Bridge regional gaps through central schemes: MPs

New Delhi, May 19: Concerned over increasing regional imbalances, grave problems of Naxalism, separatism, and social unrest, Lok Sabha MPs today made a strong case for bridging the gap through centrally-sponsored schemes.

Participating in a discussion on Private Members Bill, moved by Sarbananda Sonowal (AGP), they said it was necessary to uphold the spirit of the federalism and the directives of principles to provide basic health care, education and shelter to each citizen irrespective of region, caste, colour and creed.

Member after member decried that even after country's 58 years of independence the per capita income and indicators of human development had been on the downhill in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Socially and economically backwards and tribals had not been provided even the basic amenities like safe drinking water, electricity and rural infrastructure, they regretted.

While Ram Gopal Yadav, Shalendera Kumar( both SP) and Mitrasen Yadav (BSP) called for special economic zones for the backward states, Manvendra Singh(BJP) advocated setting up the Rural Development Authority on the lines of the Delhi Development Authority and similar bodies to contain exodus from rural areas to metropolitan cities.

Mr Singh asserted that these states should be given enough funds and the facilities of safe drinking water, housing and education at all levels, including ITIs, marketing and PDS, and state-of-the-art hospitals, good roads and transport, among others, could be provided at the grassroots level.

Prof Chandra Kumar (Cong) said stringent steps would also have to be taken to ensure that the funds provided for development were not used for '' non- productive'' purposes.

Prof Ramadoss (PMK), Brahamananda Panda(BJD) and Lakshman Singh( BJP) also participated in the discussion.

Mr Thupstan Chhewang (Independent) said regional inequalities cannot be wiped out until there is devolution of powers to the local bodies. Citing the lack of development in the Himalayan states, he said there was no adequate representation of the people of these states in Parliament limiting their bargain power.

Mr M Shivanna (JD-S) said the wide gap between rich and poor states in the country was coming in the way of its ability to compete in the world.

Narrating the success story of China, he said the neighbouring country has been able to overcome inequalities leading to overall development across the country.

Former minister Satyanarayan Jatiya (BJP) said basic facilities need to be given to the people to remove the inequalities. Road connectivity leads to development of regions, he said, adding hospitals and schools should be built to form the basic infrastructure.

The discussion would continue on Monday.

UNI