पैकेज देने और अधिक आर्थिक संसाधन देने की वकालत करते हैं, वहां कहीं न कहीं हमें यह भी सोचना पड़ेगा कि some kind of regional reservation has to be given for the people of that area.  If people from North India or South India do not want to go and work in the Manipur Radio Station or Manipur Central Government services, then we must find certain method by which local and regional people can be adjusted there.

सभापति जी, मैं केवल एक मिनट में अपनी बात कह दूंगा। राजस्थान के मामले में, जहां इतना बड़ा लम्बा-चौड़ा क्षेत्र है, जो देश का सबसे बड़ा राज्य है, जैसलमेर का इलाका ही समूचे इंग्लैंड से ज्यादा क्षेत्रफल का है, लेकिन जब पैसे बांटने की बात आती है तो वही गाडगिल फार्मूला लागू होता है। उसमें इस बात का कहीं ध्यान नहीं रखा जाता कि उस क्षेत्र का घनत्व कितना है, आबादी कितनी है, वहां सर्विसेज़ ले जाने के लिए कितनी दूर जाना पड़ता है। जब पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों को स्पेशल पैकेजेज़ दिये जा रहे हैं, स्पेशल ग्राण्ट मिलती है तो राजस्थान में जहां पूरा रेतीला इलाका है, उसे भी ध्यान में रखते हुए, जो फाइनेंशियल डैवोल्यूशन किया जा रहा है, उसके बारे में विचार करें और राजस्थान में जितनी ज्यादा आबादी शैडयूल्ड कास्ट्स, शैडयूल्ड ट्राइब्स, गरीब लोगों की है, पूरा रेगिस्तानी इलाका है, उसे ध्यान में रखकर आर्थिक संसाधन जुटाये जायें।

अपनी बातें यहीं पर समाप्त करते हुए आपको धन्यवाद देकर मैं बैठना चाहूंगा।

MR. CHAIRMAN : Hon. Members, the extended time for this Resolution is over now.  Still I have a list of seven more Members to speak on this Resolution.  If the House agrees, then we may extend the time for this Resolution by one more hour.

SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS:  Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN:  Okay, the time for this Resolution is extended by one more hour.

            Now,  Dr. H.T. Sangliana.

   

DR. H.T. SANGLIANA (BANGALORE NORTH):  Respected Presiding Officer, having come from a disciplined background, I would not violate the time that would be allotted to me, but I hope, you would be reasonable enough so as to enable me to finish some of the crucial points, which I want to raise today in support of the Resolution moved by our hon. colleague, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

            Though I come from Bangalore North Constituency, I could identify the seriousness of the SOS raised by way of this particular Resolution, because I am originally from the North-East; I have experience, I have  gone through, I have shared all the feelings  --  ill feelings or the sad feelings – of the people of the North-East for the past 64 years.

            Well, our problem today is more of imbalanced growth inside imbalanced growth.  Generally speaking, wherever  there have not been proper development, we have had problems like insurgency, naxalism and other types of crime.  In States, where there are imbalances, where certain regions have not properly developed, we have naxalism, like in West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, also today in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and some other States.

            Sir, it is important for the Government to constantly monitor development in various areas so as to ensure equal development for the people of the country.  Now, for my State of Karnataka, the State Government had sent the proposals to the Government of India for its development.  Even right now, as many as more than 200 proposals are pending with the Government of India.  I think, a specific time should be fixed for disposal of cases.  You reject it or you grant it.  But making the States to  wait for clearance at the Centre is also causing heartburn, which would result in  disharmony. 

If  development is going to take  place on the basis of volume of shouting done in Parliament, the North-Eastern people are the most unfortunate people because by nature we are shy, we are timid, we do not want to shout or indulge in any odd behaviour and our number is less.  If democracy is by numbers, our population is small and we are nowhere as you have been seeing us  all these years.

            Today, the voices raised by the earlier speakers, more so by the young MPs like our Arunachal Pradesh MP, Shri Kiren Rijiju, were the outcome of  experience at the grass-root level. They had raised their voices in a limited way,  but it demands for immediate response with wisdom. If the Government would not see the seriousness  of this kind  of SOS raised by our people in the North-East, I cannot  guarantee you cent per cent peace. You know us very well that we need more attention, better understanding and quicker  implementation of  developmental projects.  We talk about NEC.  Our friend from the Nagaland had mentioned the failure of certain Ministries when it comes to the question of contributing some percentage for developing the North-East.  What is the mechanism you have to force them to  contribute? These are very important points, and you have to reply them with wisdom[KD80] .

