December 3, 2019
Manish Gupta speaks about the merger of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu
FULL TRANSCRIPT
I rise to support this Bill. Having said that there are certain issues that I think should be flagged because these territories are distinctly different from each other. There are unclaimed islands. The distance between Daman and Diu is more than 700 km. So, we have to give a thought to the people of these territories. The people should be the arbiters of their own destiny. There is a case for having proper representation, a mini assembly in a suitable place so that people can decide what they want to do.
We have seen the object and reason of this Bill. The object and reasons have made biased statements on development, on reducing costs, delivery of services. One of the issues that has been raised is the reduction in cost. In a country like ours, where there is a huge budget, the budget of Union Territories budget is Rs 15-16,000 crore, whereas Daman and Diu has a paltry budget of Rs 7-800 crore; Dadra and Nagar Haveli have a budget of about Rs 1,100 crore.
The fact of the matter is that we have seen that the Standing Committee of Parliament has opined that over the years there has been a reduction in cost in the budget. The budget has been reduced. Only in the last fiscal (2019-20) there has been an increase. So, this means that more money should be made available to these territories.
Sir, now the issue which is going to come up, we have noticed, is that the employees who are already working, there are some fearful words used in the initial documents, the objects and reasons is that the people who are working in the UT will continue till further order, meaning that there is a threat that they will be moved. People in Group C and Group D services have smaller income, children studying in school etc. An aura of uncertainty has been introduced to these people. So, this is a very serious issue.
Basically, mini-Assembly is the main issue here and Mumbai High Court. People have to travel long distances to Mumbai to avail High Court services, and for certain people it is not possible to go all the way to Mumbai to seek justice. So, certain reforms are required. More modernisation and saving administrative costs, as officers have to move on alternate days from one place to another. Why not post the officers there? If you are serious, a more permanent administrative set-up is required, which would be decentralised.
Sir, the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution gives powers to the Panchayats. All the States are spending a lot of money through the Panchayats; a lot of development has taken place. We have to empower the people. And if we have to empower the people in these territories, there is a need to see what they have to say. No political parties, no political leaders were consulted when this Bill was drawn up.
Sir, this was necessary even after 70 years of independence. We must involve the people more readily, more objectively in the future of the nation.
Thank you.
