Amid din in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde introduced a Bill to amend the Constitution and thus provide a special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, under a new Article 371 (J), thus fulfilling the 11-year demand of the people of the area.
Once it is approved by Parliament with two-thirds majority, which is possible only in the winter session as the monsoon session got washed out, the Hyderabad-Karnataka region covering six backwards districts – Bidar, Gulbarga, Koppal, Yadgir, Raichur and Bellary – will get more central funds for development and will be on par with the Telananga region of Andhra Pradesh. Besides, there will be reservation in jobs and education for the locals.
“The special provisions aim to establish an institutional mechanism for equitable allocation of funds to meet development needs of this region and to enhance human resources and promote employment by providing for local cadres in service and reservation in educational and vocational training institutions,” said the objects and reasons appended to the Bill.
There is also a provision to establish a regional council under the special status.