Development

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DEVELOPMENT
The idea of development or progress has always been with us. We have aspirations or desires about what
we would like to do and how we would like to live. Similarly, we have ideas about what a country should
be like.

What Development Promises – Different People,

Different Goals
Development means different things to different people. People seek things that are most important for
them, i.e., that which can fulfil their aspirations or desires. In fact, at times, two persons or groups of
persons may seek things which are conflicting.

So, two things can be concluded:

 Different persons can have different developmental goals

 What may be development for one may not be development for the other.

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Income And Other Goals
People want more income to meet their material needs, to acquire income people desire regular work,
better wages, and decent price for their crops or other products that they produce.

Along with wanting money, people also want other things that can't be touched or seen. They want to be
treated fairly, have the freedom to make choices, feel safe, and be respected by others. These things are
sometimes even more important than having more money, as they make life meaningful.

Some important things in life are hard to measure with numbers. These things, like emotions and
experiences, are often forgotten because we can't count them. However, just because we can't measure
them doesn't mean they aren't important.

When we talk about progress, it's not just about making more money. It's about achieving a mix of
different things. For example, when women work and are respected, it's good for everyone. Also, if
women are respected, they can do different jobs and have their own businesses, making things better.

To conclude, people's developmental ambitions include not only a higher income but also other vital
aspects of life.

National Development
If individuals seek different goals then their notion of national development is also likely to be different. It
is important to keep in mind that different persons could have different as well as conflicting notions of a
country’s development.

How To Compare Different Countries or States?

Just like we compare students based on different traits like friendliness, talents, or grades, comparing
countries involves picking important characteristics for assessment.

In evaluating countries, their income is a crucial factor. Nations with higher incomes are generally seen as
more developed, as money enables access to various necessities and wants.

To compare countries accurately, using total income isn't very useful due to population differences.
Instead, we analyze average income, which is the total income divided by the total population, also known
as per capita income.

In World Development Reports, brought out by the World Bank, per capita income is used in classifying
countries.

Countries with per capita income of US$ 49,300 per annum and above in 2019, are called high income or
rich countries and those with per capita income of US$ 2500 or less are called low-income countries.

India comes in the category of low middle income countries because its per capita income in 2019 was
just US$ 6700 per annum.

The rich countries, excluding countries of Middle East and certain other small countries, are generally
called developed countries.

Income And Other Criteria

Just like people have various goals beyond money, when we look at regions or countries, focusing solely
on average income might not capture the full picture of development. Aspirations include security,
respect, equal treatment, and freedom.

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To explain this, let's consider three Indian states: Haryana, Kerala, and Bihar. If we base development
only on per capita income, Haryana seems most developed and Bihar the least, as Haryana's average
yearly income is higher.

However, examining other data reveals more about development. In Kerala, only 7 out of 1000 infants die
before turning one, while in Haryana, it's 30 infants. Despite higher income, Haryana lags in infant
survival. This reminds us of the pain when young lives are lost.

Looking at the same states, Bihar has a concerning issue. Around half of 14-15-year-old kids there don't
attend school beyond Class 8. This means if you were in school in Bihar, half of your friends wouldn't be
there. This information shows how development is about more than just money.

Per Capita Income of Select States

State Per Capita Income for 2018–19 (in Rs)

Haryana 2,36,147
Kerala 2,04,105
Bihar 40,982

Some Comparative Data on Haryana, Kerala and Bihar

State Infant Mortality Literacy Rate % Net Attendance Ratio

Rate per 1,000 (2017-2018) (per 100 persons)
live births (2018) secondary stage (age
14 and 15 years)
2017–18
Haryana 30 82 61
Kerala 7 94 83
Bihar 32 62 43

Development isn't just about wealth but includes the health of infants and children's education. It's
important to see the whole picture of well-being to truly understand progress.

Do you know?

Infant Mortality Rate (or IMR) indicates the number of children that die before the age of one year
as a proportion of 1000 live children born in that particular year.

Literacy Rate measures the proportion of literate population in the 7-and-above age group.

Net Attendance Ratio is the total number of children of age group 14 and 15years attending school as
a percentage of total number of children in the same age group.

Public Facilities
Having more money doesn't guarantee access to all the things needed for a good life. Income alone
doesn't reflect all the goods and services essential for well-being.

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Money can't buy a clean environment or ensure

safe medicines. Even if you have money, you
might not be able to enjoy these unless your
whole community does.

Many crucial things are best provided

collectively. For instance, it's cheaper for a
whole neighborhood to share security than each
house having its own guards.

Education is another example. If no one in your

area wants to study, you might not be able to.
Collective efforts, like government-run schools, ensure opportunities for all.

Kerala has a low Infant Mortality Rate because it has adequate provision of basic health and educational
facilities. Similarly, in some states, the Public Distribution System (PDS) functions well. Health and
nutritional status of people of such states is certainly likely to be better.

Human Development Report

Human Development Report published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels of the
people, their health status and per capita income.

HDI stands for Human Development Index. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average
achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and having a
decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions.
Human Development Report, 2020, United Nations Development Programme, New York.

Country Gross National Life Mean Years of HDI Rank in

Income (GNI) Expectancy at Schooling of the world
per capita birth People aged 25 (2018)
(2011 PPP $) and above
Sri Lanka 12,707 77 10.6 73
India 6,681 69.7 6.5 130
Myanmar 4,961 67.1 5.0 148
Pakistan 5,00 67.3 5.2 154
Nepal 3,457 70.8 5.0 143
Bangladesh 4,976 72.6 6.2 134

Sustainability Of Development
Since the latter part of the 20th century, scientists have been cautioning that current levels and types of
development might not be sustainable in the long run.

Some resources, like groundwater, can renew themselves naturally, such as crops and plants. However,
even these can be overused if we consume more than nature can replenish. For instance, if we take more
groundwater than rain can replace, we deplete this resource and create problems.
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Environmental damage extends beyond borders; it's no longer limited to specific regions or nations. Our
futures are interconnected.

The concept of sustainable development is a relatively new area where scientists, economists,
philosophers, and other social experts work together.

Development is an ongoing debate. Individuals and societies need to consistently ponder where they're
headed, what they aim to achieve, and their goals for a sustainable future.

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