The reorganisation of zones in Telangana post bifurcation is not likely to happen any time soon though the high-level committee constituted to look into the issues has submitted its report with recommendations few weeks ago.
The committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari made several recommendations. “But they are not final. Grouping reorganised districts into different zones is a sensitive subject with socio, economic and political implications and Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao is seized of the matter. He will take his time in taking a decision that will ensure fair chances to people of all districts and all zones,” sources said.
Unequal distribution
The combined Andhra Pradesh had six zones — four for Andhra region and two for Telangana region — when the zonal system was introduced in 1974 through a Presidential Order to give equitable job opportunities to people of Seemandhra and Telangana regions. Post bifurcation, a view prevailed that there was no need for zonal system in Telangana State but then the government decided to continue the zonal system as inter-regional inequalities continue even in Telangana State itself.
Sources point out that in the united AP, the four zones in Andhra region had districts that were by and large homogenous in terms of socio and economic development. But when it came to Telangana region, districts that were so different like Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar and Warangal were placed in one zone. While Adilabad is the most backward district, Karimnagar and Warangal had good educational institutions and Khammam with well to do people and irrigated lands. The people of Adilabad were at a clear disadvantage.
Upper hand
In the sixth zone, backward Mahbubnagar, Medak were pitted with the developed Hyderabad and people of Hyderabad clearly had an upper hand in employment opportunities.
Now after reorganisation of districts, it is imperative to create the zones carefully to ensure no district in a particular zone would be placed in a disadvantage vis-a-vis other districts in that zone. People of similarly placed districts should be put together in a particular zone to be able to get equitable opportunities in education and public employment, sources explain.