            I recommend for the creation of a Committee of Experts, a Committee which should include economists and management experts, as their findings will be more acceptable and meaningful. So, it will be good if such a Committee could be formed. It can  go round and verify, on the spot, the different stages of development in all the States in the country, and more so in the North-East.

            As you are aware, North-Eastern States are having limitless potential for developing hydel power. This too is neglected. Till today even the Tipaimukh hydel project, which was sanctioned and started some time in 1984, has not seen the light of the day. What are the reasons? We do not know . If there are good reasons, let us know them so that we will be able to appreciate causes of the delay.

            Our imbalanced growth is so bad that in certain States they can even distribute TVs and cycles freely to their people.  Whereas in the North-East, we have  people who are not even sure of having two square  meals a day. Not only TVs and cycle that they are distributing but also  good quality rice, at the rate of  only Rs.2 per kilogram. Such is the imbalance in our country. It has been expressed by the Finance Minister also that free distribution of TVs, cycles and rice is a possibility in the State of Tamil Nadu. Where are we?  How imbalaned is our growth and development?

            I sincerely request the Government of India to look into the imbalanced growth which has been taking place all over the country.  Please remember that if you are going to decide grants on the basis of population, we are nowhere in the North-East.  If you are going to depend on the amount of shouting  we do in the Parliament or elsewhere or writing even in the newspapers, then also we are nowhere because our number is small.  Therefore, let us not continue to neglect this important of imbalanced growth,  more so in the context of the North-East so that  insurgency will not continue,  people will not take the law into their own hands and peace will prevail everywhere in the country.                                                                                           

SHRIMATI ARCHANA NAYAK (KENDRAPARA): Hon. Chairman, Sir, thank you for giving me an opportunity to participate in the ‘Resolution on steps for balanced and equitable development of all parts of the country’ moved by hon. Member, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

            Article 1 of the Constitution of India says that “India shall be a union of States”. Like the organs of a human body, a nation can become stronger only if its all constituent parts are equally developed economically. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, India is one. Imbalanced growth and parochial development only lead to discontentment and divisive tendencies among the people. All round development of all parts of the country can make it economically stronger to compete with the economic giants of the world.

            There are hundreds of villages in our country, which do not have proper roads and rail infrastructure to connect with the rest of the country.

            I come from Orissa which is frequently affected by natural calamities. Droughts and floods visit the State frequently.  Sir,  47.13 per cent of the people of the State live below the poverty line. Even though there are abundant deposits of minerals, thick forest, natural resources, Orissa languishes in poverty. The State does not get the credit which it should deserve. It does not get proper share in the coal royalty from the Centre.

The long pending demand to declare Special Category status to the State is still a dream. In our country, the farming community do not get low interest loans, have no access to irrigation facilities, safe drinking water or modern agricultural implements[m81] .

            They live in perpetual miseries and abject poverty. Their crop failures lead them to suicide. The demand of Orissa for a National Institute of Science is denied by the Central Government through delaying tactics. It is most unfortunate that the Central Government proposed the discontinuation of revised long-term action plan for KBK districts of Orissa. The scheme should continue for those people who live in poverty and misery.

            Salination destroys thousands of hectares of land regularly and makes them infertile on the coastal belt like in Kendrapara in Orissa. My humble appeal is that Orissa should not be neglected and the projects should be implemented on top priority basis. The country is so vast that while one part reels under drought, the other part faces flood. We have people living in luxury and at the same time people die of hunger.

            Different parts of the country have different types of natural and human potential. The Government must identify the different potentials available in the country and tap them properly. Industries should be set up accordingly. Vast human potential should be fully utilised. There is a need to set up a National Commission to monitor the balanced and equitable development of all parts of the country which should be entrusted with the job.

            Sir, once again I thank you for giving me an opportunity to participate in the discussion. 

