Vidarbha is a backward region of the so called industrial state of Maharashtra. The key reason for Vidarbha's backwardness in the lack of irrigation facilities. Successive governments have built irrigation facilities in Western Maharashtra but not in Vidarbha. Do you know why? Castiesm! The Vidarbha region is populated by mostly backward class people, telis, kunbis and SC/STs. The Maratha leaders of Maharashtra don't care about this region since many Marathas don't live here. So all the money is spent in Western Maharashtra. I have seen people from Vidarbha mistakingly complain that their region is discriminated against by the mostly Maratha politicians. But this is not region or language discrimination, this is caste based discrimination. People from Western Maharashta don't want to help the SC/ST, kunbi and teli majority of Vidarbha. They want these people to stay poor, uneducated and low in population so that the Marathas can rule, hence the neglect of Vidarbha.
RE:The real problem with Vidarbha
by Kumar on Nov 02, 2007 02:04 AM Permalink
No irrigation = less crops = poor, uneducated and malnaurished population. Poor and uneducated = Less power Malnaurished = less population. Castiesm is the root cause of a majority of India's problem. Caste system prevents the building of compassion, empathy, justice, education, peace and progress in a society.
RE:The real problem with Vidarbha
by for education on Nov 02, 2007 02:30 AM Permalink
Kumar - you are oversimplifying the problem. Caste system is an invention of the British to divide the people of India. The root cause is not caste but lack of opportunity, education and awareness. In many parts of the world there are economic differences, and you cannot oversimplify and issue a blanket statement that caste is the root cause of everything. India is a poor country and administrators have to figure out how to create opportunities. Blaming it on caste is an escapist statement, avoiding serious attention to the root cause.
RE:The real problem with Vidarbha
by Kumar on Nov 02, 2007 02:39 AM Permalink
"Caste system is an invention of the British to divide the people of India." I think this is untrue. Caste system has existed for thousands of years before the British came to India. British weakened it to an extent by giving others an opportunities to get an education for the first time in 5000 years. Also you are confusing the 'cause' and 'effect' of the phenomena. Caste system is the 'cause' and the lack of lack of opportunity, education and awareness is the 'effect' of this 'cause'. Remeber, the caste system banned education for all so that it can stay strong.
