Rising Demand for Separate Bhil Pradesh State

Context:

Recently, there has been a growing demand for the formation of a separate Bhil state, “Bhil Pradesh,” in Rajasthan and neighbouring states.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Bhills: An Overview
2. Demand for Bhil Pradesh
3. Regions Demanding Separate States
4. Issues Arising from the Creation of New States
5. Way Forward

Bhills: An Overview

Background:

• Identity: The Bhills are one of the oldest tribes in India, belonging to the Dravidian racial group and part of the Austroloid tribal category.
• Language: They speak Bhili, a language of Dravidian origin.
• Historical Significance: Historically, they ruled parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
• Population: As per the 2011 Census, there are approximately 1.7 crore Bhils across India, with significant populations in:
  • Madhya Pradesh: About 60 lakh
  • Gujarat: About 42 lakh
  • Rajasthan: About 41 lakh
  • Maharashtra: About 26 lakh

Cultural and Religious Practices:

• Religion: Primarily Hindus, the Bhills worship forest deities, evil spirits, Lord Shiva, and Durga.

Demand for Bhil Pradesh

Historical Context:

• Origins of the Demand: The demand for a separate Bhil state, known as Bhil Pradesh, began in 1913 with Govind Giri Banjara, a tribal activist. His call for a separate state was accompanied by a tragic massacre of around 1,500 tribals by British forces.
• Continued Advocacy: Over the years, various tribal leaders and political figures have periodically revived this demand.

Proposed Area:

• Coverage: The proposed Bhil Pradesh would span 49 districts across four states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. This includes 12 districts from Rajasthan.

Reasons for Demand:

• Cultural and Linguistic Unity: The Bhil community shares a common language (Bhili) and cultural practices across the four states. Proponents argue that a separate state would better preserve and promote their cultural heritage.
• Historical and Cultural Ties: The proposed state region has significant historical and cultural ties that transcend current state boundaries.
• Political and Administrative Failures: Tribal leaders argue that existing political structures have failed to address their needs effectively. A separate state is seen as a way to ensure more focused governance and development.
• Development Needs: A separate state could lead to more tailored development policies and better resource utilization for tribal welfare. Historical neglect and slow implementation of laws like the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, underscore the need for more localized governance.

Criticisms:

• Potential Fragmentation: Critics argue that creating states based on caste or community could lead to further fragmentation and instability within India.
• Unity of India: The Fazl Ali Commission emphasized the importance of national unity over redrawing political boundaries based on ethnic or linguistic identities.
• Political Resistance: Established political parties, with vested interests in maintaining the status quo, may resist the formation of a new state.
• Social Divisions: Opponents believe that forming states based on tribal identity could exacerbate social divisions rather than address the underlying issues.

Regions Demanding Separate States

1. Vidarbha:

• Location: Comprises the Amravati and Nagpur divisions of eastern Maharashtra.
• Historical Context: The State Reorganisation Act of 1956 recommended the creation of a Vidarbha state with Nagpur as the capital. To address fears of neglect, Nagpur was designated as the second capital of Maharashtra.
• Current Demand: The demand for a separate Vidarbha state is driven by perceptions of backwardness and neglect by successive Maharashtra state governments.

2. Bodoland:

• Location: Northern Assam.
• Ethnic Group: The Bodos, the largest ethnic and linguistic community in the region.
• Historical Context: Agitation for a separate Bodoland state led to a 2003 agreement between the Government of India, Assam state government, and Bodo Liberation Tigers Force. This agreement led to the creation of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), granting autonomy but not full statehood.

3. Other Regions:

• Gorkhaland: A demand from the Gorkha community in Darjeeling, West Bengal.
• Kukiland: A demand from the Kukis in Manipur.
• Mithila: A demand from the Maithili-speaking community in Bihar.

Issues Arising from the Creation of New States

•  Dominance and Rivalries:
  • New states may lead to dominance by a particular community, caste, or tribe, potentially marginalizing others.
  • This can result in intra-regional rivalries and conflicts among sub-regions.
•  Political Consequences:
  • Smaller states may experience political instability, where a small group of legislators can significantly influence or disrupt governance.
• Resource and Boundary Disputes:
  • New states may lead to increased disputes over resources like water and power. For example, disputes between Delhi and Haryana over water sharing.
•  Financial and Administrative Costs:
  • Significant funds are required to build new capitals and maintain administrative structures, as seen in the division of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Ineffectiveness of New State Structures:
  • Creating new states may only shift power from the old state capital to the new one without improving local governance structures like Gram Panchayats or District Collectors.

Way Forward

• Strengthening National Integration:
  • The National Integration Council should be bolstered to address regionalism challenges.
•  High-Powered Commission:
  • Form a commission to assess existing laws and policies and propose necessary amendments to address regional concerns.
• Empowering Local Governance:
  • Strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies through capacity building, financial empowerment, and constitutional safeguards.
• Finance and Resource Utilization:
  • Use Finance Commission recommendations for equitable distribution and implement performance-based budgeting.
• Special Packages:
  • Design special packages tailored to specific regional needs, similar to the one provided to Telangana.
• Economic Development Programs:
  • Use economic parameters like per capita income, infrastructure index, and human development indicators to identify deserving regions.
  • Implement programs similar to the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme for regions demanding statehood.
•  Regional Dialogue Mechanisms:
  • Create platforms for center-state and regional dialogues similar to the Inter-State Council.
• Cultural Preservation:
  • Expand initiatives like the National Cultural Fund and Sahitya Akademi to support regional language promotion and cultural festivals.

-Source: The Hindu