Introduction: Regional imbalance remains a critical concern globally, particularly in geographically large developing countries like India. Small differences in growth rates between regions, when accumulated over time, have created substantial disparities in living standards. These inequalities are generating economic, social, and political tensions among regions and population groups, sometimes escalating into movements calling for provincial secession or restricting internal migration.
The volume explores several key dimensions of regional development in India through 16 chapters that emerged from an international conference organized by the Centre for Regional Development and Planning, Department of Economics, University of Burdwan in September 2015.
Key Themes and Findings:
- Cross-Sectoral Analysis:
- Substantial regional disparities exist across most spheres of development
- Regional inequalities in different domains tend to reinforce each other (e.g., educational inequalities leading to income inequalities)
- Growth’s impact on regional convergence varies by sector
- Institutional Framework:
- Absence of strong institutional frameworks for local area development
- Need for appropriate safeguards to mitigate problems at local level
- Weak farm/non-farm linkages in rural areas of several states
- Major Focus Areas:
- Agricultural efficiency and tenancy
- Rural employment diversification
- Forest management and common property resources
- Manufacturing sector development
- Construction sector dynamics
- MSMEs and industrial clusters
- Migration patterns
- Educational attainment
Policy Implications:
- Institutional Framework:
- Need for stronger local institutions
- Importance of coordinated regional development policies
- Focus on bottom-up development approaches
- Infrastructure Development:
- Critical role of physical infrastructure
- Importance of social infrastructure
- Need for balanced regional investment
- Human Capital:
- Focus on educational equity
- Gender-sensitive development approaches
- Skill development aligned with regional needs
- Economic Integration:
- Balanced approach to market integration
- Protection of regional interests
- Support for local enterprises
Future Research Directions:
- Need for more detailed regional case studies
- Importance of longitudinal studies
- Focus on policy effectiveness evaluation
- Integration of multiple developmental dimensions
This volume contributes to the understanding of regional disparities in India through diverse methodological approaches and sectoral analyses. The findings suggest that addressing regional imbalances requires a multi-dimensional approach that considers economic, social, and institutional factors.
Academic Abstract:
Regional development disparities in India persist as a critical policy challenge despite decades of planned intervention. This edited volume, emerging from an international conference, presents sixteen chapters examining multi-dimensional aspects of regional inequality in India. The contributions span employment diversification, migration patterns, educational attainment, gender parity, financial inclusion, and sectoral development across manufacturing, tourism, and MSMEs. Through empirical analyses using both primary and secondary data, the volume demonstrates how regional inequalities in different spheres reinforce each other, creating persistent development gaps. The findings reveal that while countrywide macroeconomic policies inevitably create winners and losers across regions, appropriate institutional frameworks and safeguards at local levels are either absent or ineffective in most states. The volume identifies weak farm/non-farm linkages, inadequate human capital development, stepmother approach to agricultural sector, and disparity in productivity and technical efficiency as key factors perpetuating regional imbalances. This comprehensive examination provides valuable insights for policymakers, administrators, and researchers working on regional development and inclusive growth in developing economies.
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Full citation: R. Majumder, A. Sengupta and Jaya Prakash Pradhan (eds.) (2018), Growth and Development in India: Regional Dimensions, New Delhi: Segmant Books.
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