Q.What is meant by regional imbalance? Explain the regional imbalance in Maharashtra and the measures taken to reduce it.

The state's greatest development problem is that its remarkable overall prosperity is very unevenly spread across its regions.

Meaning. Regional imbalance is a persistent gap in development — in income, industry, irrigation, infrastructure and human development — between the different regions of a state or country.

Regional imbalance in Maharashtra.

1. The pattern. Western Maharashtra (Pune–Kolhapur–Sangli–Satara–Ahmednagar) together with the Mumbai region is prosperous — well-irrigated, industrialised, with a strong co-operative economy and good infrastructure. Against this, Vidarbha (east) and Marathwada (centre) are comparatively backward — more rain-fed, less industrialised, with weaker irrigation and infrastructure, lower incomes, and acute agrarian distress in their cotton/soybean tracts.
2. Why it arose. The regions joined the state in 1960 at very different development levels, having been governed earlier by different administrations. Western Maharashtra's early lead in irrigation, sugar co-operatives and industry then compounded over time, while the drier, later-integrated regions fell further behind.

Measures taken to reduce it.

1. Statutory development boards. Under Article 371(2) of the Constitution, the Governor of Maharashtra may be given special responsibility for equitable regional development, including through statutory development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Rest of Maharashtra (constituted in 1994), meant to assess each region's development "backlog" and ensure a fair share of state funds.
2. Spreading industry. Directing MIDC industrial estates, incentives and special packages to backward regions to attract industry and create non-farm jobs.
3. Irrigation and infrastructure. Special irrigation, roads, power and social-infrastructure packages for Vidarbha and Marathwada. …

Naming the wrong regions as backward (Vidarbha and Marathwada are the lagging regions, Western Maharashtra is prosperous); listing the problem without any correctiv …