Understanding Development: Goals, Indicators, and Concepts
Introduction to Development
Different people can have different developmental goals. What may be development for one may not be development for another. It may even be destructive for the other. For example, a dam may be a developmental goal for an industrialist, but the same dam can create havoc with the lives of people who need to be evacuated in the catchment area.
Different people have different developmental needs. These needs are based on their particular life situations. For example, for a person in a remote village, access to an all-weather road can be the developmental goal. On the other hand, for a person living in Delhi or Mumbai, construction of a rapid mass transit system may be the developmental goal.
This creates a need for a development goal that can encompass different needs of different people in a fair way.
Goals of Development
Per Capita Income
The total income of a country divided by the population is called the per capita income of that country. As per the World Development Report, 2006, the per capita income in India was Rs. 28,000 per annum.
Gross National Product (GNP)
The total income generated in the country is called Gross National Product.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total income generated minus the income generated by exports is called the Gross Domestic Product.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The number of children who die before completing one year out of 1000 births is called the infant mortality rate. A lower figure is a better indicator of development. This is an important parameter as it shows the quality and extent of availability of healthcare in a country. As per the 2011 census, the child mortality rate in India is 30.15.
Male to Female Ratio (Sex Ratio)
The number of females per thousand males is called the sex ratio. A lower figure shows society’s aversion to a girl child and the worse condition of women in society. As per the 2011 census, the sex ratio in India is 940 per thousand males.
Life Expectancy
The maximum age up to which an adult lives is called the life expectancy rate. This also shows the overall quality of life in a country. As per the 2011 census, the life expectancy in India for males is 67 years and for females it is 72 years.
Literacy Rate
The percentage of literate people is another important indicator of development. Education is a big leveler as it opens newer opportunities for the educated person. Especially in a country like India, you can see many examples of a brilliant student coming from a lower-class family cracking the IITs. Once you are in IIT, then you get a bright and secure future for you and your family. As per the 2011 census, the literacy rate in India is 74%.
Infrastructure
Roads, railways, airports, ports, and power generation are the lifelines of a nation’s economy. Better infrastructure ensures better economic activity leading to overall prosperity.
Human Development Index
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Economic Development vs. Human Development
| Economic Development | Human Development |
|---|---|
| 1) It is the narrower concept of development as it includes only monetary aspects. | 1) It is the broader concept of development as it includes both monetary and non-monetary aspects. |
| 2) It includes only quantitative growth. | 2) It includes both qualitative and quantitative growth. |
| 3) It aims to achieve human development. | 3) Human development is the final goal of all developments. |