 

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY (KOKRAJHAR): Respected Chairperson, Sir, I am thankful to you for giving me time to speak on this most important and serious Resolution which has been moved by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

            I rise to support Shri Sonowal’s  Private Member’s Resolution. I come from Bodoland territory which is one of the most backward and neglected areas of the State of Assam. I belong to a tribe called Bodo. Bodo is one of the most ancient and most indigenous or real autochthons of the State of Assam. Throughout the whole country, the total population of the Bodos would be around ten million. Within the State of Assam itself, the total population of the Bodo tribal people will be more than 50 lakh . Within the Bodoland Territorial Areas District, we are having 30 lakh population and out of this figure of three million,  the indigenous Bodo tribal population is around 70 per cent.

For this most neglected and backward area, the Government of India has committed to give only Rs. 100 crore per year for five years for the creation of some developmental infrastructure which is a very, very meagre amount of money. With this mere amount of Rs. 100 crore per year, it is not at all possible to create a lot of required infrastructure.

I will give an example of the clear discrimination and disparity as well which is taking place within the Bodoland area. We, the Bodoland people, do not have a single university. We do not have a single medical college. We do not have a single engineering college. We do not have even a single polytechnic institute[krr82] . We do not have even a domestic airport.  We do not have any Management Institute.

            We do not have good road infrastructure.  We do not have required health and medical service  facilities and good hospitals. There is insufficient power supply in the villages. There are no good educational institutions. There is no industrialisation. There is no good infrastructure for development of agriculture sector also. Over the last more than 59 years since Independence, the most indigenous tribal people of the country, the Bodo people, have been deprived of what was due to them. Whatever commitments had been made by different leaders of this great nation since Independence and whatever provisions have been enshrined in the Constitution of India have not yet been implemented in toto. Because of the obstinate mindset, because of the parochial attitude, because of the discriminatory policy approach adopted by the people and parties in power against the indigenous tribal people, this regional imbalance is rising high. So, I would like to appeal to the Government to set up a high-level national commission to inquire into all these regional imbalances that are taking place in all the spheres of development and growth on all sectors in different regions and areas across the country.   As a measure of solution to the regional imbalances,  all the backward and neglected regions and sub-regions of the respective States and of the whole country should be re-organised on a real federal plan into viable and workable   autonomous States or sub-States and into  autonomous territories or autonomous regions on the pattern of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region and   Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and so on and so forth within the existing provincial States and Union Terroritories .

All the tribal people should be given adequate political power. In this regard, I would quote Dr. Ambedkar who said : “Political power is the main key by which you can open  either a big or small  lock.” We, the tribal people of this country India, have not been given adequate political power. Because of this disparity, the tribal people of India have been deprived of equitable justice in the matter of development of tribal areas in each and every sphere. So, I would like to appeal to the Government of India to set up a high-level inquiry commission to inquire into all these things and to make such viable recommendations to re-organise all the backward and neglected regions and sub-regions of the respective States of the country into autonomous States, sub-States, autonomous territories or autonomous regions on a real federal plan. Then only, we can expect the people of each and every region to have equitable justice.

Why has the young generation of the North-Eastern India and State of Assam gone underground? The basic reason is negligence, discriminatory policy approach and regional imbalance. If India has to be kept intact, these disparities shall have to be removed at the earliest possible. Otherwise, you will miss the train. You cannot buy the hearts and  minds and sentiments of the people of North-Eastern region by money only, and  by mere populist slogans that you have been given  more than Rs. 1,000 crore per year as a special package. The implementation part too is not up to the mark. So, I would like to appeal to the Government of India and to the nation as a whole that दिल से, मुहब्बत से बात कीजिए, सिर्फ मुंह से नहीं, रूपए से हमारे नार्थ ईस्ट के लोगों को आप खरीद नहीं प्ााएंगे[S83] । अगर हिन्दुस्तान में हम सभी को रखना है, तो दिल से, प्यार से हमारी भी मदद करनी पड़ेगी, नहीं तो मुश्किल होगी। We have been trying to bring all the militant groups of  the North Eastern States to the national mainstream, but we need adequate support from the Government of India with  positive political wisdom.

            I would like to appeal to the Government of India to sanction  at least one Central University for the Bodoland territory; one engineering college for the Bodoland territory; one Central Agricultural University for the Bodoland territory; one IIT for the Bodoland territory; and one IIM  for the Bodoland territory. These are the pre – requisite factors to help develop the Bodoland territory.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Member, please conclude your speech.

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : The Govrnment  should also take complete action plan for the  development of the Indo-Bhutan border as it has been very much neglected. Is it not a part of our free India? What about the  developmental projects and policies in relation to  the Indo-China border?

