Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 (Human development) – India - People and Economy Book
Alright class, let's delve into Chapter 3, 'Human Development', from your 'India - People and Economy' book. This is a crucial chapter, not just for your board exams but also for various government competitive exams, as it deals with the core idea of progress and well-being in our country.
Chapter 3: Human Development (India Context)
1. Introduction: Growth vs. Development
- Growth: Refers to quantitative change, often measured by economic indicators like GDP or GNP. It's about increase in size or amount (e.g., size of the economy, population). Growth can be positive or negative.
- Development: Refers to qualitative change, which is always positive. It signifies an improvement in the quality of life, expansion of choices, and enhancement of freedoms and capabilities. Development cannot occur without growth, but growth does not automatically guarantee development.
- Key Idea: Development is about enlarging people's choices and improving their lives. The focus shifts from mere economic expansion to human well-being.
2. The Concept of Human Development
- Introduced by Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq (Pakistani economist) in 1990.
- Strongly supported by Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen (Indian economist).
- Core Definition: "Human development is a process of enlarging the range of people's choices, increasing their opportunities for education, health care, income and empowerment and covering the full range of human choices from a sound physical environment to economic, social and political freedom."
- Central Purpose: To create an enabling environment for people to live long, healthy, and creative lives. It emphasizes that people are the real wealth of nations.
3. Four Pillars of Human Development
These are the foundations upon which human development rests:
- Equity: Refers to fairness and equal access to opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, race, income, or caste. It ensures that the benefits of development reach all sections of society.
- Sustainability: Means continuity in the availability of opportunities. Future generations must have access to at least the same opportunities as the present generation. This requires careful use of environmental, financial, and human resources.
- Productivity: Refers to human labour productivity or productivity in terms of human work. Enhancing people's capabilities (through health, education, skills) contributes to higher productivity. People should be seen as assets and means to development, not just passive recipients.
- Empowerment: Means having the power to make choices. This power comes from increasing freedom and capability. Good governance and people-centric policies are essential to empower individuals and communities.
4. Measuring Human Development: The Human Development Index (HDI)
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the Human Development Report annually since 1990, which ranks countries based on their HDI score.
- HDI is a composite index measuring average achievement in three key dimensions:
- A Long and Healthy Life: Measured by Life Expectancy at Birth.
- Knowledge: Measured by:
- Mean Years of Schooling (average years of education received by people aged 25 and older).
- Expected Years of Schooling (number of years of schooling that a child of school entrance age can expect to receive).
- Note: In the Indian context, literacy rates (overall, adult, youth) and Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) are often discussed as key education indicators.
- A Decent Standard of Living: Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP US$). PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) adjusts for differences in the cost of living between countries.
- HDI Score: Ranges between 0 and 1. Higher the score, higher the level of human development. Countries are often grouped into Very High, High, Medium, and Low human development categories.
5. Human Development in India
- India's HDI Rank & Score: India typically falls in the 'Medium Human Development' category. (Note: The specific rank and score change annually with the release of the HDR. For exams, be aware of the latest reported rank/score if possible, but understanding the category and trends is more important).
- State-Level Variations: There are significant disparities in HDI levels among Indian states.
- High HDI States: Kerala consistently ranks highest due to its impressive performance in literacy (especially female literacy) and health indicators. States like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Punjab also generally perform well.
- Low HDI States: States like Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh often lag behind. Factors contributing to low scores include lower literacy rates (especially female), lower economic development, and inadequate health infrastructure.
- Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog): Also calculates HDI and related indices for Indian states, using similar dimensions but sometimes slightly different indicators tailored to the Indian context.
6. Key Indicators of Human Development in India
- Indicators of a Healthy Life:
- Life Expectancy: Has significantly increased since independence but still lags behind many developed and even some developing nations. Affected by factors like nutrition, healthcare access, sanitation, etc.
- Mortality Rates: Reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) are key goals, though challenges remain.
- Nutrition: Malnutrition (under-nutrition, including stunting and wasting) and anaemia remain significant public health issues, especially among children and women.
- Healthcare Access: Availability of affordable healthcare, especially in rural areas, is crucial. Government initiatives like Ayushman Bharat aim to improve this.
- Sanitation: Initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission aim to improve sanitation and reduce water-borne diseases.
