Page:White Paper on Indian States (1950).pdf/114

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which are relatively of recent origin, do not possess well-knit organisations capable of enforcing discipline on their members or assuming unaided the heavy responsibilities of administration. Sectarian considerations continue to weigh heavily and local loyalties are a great stumbling block in the way of political and administrative unification.

210. While the administrative organisation in the States is not adequate to the task of running a modern and developing administration and the political institutions have yet to be properly habilitated in the soil, the Governments of the States face the huge problem of reconstructing the entire administrative structure. Measures for agrarian and other reforms have to be thoughtfully planned and carefully executed. Adequate security arrangements have to be made in respect of the areas situated on the Indian border lying in some of the Unions. A strong and competent administration alone will be able to tackle these difficult problems of administrative consolidation, democratisation and over-due reforms.

Speaking of this aspect of the problem of States' in his Convocation Address delivered at the University of Allahabad on November 27, 1948, the Hon'ble Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel observed as follows:—

"Let us turn to the States. I have been the recipient of many congratulations, addresses and tributes on the successful manner in which it has been possible to bring about the whole process of integration and democratisation of the States. But as I have pointed out in my speech at Nagpur, all these are, even if deserved, quite premature. The real task has just begun and that task is to make up for the loss of centuries, to consolidate the gains that we have secured, and to build in them an administrative system, at once strong and efficient. We have to weave new fabrics into old materials; we have to make sure that simultaneously the old and the new are integrated into a pleasing whole—a design which would fit well into the pattern of all India. You will appreciate the immensity and complexity of the task if you bear in mind that in many States even the rudiments of administrative machinery did not and do not exist; in a large number even local self-governing institutions were either conspicuous by their absence or still in a stage of infancy; popular organisations did not have such far-flung roots as in the rest of the country. Almost over-night we have introduced in these States the superstructure of a modern system of government. The inspiration and stimulus
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