HISTORY

MODERN PERIOD

A plan to partition India into two States, viz., India and Pakistan was announced the next day. The actual transfer of power took' place on the midnight of 14th-15th August amidst wild scenes of jubilations. Similar scenes occurred in the Central Provinces where Mangaldas Pakwasa took oath as free India's first Governor of the Province of which the district of Bhandara formed an integral part. From 1947 to 1956 the district of Bhandara alongwith the other districts of Vidarbha region continued to form part of the Central Provinces. With the Reorganization of States, in 1956 Bhandara along with the other districts of Vidarbha was transferred to the bilingual State of Bombay which came into existence in that year. In 1960 with the formation of the State of Maharashtra it formed part of the newly created State.

Since Independence the district has made commendable progress in economic, social and educational fields. This has been mainly the result of a liberal policy of socio-economic reforms followed by the Government which is dedicated to the programme aimed at the implementation of the socialistic pattern of society. Over a period of years the population of the district has increased from 587,812 in 1901 to 1,585,580 in 1971. The population has mainly remained agricultural though agriculture is not today bound by the orthodoxy and conservatism that haunted it in the past. The farmer has become more conscious of the changing needs of time and the various measures undertaken by the Government such as provision of irrigation facilities, supply of better seeds and chemical fertilizers, introduction of modern methods of production including tractors, etc., have contributed immensely to the productivity of agriculture.

In no lesser degree has the progressive legislation such as— (i) Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, (ii) Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands (Vidarbha Region and Kutch Area) Act, 1958, (iii) Central Provinces Tenancy Act, 1920, (iv) Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950, (v) Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code, 1954, and (vi) Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceilings on Holdings) Act, 1961, undertaken by the Government contributed to the prosperity of agriculture in the district, which has been reflected in the increasing living standards of the people. As in agriculture, so in industry the efforts of the Government have been directed towards bringing about a balanced growth of the district economy by encouraging industrial development. The increase in the number of persons employed in industry and allied occupations over a period of time is not the only indication of the industrial growth of the district but the growing urbanization that has taken place during the last 25 years, the response that the Government's policy of encouraging industrial growth by inaugurating industrial estates has received in the district as also the change in the nature and composition of industrial organization in the district are also the definite indicators of the same. That the Government is conscious of the needs of the industry in the district in regard to its demand for capital and adequate labour force could be seen from the financial help extended by it through various institutions both at the district and State levels as also by various measures undertaken by it in regard to labour welfare in general and for improvement of labour conditions in regard to wages, hours of work, etc., in particular, as for example: —

(i) Industrial Disputes Act, 1926

(ii) Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

(iii) Industrial Disputes Act, 1956

(iv) Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926

(v) The Trade Unions Bill, 1950;

(vi) Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1953

(vii) The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

(viii) Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946 and

(ix) The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act. 1946.

This progress which the district economy has achieved has been made possible due to the ambitious five years plans the Government has executed during the course of the last 20 years. Planned economy or attempt at deliberate economic growth which was unknown in the past has now become the watchword in practically every field of the socio-economic life of the district and in the immense progress the economy of the district has made during the five year plans.

This measure of progress which the district has achieved could not have been possible without an enlightened public opinion. The policy of the State has been to encourage education and thereby create and perpetuate a sound public opinion. The progress the district has made in this field could be seen from the increase in the number of educational institutions and the students taking advantage of them.

This progress in educational field has created a mass of enlightened electorate and has set in motion a liberal spirit that has transcended the bounds of social division which for so long had retarded the progress towards social and economic reforms. Today " no one any longer has a feeling of being persecuted or oppressed but everyone feels himself to be a part and parcel of the community of which he or she is a member. This liberalism has also destroyed the spirit of individualism and self-interest and individuals today have cast away their feeling of apathy towards their fellow beings and are moved by a sense of brotherliness and fraternity. The role of the State is definitely significant in creating such a positive approach on the part of the individuals towards life in general and their problems in relation to State in particular. The importance of associating the people with the administration and the working of the district in particular and of the State in general was recognised by the State and was reflected in various measures undertaken by the State, particularly the inauguration of the Zilla Parishad in the year 1962.

During the last 30 years after independence the country witnessed vast changes in the politico-economic fields. Thrice the country had to face foreign aggression. These phenomena and their repercussions, though in a small degree, were reflected in the day-to-day life of the district. Though local problems never turned the minds of the people from wider problems of national importance, they definitely influenced the people of the district. Local leadership developed on the same lines as the national one and people were taken away by varying senses of loyalties and alignments. Such local problems were either of a political, social or religious nature, for example:—

(i) Problem of election—inactive part of the citizens in election, ignorance about the existing political parties, flexibility of public opinion.

(ii) Low percentage of literacy.

(iii) Under-developed nature of the District.

(iv) Incomplete electrification of the district economy.

(v) Insufficiency of factors of industrial production.

(vi) Lack of transport facilities.

(vii) Low standard of living.

(viii) Problem of unemployment in urban areas and disguised unemployment in rural areas.

But the people as well as the leadership never made these issues preponderate over the national emergency. The people of the district responded magnanimously at the time of the Chinese and Pakistani invasions and showed the spirit of oneness that had permeated through them for generations. For creating such a feeling of oneness, union and solidarity amongst the people of the district, the State and local leadership was mainly responsible.

However, the horizons are wide, the progress to be achieved is immeasurable and the obstacles are many but the people of the district with glorious traditions of the past are definitely well-equipped to overcome these obstacles and to continue their onward march to further and better progress and growth.

TOP