Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/112

 

204. The formation of Unions has radically changed the old order in the integrated States. The new order will take some time to grow. The transitional period will be one of acute stress and difficulty. Apart from the fact that they are interested in the new States playing their legitimate role in building a new order in the country, the Government of India have a direct responsibility in respect of the ordered progress of these Unions in that it is mainly through the Government of India's mediation and effort that the new political set-up has been consummated. It is, therefore, essential that the Government of India should carefully watch and guide the progress of the Unions during their formative stage which will be beset with many dangers and pitfalls. A brief survey of the political and administrative background of the integrated States will be helpful in assessing the magnitude of the task confronting the Governments of these Unions.  

205. In the administrative field the States presented a wide variety. In some of the smaller States there was little departmentalisation and great concentration of authority in a few hands. In others, even the separation of judiciary and executive powers had been achieved to some extent. In almost all the States, owing to the smallness of the size and the compact nature of territory, the existence of autocratic government had made for easy co-ordination, and quick solution of such problems as attracted the Ruler's attention and interest. In normal Provincial set-up, the District is regarded as a convenient unit of administration and a focal point for co-ordination, but in a large number of States, an analogous District organisation did not exist or existed only in name and the position of the District officer as the person responsible for administrative co-ordination in his area was scarcely recognised. The new units of administration organised in the newly set up Unions have still to acquire the requisite cohesion, and the necessary local tradition is still to be built up.

206. In some of the larger States, the superstructure had been modernised to some extent and some of the senior officials could claim to possess in some measure the experience of the working of a Council and administering the various departments through a Secretariat. Even in these States, the Secretariat organisation was comparatively ill-developed and could hardly be compared with the machine that was available to popular Ministries when they assumed office in the Provinces. In most