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By:

Anusreeta Dutta

26 April 2026 at 1:22:24 pm

One Maharashtra, Unequal Priorities

Six decades after statehood, constitutional safeguards remain necessary to bridge the gap between western Maharashtra and the regions left behind. Maharashtra is often referred to as India’s economic engine. The state, which is home to Mumbai’s financial ecosystem and Pune’s industrial corridor, contributes about 14 percent to the GDP of India. There is a long-standing dispute behind this achievement that has affected state politics for decades. Is every district in Maharashtra thriving at...

One Maharashtra, Unequal Priorities

Six decades after statehood, constitutional safeguards remain necessary to bridge the gap between western Maharashtra and the regions left behind. Maharashtra is often referred to as India’s economic engine. The state, which is home to Mumbai’s financial ecosystem and Pune’s industrial corridor, contributes about 14 percent to the GDP of India. There is a long-standing dispute behind this achievement that has affected state politics for decades. Is every district in Maharashtra thriving at the same pace? It is not just a political question. It is written into the Constitution proper. Unlike most states in India, Maharashtra has a unique constitutional provision under Article 371(2) which empowers the Governor to ensure that development funding and opportunities are equally shared between Vidarbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra. The clause was born out of fears that some areas would be forgotten once the state was established in 1960. Six decades later, the existence of this constitutional safeguard raises an uncomfortable question: why does Maharashtra need tools to balance regional development still? Regional Disparity The seeds of regional disparity were sown long before the birth of Maharashtra. Western Maharashtra had early investments in irrigation, cooperative sugar mills, educational institutions and transportation. The centres of industrial growth followed by agricultural commercialisation were Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and part of Nashik. Vidarbha and Marathwada chose the other. Agriculture was still heavily dependent on monsoon rains, industrialization was slow and irrigation coverage was less than the state averages. Regional studies in Maharashtra have repeatedly shown that irrigation intensity and agricultural yield are higher in western districts than in much of eastern Maharashtra. These differences subsequently led to calls for institutional safeguards. In contrast, in western Maharashtra, government moves are increasingly geared towards growth, not deficit reduction. The region’s success is built on industrial corridors, logistics infrastructure, urban mobility projects and advanced manufacturing clusters. Pune has emerged as a hub for vehicles, computer technology, defence production and startups. Mumbai remains a major draw for investment in metro rail networks, coastal roadways, financial services infrastructure and international business zones. Agricultural practices in western Maharashtra are in a relatively advanced stage of development. Irrigation coverage is much better than many districts in the east, so the authorities can concentrate on raising productivity, export-oriented, value-added farming and agro-processing industries. Western Maharashtra’s policy, in a nutshell, is to make competitive regions more competitive. Eastern Maharashtra is very different. Here, the Governments have not only focused on accelerating growth but also on reducing the backlog of development. The main policy question is irrigation. For many decades official studies have consistently identified irrigation as the most important factor for regional disparities. Even with dedicated funds, the backlog of irrigation in Vidarbha and Marathwada kept growing, requiring repeated interventions by successive governments. To tackle this, region-specific irrigation corporations, such as Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) and Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) were established with a specific mandate to speed up water infrastructure projects. The Union Government has sanctioned a special irrigation package for Vidarbha, Marathwada and draught prone areas of Maharashtra, with an objective to increase irrigation potential and improve water security of the farmers. Even today, a lot of public money is spent on irrigation projects in eastern Maharashtra. Government affidavits and parliamentary replies say crores of rupees are spent every year to make up for irrigation shortfalls and to finish long-pending projects. This emphasis reflects an important reality: while the western part of Maharashtra talks about competitiveness, the eastern part of Maharashtra continues to debate water access. Another area where there are divergent approaches is industrial policy. Market forces have played a major role in the industrial expansion of western Maharashtra, a process assisted by the existing infrastructure and urbanization. In contrast, Eastern Maharashtra has frequently depended on state-led interventions to draw investment to lagging regions. Projects such as the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), logistics corridors, special industrial incentives and infrastructure subsidies were to divert industrial expansion away from the Mumbai-Pune region. Likewise, recent government announcements have earmarked Vidarbha to become a future hub for solar energy, semiconductors, aerospace manufacturing and logistics, with Marathwada being pitched for electric vehicle and electronics investments. Whereas in western Maharashtra, the policy tends to buttress pre-existing advantages, in eastern Maharashtra the industrial policy aims to generate such advantages from the beginning. Regional Equilibrium These divisions have persisted, leading to separate institutions of governance. Vidarbha and Marathwada have statutory development boards to monitor regional imbalances and recommend corrective actions. Their emergence is an indication of a broader acceptance that market forces alone have not been adequate to promote balanced growth in Maharashtra. The second capital of Maharashtra is also Nagpur. The same ideology. The state legislature meets every winter in eastern Maharashtra to ensure that the issues concerning the region remain in the political focus. The issues discussed generally are irrigation, agriculture, tribal welfare and regional development in these sessions. The controversy over regional equity, however, is still unresolved. According to critics, despite decades of special packages and focused strategies, many irrigation projects continue to face delays, cost overruns and implementation problems. Several big projects in Vidarbha remain incomplete despite years of cash pledges. There is now a growing body of policy thinking that suggests that Maharashtra may have to give up the very terminology of backlog elimination. In its own discussion on balanced regional development, the state attaches more importance to reforms in governance, diversification of the economy and speeding up growth, than to compensatory spending. The challenge is not just building canals and roadways anymore but building lasting economic ecosystems that can hold on to talent, draw investment and create jobs beyond the traditional Mumbai-Pune boom corridor. The real test for Maharashtra will be whether future policies can turn Vidarbha and Marathwada from regions requiring special support to regions capable of driving growth on their own. Till then Maharashtra’s development story will be two stories. (The author is a columnist and climate researcher with experience in political research analysis and energy policy. Views personal.)

