Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

The Telangana Effect

Dear friends

September 2013

The recent decision of the Central Government to create Telangana bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, has created ripples in various parts of the country for more states. The decision has also initiated a debate as to whether we need more states in the country. It has also been argued that small states provide for better administration and bring people closer to administration, whereas the counter argument given against small states is that the big corporate houses become stronger and control the small states adding to futile administrative expenses.

In India, the states were created on the basis of language and ethnic identity which was a historical blunder. India has many languages and each linguistic group will always ask for a state irrespective of its feasibility. In such circumstances, we need to have states on the basis of geographic and administrative convenience. The population of our country has increased manifold after independence. With increase in population, the need for better administration is a logical demand. A small country like Thailand which consists of 76 provinces and which is the 50th largest country in the world has a foreign reserve of 170,841 million USD as of June 2013 as compared to India which is the 7th largest country in the world with 28 states and foreign reserves of 287,897 million USD.

The North East region of India has been disintegrated many times. More demands for states are underway. Our cover story this month looks into events that are encouraging people to look for more states. It goes without saying that each demand starts with agitation and each agitation affects peace and development. It is in this perspective that a policy makers need to have a holistic approach to solve the issue once and for all in a manner which brings national integration.

Dr. K. K. Jhunjhunwala