Thursday, December 27, 2012

Congress seeks special status for Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi

Times of India, Dec 27, 2012

BHUBANESWAR: The Congress has demandedspecial status for eight backward districts underKoraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) like it has happened in Karnataka. Parts of the South Indian state were accorded special status for development of backward region under Article 371 of the Constitution in the last session of Parliament. This status is expected to end disparities in development and employment opportunities as more central assistance will pour into the region, said experts.

Chief spokesperson of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Narasingha Mishra said the criterion, for which Article 371 was amended for parts of Karnataka recently, holds good for the eight districts of Odisha.

"Almost 84% people in the KBK region belong to the below poverty line(BPL) category. Since Independence, reports of starvation deaths, malnutrition, child sale and large scale migration are taking place in KBK areas. Although there is a special provision like KBK scheme and a body like Western Odisha Development Council (WODC), they are not enough to address the acute backwardness of the region," argued Mishra.

He said when Article 371 could be amended for making special provisions for other states, why not Odisha. "Different parts of the country, which were ruled by erstwhile kings, are steeped in backwardness. The KBK area was also ruled by kings and zamindars," said Mishra.

Earlier Article 371 was amended for Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Goa and Maharashtra. The economic, social and educational backwardness in the KBK is strong enough reason to amend the article, Mishra said.

He said the recent amendment to 371 (J) was meant to develop the backward Karnataka, which was previously ruled by Hyderabad's Nizam. The ex-state of Hyderabad was divided into three parts when the states were reorganized in 1956.

"Of the three parts, one part is now with AP and others are with Maharashtra and Karnataka. While AP and Maharashtra parts are already getting special financial assistance from the Centre after Article 371 was amended for these areas, the Karnataka part was recently conferred Article 371," said Mishra.

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