When Integrity Becomes Institutional Strength

Institutions endure not only because of their systems but also because of officers like Dr. Shashikant Mangrulkar, whose integrity and leadership earn public trust.


Amidst a lot of talk about the election commission and various allegations by opposition leaders of different political parties, there are a few examples of election officials who are handling the tense situations with a much more composed, calm, and balanced manner. Dr. Shashikant Mangrule is one of them. During the Municipal Corporation Elections 2025–26, I had the opportunity to interact with citizens, staff members, and officers at various administrative levels in Nashik. Throughout this process, I met many individuals; however, one officer whose company, work ethic, and perspective on governance left a deep and lasting impression on me was Dr. Shashikant Mangrule.


As an officer, his leadership qualities are immediately evident. He does not impose authority by intimidation; instead, he earns cooperation through trust. Valuing every member of his team, offering guidance at the right moment, and responding to mistakes with understanding rather than reprimand—these qualities together define him as a responsible and highly effective administrator.


Though gentle and approachable by nature, Dr. Mangrule is firm and disciplined when it comes to work. He demonstrates, through his conduct, how administration can be run by strictly adhering to rules while preserving humanity. His work consistently reflects the belief that governance need not be synonymous with rigidity alone but should balance sensitivity and accountability. This balance is rare and invaluable in public administration.


In my experience, Dr. Mangrule is not an officer confined to issuing orders or limiting himself to paperwork. He is someone who first understands the situation of the person before him, listens patiently, and only then arrives at a decision. Whether interacting with an ordinary citizen or an employee involved in the election process, he communicates calmly, with restraint and warmth. In today’s fast-paced and pressure-filled administrative environment, such a humane approach to work is exceptionally rare.


On several occasions that I personally witnessed, he did not merely listen to people’s difficulties but took the initiative to resolve them. Whether the problem was minor or serious, instead of avoiding responsibility by saying, “This is not within my authority,” his approach was always, “How can this be resolved?” This positive and responsible outlook deeply impressed me.


Experiences on Polling Day

Polling day itself brought several significant experiences. At some polling stations, there were technical issues related to EVM machines; at others, minor procedural errors by presiding officers came to light. Each time, after discussing the matter with Dr. Mangrule, he provided solutions that were calm, controlled, and crystal clear. The solutions were acceptable to the affected parties, and they ensured smooth operations during the polling.


For a presiding officer or polling agent, election duty may last only a day or two. But observing an officer who studies every stage of the entire electoral process in depth and pays attention to even the smallest details was, for me, a first-hand and close experience.


From sealing EVM machines correctly to explaining how to fill various envelopes, which forms to use, and where, he provided guidance that was comprehensive and precise. Concepts such as tendered voting and double voting were explained by him in extremely simple terms. In the event of a technical malfunction of machines, the procedures to be followed and alternative options available were explained with clarity and confidence. Because of this thorough guidance, the voting process was conducted not only in strict compliance with rules but also in a confident and stress-free environment.


In my view, it is officers like Dr. Shashikant Mangrulkar who form the true strength of any government department and create more trust between the administrative departments and the public at large. They can be a good bridge to grow belief in government functionaries. The officer I have seen and experienced is, without doubt, a positive, trustworthy, and inspiring face of public administration.



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