Daily Hot Topic
Topic : Demand for Separate “Bhil Pradesh”
GS-2 Mains : Polity
Context:
- The Bhil tribe is demanding a separate state called “Bhil Pradesh”.
What is Bhil Pradesh?
- Comprised of 49 districts carved out of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
- First demanded in 1913 by Bhil social reformer Govind Guru after the Mangarh massacre (sometimes called the “Adivasi Jallianwala”).
Bhil Tribe:
- Resides mainly in Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and northern Maharashtra.
- Believed their name comes from the Dravidian word “billu” meaning bow and arrow.
Process of State Formation/Renaming in India:
- Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to:
- Create new states
- Increase/decrease state areas
- Alter state boundaries
- Rename states
- Requires President’s recommendation and state legislature’s opinion (not binding).
- Laws for renaming states (under Article 3) are not amendments and require a simple majority.
Reasons for Separate State Demands:
- Linguistic and Cultural Identity: Protection of distinct language and culture.
- Regional Disparities: Addressing economic and development gaps between regions.
- Political Representation: Ensuring fair representation in government.
- Resource Allocation: Equitable distribution of resources like water and land.
- Historical Grievances: Addressing past injustices and discrimination.
Challenges of State Bifurcation:
- Political Opposition: Resistance from stakeholders with vested interests.
- Administrative Reorganization: Creation of new administrative units and resource redistribution.
- Resource Allocation: Disputes over resource division between new states.
- Social Integration: Potential strain on social cohesion in diverse regions.
Way Ahead:
- Careful deliberation and negotiation are needed to balance competing interests and maintain national unity.
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