The Bogey of Central Neglect

The BJD-BJP Government came to power in the year 2000 with many promises to the people of Odisha that remain unfulfilled after 12 years. The state continues to be at the bottom among states on most development indicators. The political stability and the electoral mandate have not translated to economic performance. People have given enough opportunity to BJD and are now disappointed. The clamour for change or parivartan is not a Congress slogan. During the recently concluded Padyatra I met a cross-section of the general public who see hope in change. As the performance failure is becoming glaring after 12 years of BJD rule the bogey of   ‘central neglect’ has become an obsessive political agenda with the BJD leadership as a carefully crafted diversionary tactics. But, this time the strategy will not succeed.

 The Central Government provides assistance to States firstly by way of share of Tax and secondly, by way of grants. Taken together, they represent the ‘Total Central Transfer’. In 1995-96 the state received a total transfer of 2135.29 Crore, which is estimated to have reached Rs20278.46 Crore in 2011-12. So, almost 9.5 times increase since 1995-96. The total fund transfer during the Congress Government in the state (1995-2000) is approximately 13000 Crore, which also included the period between  1998-2000 when NDA was in power in Delhi and Mr. Naveen Patnaik was a Central minister. During the first term of the present state Government (2000-2004) the state received about 23.8 thousand Crore, with NDA at the Centre and BJD a part of the Central Government. Under UPA I the state received 42.8 thousand Crore. If we add the money already received by the state Government under UPA II with the estimates for the period before the scheduled elections in 2014, the total Central transfer will be upwards of  80 thousand Crore. I have taken figures till 2011-12 from the Economic Survey published by the state Government and extrapolated them for the remaining three years.

So, what is the BJD Government’s definition of ‘Central Neglect’? Is it that they have got less money from the UPA Government at the Centre than the NDA Government of which they were a part? Is it that they have got less money now than any time in the past? Is it that they have got less money than other states?  The moment hard facts and statistics are presented the BJD turns around to say that after all the central Government is doing us no charity in a federal system. Obviously, no one is doing any charity or talking about any charity. Any such suggestion will be quite perverse and petty. But, why mislead the people? Why then talk about neglect?

If the BJD feels that there is any sector in which Odisha is not getting its legitimate share of Central funds I will be the first person to rally behind the state Government. This is an open offer. Let the Chief Minister call an all-party meeting and tell us where the state has been given a step-motherly treatment. When it comes to economic development of the state the state Congress will play no politics or show any crab mentality. But, mere political rhetoric unsubstantiated by facts may be good in hoodwinking the people but not great for an informed debate or advocacy. Also can we now ask what has happened to the 150 thousand Crore of money that this government has received by way of Central transfer? Have they been properly used? This is the period when many states have forged ahead and our position has remained precarious. We still have the highest percentage of people who are poor and highest level of unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and infant mortality. The time has come for the BJD Government to account for neglecting people of Odisha during the 12 years of their long rule.