Delimitation exercise dangerous, can be seen as 'punishment' for states that excelled population control

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr. MK Stalin's initiative against the delimitation 'threat' needs to be taken seriously by all who cherish the idea of a strong and united India. There is no doubt that the representation of people should be based on the population of constituencies. 

However, such an exercise is bound to be dangerous and can be seen as a 'punishment' for states that have excelled in efforts like population control. The delimitation exercise would automatically double the seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, while states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka would lose drastically. It is not that their seats won't increase, but relatively, the northern states would be 'incentivized' for their inefficiencies and massive population growth.

For a country like India, we need to ensure an honest balance between various states. The North-South divide is growing, particularly when current government policies, including Hindi imposition and the treatment of southern states, cannot be termed fair or impartial.

It is encouraging that Punjab was part of the discussion, as it is also at the receiving end. The issue of federalism is extremely important, as every state is equal to the other. Except for Punjab, no other northern state has raised its voice against this exercise. The one northern state that will be hugely impacted is Uttarakhand, but so far, its politicians and political class have remained silent.

Uttarakhand is a small but complex state. It has about 70 assembly seats, which were originally decided based on geographical areas. The population of Uttarakhand's hill districts has negative growth. Hundreds of villages are known as ghost villages, with many completely abandoned. In fact, Uttarakhand's hills resemble a human zoo, where the population of animals exceeds that of humans. Humans are confined, while animals roam freely, sometimes endangering lives.

In contrast, the plains of Uttarakhand, known as the Tarai-Bhabar region, have experienced massive demographic changes and population growth. This means that, with the delimitation exercise, the hills will lose more seats (as they already have), while the plains will gain significantly. This could revert the state to a pre-Uttarakhand scenario, resembling its days as part of Uttar Pradesh.

What is the meaning of a new state if the delimitation exercise reverts it to the old pattern, severely limiting the presence of the hill people who fought for its creation and identity?

The Indian administrative class often follows the British model. History shows how the British Raj redrew borders, creating artificial divisions that led to today's global problems. Palestine is a prime example. Ironically, the British themselves struggle to address the crisis in Palestine.

When Uttarakhand was formed, a large part of the plains was included. At the time, activists and leaders sought more plains regions, not realizing the future dangers. Today, like elsewhere, the plains' population is growing rapidly, while the hills' growth is slow. This risks reducing the hill population to a minority in their own state. The recent mayoral election in Rishikesh highlighted how demographic changes are creating a divide between the Pahadis (hill people) and Deshis (plains people).

The hills face additional challenges. Their rivers, mountains, temples, and other resources are increasingly controlled by outsiders. Large resorts are being built on riverbanks, often against government policies. Guesthouses, ropeways, and railways are bringing more outsiders, potentially altering the area's demographics. A delimitation exercise in Uttarakhand's hills could lead to chaos and unrest, which would not serve India's greater interests.

The Government of India and all stakeholders must seriously consider this issue. India must adopt a system that ensures equality among states. One solution could be to reform the Rajya Sabha to resemble the U.S. Senate, where each state has equal representation. The fifty U.S. states elect two senators each. Empowering the Rajya Sabha could create a more balanced system.

For the Lok Sabha, it is equally important to create states of comparable size to prevent resentment. Additionally, the government must bridge the gap between the North and South. This discussion has largely excluded the Northeastern states, including Sikkim, which has just one representative, and Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Tripura, whose representation is minimal. This results in limited discussion of their issues and minimal involvement of their representatives.

The delimitation exercise must involve all stakeholders and include sufficient checks and balances to ensure no state feels discriminated against.