Post Independence
State Reorganization in 1956: After Indian independence in 1947, the princely states of Bundelkhand
Agency were combined with those of the former Bagelkhand
Agency to form the province of Vindhya
Pradesh, which became an Indian state in 1950. On November 1, 1956,
Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh.
Demand
for a separate state: In
the early 1950s, when the States Re-organization Commission got to work, a
demand for a Bundelkhand state was put forward, but the demand was not heeded.
Most of Bundelkhand's princely states eventually became part of Madhya Pradesh,
while the parts that had been directly ruled by the British, became part of UP.
Since last 50 years there is a movement for separation of
bundelkhand state.Bundelkhand is geographically the central part of India
covering some part of MP and some of UP. In spite of being rich in minerals,
the people of Bundelkhand are very poor and backward because of no
representation in the state and central politics. For their development they
are demanding it's separate statehood so that it can be developed.The local
parties and local leaders are running several movements having different names.
U.P. Govt. Bundelkhand Vikas
Nidhi
in 1990: In
1990-91 the UP state government established a 'Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi', along
with a 'Poorvanchal Vikas Nidhi', to provide additional funds for the
development of districts belonging to these regions. The
Nidhi funds infrastructural projects like roads, minor bridges, drinking water
schemes, schools, and power sub-stations that could not be built from state or
district plans, for whatever reason. The projects have to be such that they can
be completed within two years. Priority is given to projects that will benefit
two or more districts. Half the amount of the fund is sanctioned at the
district level; the other half is sanctioned at the state level. In 2005-06, Rs 50
crore was sanctioned for the Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi. In 2005-06 the state
government also announced a 'Bundelkhand Development Package' with budgetary
provision of Rs 100 crore. MP
Bundelkhand Development Authority in 2007: In
April 2007, the Madhya Pradesh state cabinet sanctioned creation of a
Bundelkhand Development Authority, for the benefit of Sagar, Tikamgarh,
Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna and Datia districts. The
chairman of the Authority is nominated by the government, and the Deputy
Commissioner, Development, posted in the office of the Divisional Commissioner
at Sagar will be its Chief Executive Officer. Members of Parliament and
one-third of MLAs from the districts covered would be members of the Authority
by rotation. The
Authority is expected to prepare development schemes for the region, using a
development fund provided by the state government. For actually implementing
the schemes, the Authority can seek funds from Government of India, external
development agencies, financial institutions and private sources. For the 11th
Five Year Plan (2007-12) period, the Bundelkhand Development Authority was
allocated Rs 10 crore.
Govt. of India Bundelkhand Package in 2009: On 19th
November 2009 Union Cabinet approved a
Special package of Rs 7,266 crore for drought relief and integrated development
of the Bundelkhand on the basis of report of J.S. Samra Committee report. As per
Govt. the scheme will be implemented over three years in seven districts of UP
and six districts of Madhya Prades. While Samra Committee recommended a
Rs 8,316 crore package, the cabinet has approved a Rs 7,266 crore package. Government
has also set up a monitoring group with members of the Planning Commission in-charge
of UP and MP as chairperson and co-chairperson and the chief secretaries of UP
and MP as members to oversee the implementation of the package.
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