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Special Status- and the case of Andhra Pradesh

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‘Special category’ status is a classification given by Central Government to assist in development of those states that face geographical & socio-economic disadvantages like hilly terrains, strategic international borders, economic & infrastructural backwardness and non-viable state finances. Other parameters include geographical isolation, remoteness to major markets, and poor resources. These states enjoy the benefits such as significant concession on Excise, Customs, Income tax and corporate tax. The central government also bears 90% of expenditure on central sponsored schemes, in contrast to 70% in case of other states.
What criteria does Andhra Pradesh actually fit into? It is not hilly. It isn’t a strategic international border. It isn’t backward be it economically or in infrastructure (Sure, it doesn’t have a built capital city but, duh!). Andhra Pradesh by no means is geographically isolated nor it is in a remote location to major markets. It in fact has some major markets and ports be it Vizag or Krishnapatnam. So, by no means Andhra Pradesh is a backward state and deserves to be given a special status.
It is ridiculous why the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to give the special status to the divided Andhra Pradesh. And why Venkaiah Naidu got carried away by the passions of his state, but granting any state a special status is completely against the principles of BJP. They have riled long against the special status to J&K and have seen to it the economic benefits of Special Category Status has been fully diluted. Why do you think they would add more to the problem?
And with the reforms of the finance ministry, the special status is losing its importance due to the streamlining going on and integration of India into one big market.
Sure, Andhra Pradesh has lost a major revenue centre in form of Hyderabad, but they also have shredded the major burden of the underdeveloped rest of Telangana. It is also left with fertile costal delta.
While Andhra Pradesh’s loss of Hyderabad is painful, giving it a special status would neither help anyone nor fit with the overall politics among the major states. The state would be disappointed even if given the special status now as there is not much extra benefit. And if extra benefits are added, every other state with a poorer economy (think of BIMARU states) will ask for the same set of extra benefits.
Andhra Pradesh now has to build up its strengths from there rather than doing anything to weaken the union or weaken its founding principles.
Instead, the central government could invest more into building Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. That sounds more straightforward as it is apples to apples or Hyderabads to Amaravatis. And the people seeking special status for AP must start looking into the whole of India as one and address it as a whole, instead of focusing only on the single state of Andhra Pradesh.
Jai Hind!

Comments

  1. Zeerow Harsha30 April 2018 at 04:53

    Well written , but u could have gone into deeper roots why the central govt denied to allot the sanctioned amount (due to insufficient submission of the requirements) and they fear that the funds alloted to the states will be diluted , better bringing awareness in the ppl especially the ones in social medias can make the situation questionable to states as well as the centre

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  2. Ravi30 April 2018 at 08:16

    Ravi Teja Yerramilli Agree that this is all a political circus. But why BJP is being silent on the issue? coz they have nothing to lose in AP? Don't the people there have the right to get answer? Why there are open ends left by the party leaving the state to it own grave, as each party making their drama about status (including TDP). It is a conflict of truth, if this is not really posible? why are the BJP local bodies playing foul game drama?

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