INDIA: THE SYMBOL OF UNDEVELOPED FEDERALISM The concept of federalism is described in several ways. It can be best defined as a system of governing the nation which sovereignty is constitutionally distributed between a central governing authority and constituent political units. These political units may be like states or provinces in India. One of the good examples of federalism is USA. In USA there is a system of
government in which power is divided between the central government and the governments of each state.
In spite of being the largest democracy of the world, the federalism is somewhat in a loose form in India. The main problem in India is that most of the states behave like nations in important matters like distribution of river water and other natural resources. These incidences of river-water disputes and share of electricity among the states had played havoc in our country.
In India we are very good at making the good things worst. In federal system the states form a central political unity but remain independent in internal affairs. They are free to manage their own affairs. Here the problem starts. The short-sighted politicians have found out means to befool the people. They have made people to think that they are not a part of the nation. Many a regional leaders have added fuel to this fire and tried inject thoughts in people''s minds making them to think in terms of the state first and then about the nation. This process gets more pace when government of a particular state and the central government are formed by different political parties.
In our country, the regionalism was iron-casted before the time of British people entered the land and established their rule. After the British rule ended in 1947, we were left to ourselves. It was India’s good luck that in those days there were statesmen who knew about pros and cones of various political systems. They thought about several prevailing systems of governing a nation democratically. After much debate and applying the most brilliant minds, they had decided on the present system of government in India. It resulted into the writing of our constitution that guarantees the federal structure. Through this arrangements the powers and responsibilities are shared among the states and the center.
In a big country like ours, the problem due to absence of federalism may create more problems than the present loose frame of federalism. We presently are unaware of the real benefit of the system, and the politicians can misguide the uneducated people.
However there is hope that the increased level of education among the rural population would benefit us. It could help us in understanding the real benefits of such an arrangement as federalism.
FEDERALISM AND THE SMALLER STATES In recent time there has been growing demand to fragment the bigger states into smaller ones. The smaller states can''t be a guarantee for progress of good governance. The new borne states have failed to keep its government breathing for loan. It puts a question mark on the theory of the smaller states. Our experience in this line is not praise worthy. Given the present political mess, any Ekka or Dukka would be able to send a government home, and would dream to be the next Chief minister, as the number of MLAs remains so small in such states.
And it is beyond doubt that the MLAs, the mananiya elected representatives, have their own reasons to be in the state legislative assemblies. Stability of government comes last in their priorities. Now a day the demand for Telangana and breaking the big states like UP and Maharastra are on the board. Here the national parties should use their good sense, if they still possess it.
Looking to the experiences of some of the North-Eastern states and Goa and Jharkhand, we must desist from supporting such moves. The smaller and state-based parties have no reason to look beyond the boundaries of their states. They can promise anything for raising emotional issues; and then they would collect votes on that basis. It becomes duty of national parties, which are bound to think in national perspective, to think seriously on the issue.
If we want to keep the spirit of federalism in tact, if we want to reap the true fruits of democracy, we should concentrate on good governance, making the common people to experience that there is a government at all.