MR. CHAIRMAN: Hon. Member, please conclude your speech.

SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : Sir, I am not able to talk much about all the issues because of lack of time. I want that the Government of India should definitely respond to all that we have spoken in this House.

            Last but not least, I strongly support the Resolution moved by my colleague Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.

   

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SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): Sir, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to speak. I rise to support the Resolution moved by our hon. colleague Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. This Resolution has much importance from the point of view of strengthening our federal structure.

Many regions of the country are much developed, and many other regions are still lagging behind with regard to development even after completion of 59 years of our Independence. The southern areas, particularly, the urban areas and big cities are much developed, as they have almost all types of infrastructure facilities, namely, education, water, electricity, good roads, transportation, and chances of vast opportunities to earn their livelihood, and do other jobs. On the other hand, we do not have even basic amenities like electricity, road connectivity, transport, etc. in certain areas even today.

            It is a very imbalanced development in even certain parts of developed States like Gujarat. We consider Gujarat as a developed State, and it is a very forward State.  But if we take into account the entire State of Gujarat, many parts of that State are still lagging behind in the field of development. For example, my friends here from the North East States mentioned that they are on the eastern border of the country, and they are not having many of the basic infrastructure facilities. Similar is the case with the western end, particularly, my constituency, namely, Kutch. Kutch is much under developed in all ways, that is, socially, educationally, economically, etc. Kutch forms 24 per cent area of the whole of Gujarat State, but unfortunately its population is merely 3 per cent. The allocation of funds is made on the basis of per capita. Naturally, this big area cannot get adequate funds even though it forms 24 per cent of the Gujarat State because the population there is merely three per cent[ak84] .

It is very unfortunate that nature has not been very kind to this area. In the last 50 years, we have faced more than 35 famines. In every five-year cycle, we had drought continuously for three years and rain in one year. Even when there was rain, the rainfall is only 10” or 12” per year. That area also faced two worst cyclones -- one in 1998 and another in 1999. In the 1998 cyclone, we have lost more than three lakh fruit bearing trees, which were nursed by the farmers for the last 40 years. All of them perished in one cyclone, and we have lost more than 3,000 precious human lives. The 1999 cyclone had hit the western part of Kutch. In 2001, we faced the worst earthquake ever occurred in the world in which we have lost 18,000 human beings; we have lost more than two lakh residential houses, and almost the entire property in that area has been destroyed.

            This unfortunate region is also having a good potentiality for development. Nature has given much for the development to this area. We have got abundant mineral wealth, like bauxite, bentonite, lignite, and china clay etc. However, it has to be utilised in a proper way.

            For the development of our Kutch region, the NDA Government had given some tax benefits and as a result, some industries have come up in that part. My point is that it has covered only a little part of that area.

            If we go to the western end of the Kutch, there is a big potentiality for development. There is one Jakhau Port there. If you can provide little infrastructure there, it will then cater to the needs of that area to a large extent. In the northern end of Kutch, there is an abundant potentiality available in the form of non-edible salt. We have got more than 10,000 square kilometres of marshy land, and there is abundant salt there. That can be utilised in so many things. My only request to the hon. Minister here, who is looking after Science and Technology, is that science and technology should come to the help of this area. The Rann of Kutch has got minerals like potash, calcium and so many other things which can be used in chemical manufacturing. In order to utilise these resources, we have to provide only 100 kilometre railway line from Bhuj to Khavda. In the past, we were importing bromine from outside. Recently, two factories have come up there and they are producing enough bromine to meet the needs of our country. Therefore, these types of things should be taken care of.

            Our honourable and visionary President has envisaged a development plan for that area. When he was staying in the Rann of Rajasthan, Pokhran, at that time, he had a vision that if the Rann of Rajasthan can be developed, then Rann of Kutch can also be developed in a similar fashion. Kutch has a different kind of Rann. That Rann is not desert or sandy area; that Rann is a marshy land, and it has got abundant potentiality for development. My only request is that science and technology should be made use of for the development of that area. When this type of natural potentiality is there, it should be made use of. The question of how to make use of it can be taken care of by science and technology.

            As stated by the hon. Member from the North-Eastern States, the Government should pay more attention because only then and there these potentialities can be developed[R85] .

