Panel to address large inter-state migrations

BY NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

New Delhi

July 5: Campaigns floated by regional parties like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in Mumbai stating that Mumbai is for Marathis or statements like the one given by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit raising concern over the large influx of migrants into Delhi from states like UP and Bihar have come under the scanner of the Second Commission on Centre-State relations. The commission, which is revisiting the entire gamut of Centre-State relations almost two decades after the Sarkaria Commission was formed in the year 1983, is looking for ways to address the problem of "social tensions" arising out of demographic patterns being disturbed due to large inter-state migrations.

The Commission has asked stakeholders, especially Union ministries, state governments, major political parties and constitutional experts to suggest measures to contain such social tensions stating that such developments have "serious implications for Centre-State and inter-State relations".

Under the banner of "socio-political developments, public policy and governance’’, the Commission has prepared a questionnaire inviting comments of stakeholders. "Socio-economic developments have resulted in large-scale migration from the under-developed to the better developed regions within the country. This has sometimes affected the established demographic patterns and has tended to cause social tensions," it says. "With the free movement of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution, what measures would you suggest to contain such social tensions?" the Commission has asked the stakeholders.

The Commission said that the rise of "regional parties" and "coalitions" has resulted in the states gaining an upper hand in many matters.

"The Centre’s powers of intervention also came to be circumscribed by judicial pronouncements in several areas such as imposition of President’s rule," it says.

The basic task cut out for the Commission is to review the existing arrangements governing Centre-State relations — legislative, executive and financial — as they have evolved over the years. It also needs to meet the aspirations of an increasingly globalising world without violating the basic structure of the Constitution.