- Indicators of Education:
- Literacy Rate: Has improved considerably, but significant gaps exist based on gender, region (rural/urban), and social groups. Female literacy is a critical focus area.
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Indicates access to different levels of education. While enrolment at the primary level is high, dropout rates at higher levels are a concern.
- Quality of Education: Beyond enrolment, the quality of education and learning outcomes are increasingly important.
- Indicators of Access to Resources:
- Income/Poverty: Measured often by GNI per capita (PPP) and the percentage of the population below the poverty line. Poverty reduction is a central goal.
- Access to Basic Amenities: Clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, and housing are vital components of a decent standard of living.
- Economic Disparities: Wide income and wealth inequalities exist, impacting access to resources for marginalized sections.
7. Reasons for Variations in Human Development Across India
- Historical Factors: Colonial policies, regional imbalances.
- Socio-Cultural Factors: Caste discrimination, gender inequality impacting access to education, health, and employment for certain groups.
- Economic Factors: Differences in levels of industrialization, agricultural development, infrastructure, and employment opportunities. Poverty levels significantly impact HDI.
- Political and Governance Factors: Effectiveness of policy implementation, allocation of resources for social sectors (health, education), political stability, and levels of corruption. States with better governance often show higher HDI.
8. Population, Environment, and Development
- There's a complex interplay between population growth, environmental degradation, and development levels.
- High population growth can strain resources and infrastructure, potentially hindering human development if not managed properly.
- Environmental degradation (deforestation, pollution, resource depletion) negatively impacts health, livelihoods, and overall well-being, disproportionately affecting the poor.
- Sustainable development strategies are crucial to balance economic progress, social equity, and environmental protection for long-term human well-being.
Conclusion:
Human development provides a more holistic view of progress than purely economic measures. While India has made strides in improving its HDI, significant challenges and regional disparities remain. Achieving higher levels of human development requires sustained focus on improving health, education, and equitable access to resources for all citizens, alongside good governance and environmental sustainability.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
-
The concept of Human Development was primarily introduced by:
a) Prof. Amartya Sen
b) Adam Smith
c) Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq
d) Karl Marx -
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars of Human Development?
a) Equity
b) Productivity
c) Economic Growth
d) Sustainability -
The Human Development Index (HDI) measures achievements in which three key dimensions?
a) Health, Education, Income
b) Poverty, Unemployment, Inflation
c) Industrial Growth, Agricultural Growth, Service Sector Growth
d) Population Growth, Urbanization, Migration -
In the context of HDI, 'Access to Resources' or 'A Decent Standard of Living' is typically measured by:
a) Literacy Rate
b) Life Expectancy at Birth
c) Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP US$)
d) Infant Mortality Rate -
Which Indian state consistently ranks highest in Human Development Index rankings within India?
a) Punjab
b) Maharashtra
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Kerala -
Which approach to Human Development focuses on increasing human freedom and capabilities as the core objective?
a) Income Approach
b) Welfare Approach
c) Basic Needs Approach
d) Capability Approach -
Sustainability, as a pillar of Human Development, emphasizes:
a) Maximizing current economic output
b) Ensuring equal access to opportunities for all sections today
c) Providing continuity of opportunities for future generations
d) Increasing human labour productivity -
According to the Human Development Reports, India generally falls into which category of human development?
a) Very High Human Development
b) High Human Development
c) Medium Human Development
d) Low Human Development -
Lower levels of female literacy are often associated with:
a) Higher HDI scores in a region
b) Lower HDI scores in a region
c) No significant impact on HDI scores
d) Higher economic growth rates -
Which factor is LEAST likely to be a direct cause of low HDI scores in some Indian states?
a) High levels of poverty
b) Low literacy rates, especially among women
c) Inadequate healthcare facilities
d) High levels of foreign direct investment
Answer Key:
- c) Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq
- c) Economic Growth
- a) Health, Education, Income
- c) Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP US$)
- d) Kerala
- d) Capability Approach
- c) Providing continuity of opportunities for future generations
- c) Medium Human Development
- b) Lower HDI scores in a region
- d) High levels of foreign direct investment (This is generally seen as positive for economic growth, though its impact on HDI can be indirect and depends on how benefits are distributed).
Make sure you read the chapter thoroughly alongside these notes. Understanding the nuances and the Indian context is key for your exams. Good luck!