There is enough potentiality. In spite of having the potentiality, such regions are not yet developed. Similar is the case of Scheduled Tribes belt in the State. At the eastern borders of Gujarat, many Scheduled Tribes live in Panchmahal and Dahod. There is  also a   great potentiality for development. But this requires the Government’s attention. It should not be said that since Gujarat is a developed State, development of these regions could not be undertaken by the Centre. My humble request to the Government is that if there is an under-developed area within a developed State, the Government must pay attention to that area also.

THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I want to make a request.

            I believe - it is my personal belief, many may not share it – that science and technology is at the heart of economic development. No nation can move forward without investments in science and technology. But, while I have been a Minister in this Government, I have not had the advantage of any proposals from Members of Parliament on how we in this Ministry can help a specific State. Whether it is Arunachal Pradesh in the North-East – Kiren made a wonderful intervention today – or whether it is Orissa or any other State. It is you who have to give me proposals. I can assure you that without reference to any politics – because it is at the heart of economic development – I will come forward and do what I can.

I have one small request to make to the Members of this House and I take advantage of this time. Please, in the next Session have a full day’s discussion as to how science and technology can take this country forward. In the course of that discussion many things will emerge which will benefit the common man of this country. It is only science and technology that can reach the benefits of whatever environmental and mineral resources we have to the common man. This is my request to you. You help me and I will never hesitate to help you.

SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): We express our thanks to the hon. Minister for this.

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Sir, in the Business Advisory Committee last time I had appealed for a discussion on this in the Demands for Grants and the hon. Speaker had agreed to that. Unfortunately this could not take place. We will do it.

SHRI MANI CHARENAMEI (OUTER MANIPUR): Mr. Chairman, Sir, first of all I would like to thank Shri Sarbananda Sonowal for moving this important Resolution.

            All over India, whether it is in the South, North, East or West, the areas inhabited by the tribals are the most backward areas, in spite of those areas being rich in natural resources. It would not be wrong to say that the social conditions and economic conditions of the tribals in the States reflect the quality of governance and administration of those States in particular and the country as a whole. No officer from the Centre would like to serve in the interior and remote areas.

Today we are speaking about regional imbalances in matters of  development in the country. North-East region of our country is one region which is predominantly inhabited by tribals of various ethnic groups. The country has taken initiative to bring about equality in development in the North-East by creating as many as four pure tribal-owned States. This, in fact, is a noble step to infuse confidence and dignity in the minds of the indigenous tribal people. But then, more needs to be done. Creation of States in the North-East has been done without the knowledge and consent of the indigenous tribal people who have been living in the region since time immemorial. As such, today we are experiencing a lot of turmoil in the North-East region people crying for recognition of their rights, identity, justice and permanent peace[KMR86] .

18.00 hrs. [s87]              North-Eastern Region is well-known for its natural beauty and rich natural resources. However, due to poor and faulty planning in the past, people are becoming poorer and poorer.  It seems that planners have failed to understand the intricate and typical situation of the North-Eastern Region.  Today, we are talking of globalisation. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : Kindly stop your speech.  It is 6 o’ clock now.  You can continue your speech when this is taken up next time.

            We are now taking up `Zero Hour’.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN :  Sir, what will happen to the Motion of Prof. Rasa Singh Rawat? … (Interruptions)

सभापति महोदय : अभी यह रैजोल्यूशन कनक्लूड नहीं हुआ है। उसके बाद ही रावत जी का रैजोल्यूशन आ सकता है। अब वह नैक्स्ट सैशन में ही आएगा। As per rules, it would be decided.

श्री खारबेल स्वाईं : पिछली तीन दफा से इनका रैजोल्यूशन नहीं आ रहा है।

सभापति महोदय: जो रैजोल्यूशन चल रहा था, वही पूरा नहीं हुआ है।

श्री खारबेल स्वाईं : यह फरवरी से ऐसे ही चल रहा है।

प्रो. रासा सिंह रावत (अजमेर) : इस विषय पर चर्चा सात घंटे से हो रही है।

श्री खारबेल स्वाईं : आप रावत जी के रैजोल्यूशन पर अभी चर्चा शुरू करवा दें।

MR. CHAIRMAN: There are five more speakers and the hon. Minister has to reply also. Moreover, how is it possible to take up his Motion when the debate is not concluded on this?

… (Interruptions)