📜 Chapter 19: Human Development

1. Meaning of Human Development

Definition: Human development is the expansion of human
capacities, the prevalence of preferences, and the development
of freedom and human rights1.
• Scope: It gives an indication of many other things beyond
education, health, nutrition, and controlling resources2.
• UNDP Definition: Human development is a process of
extending human aspirations and essential subsistence
services3.
• Core Objective: The objective is to create the same
conditions for everybody's life, allowing people to lead a
significant and creative life according to their talent4.
• Shift from Economic Development:
• Earlier, human development was evaluated only on the
basis of economic development5.
• Per capita income was considered the only measure6.
• This was deemed incorrect because despite economic
success, there was no change in the lifestyle and
quality of life of the people7.
• Human development is not only related to income but
also to how income is used8.
Four Important Pillars of Human Development9:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
 [Link]
Human Development Means:
• Ability of human beings to lead a successful and creative
life as per their own interest, abilities, and wisdom10.
• Creation of human capabilities, securing equality, and
getting an opportunity to select in various fields11.
• Man living a healthy, fine, fit, and long life12.
• Acquiring knowledge through information and
education13.
• Getting an opportunity for monetary benefit14.
• Natural resources should be available to all to improve the
living standard15.
• Achieving a qualitative lifestyle16.
• Removal of squalor and improvement of health-related
conditions17.
• Obtaining personal and social security18181818.
• Utilizing Human rights19191919.

2. Human Development Index (HDI)

• Proponent: The concept was propounded by Nobel Prize
winner and economist of Indian origin, Amartya Sen20.
• Calculating Agency: Published every year since 1990 by
the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)21.
• HDI Value: The rate is between 0 to 1 for any country22.
Three Dimensions/Indicators of HDI (Since 2010):
Highest &
Dimensi Lowest
Index Name Purpose / Measurement
on Value
(Set)
Determining health and
Life Highest
longevity24. Prediction of
Expectancy 83.6 years
1. Health how many years an infant
Index (LEI) and lowest
will survive (average
23 20 years26.
age)25.
2. Education
Measured by two sub-
Knowled Index (EI)
directions28.
ge 27
Highest
(i) Mean
13.3 years
Years of Years spent in school by an
and lowest
Schooling adult till the age of 2530.
zero
(MYS) 29
years31.
(ii)
Highest 18
Expected Approximate years a child
years and
Years of of 5 years will spend in
lowest zero
Schooling school33.
years34.
(EYS) 32
Measured by Gross
3. National Income (GNI)
Standar Income per capita (replacing
d of Index (II) 35 GDP)36. Calculated on the
Living basis of Purchasing Power
Parity (USD)37.
Classification of Countries (Human Development Report
2015)38383838383838:
 Human
S.N Orde
Division Developme Main Countries
o. r
nt Index
Highest Norway, Australia,
Human 1 to Switzerland, Denmark,
1. above 0.802
Developmen 49 USA, Singapore, Britain,
t Japan, France 39
High Human Russia, Malaysia, Iran,
50 to 0.700 to
2. Developmen Srilanka, Mexico, China,
105 0.798
t Thailand, Jamaica 40
Medium
106 Indonesia, Philippines,
Human 0.555 to
3. to South Africa, Iraq, India
Developmen 0.698
143 41
t
Low Human 144
Kenya, Pakistan, Nigeria,
4. Developmen to below 0.550
Zimbabwe, Niger 42
t 188
India's Position (Human Development Report 2015)
• HDI Value: 0.60943.
• World Rank: 130th position among 188 countries44.
• Category: Included in the category of Medium Human
Development countries45.
• Average Years of Schooling: 5.4 Years46.
• Life Expectancy: 68 years47.
• Per Capita GNI: $5,49748.
• Progressive Improvement has been observed (0.428 in
1990 to 0.609 in 2015)49.
India and Neighboring Countries (HDI 2015)50:
Count Ord Countr Ord
HDI HDI
ry er y er
Norwa 0.9
1 India 130 0.609
y 44
Sri 0.7
73 Bhutan 132 0.605
Lanka 59
0.7 Banglad
China 90 142 0.570
27 esh
Maldiv 0.7
104 Nepal 145 0.548
es 06
Pakistan 147 0.538
Afghanis
171 0.465
tan
0.348
Niger 188
51
• Ahead of India: Sri Lanka, China, Maldives are much better
and ranked above India52.
• Behind India: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan,
Myanmar, and Afghanistan are ranked below India53.

3. Challenges of Human Development

The challenges especially focused on for progress according to
the HDI are:
[Link] 54
[Link] Ratio 55
[Link] Empowerment 56
A. Health
• Value: Health is an important and valuable asset, essential
for an individual's family and social life57.
• Focus Areas in Developing Countries: Population growth,
common diseases, malnutrition, handicapped, contagious
diseases like AIDS, and mental disorder58.
• Investment: Expenditure on health is an investment in
human resource development59.
Progress in Health Field60:
• Eradication: Diseases like plague, small pox, and
leprosy have been eradicated61.
• Control: Diseases like measles, chicken pox, malaria,
dengue, hepatitis, tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, and heart
diseases have been controlled substantially62.
• Child Health: Improvement in child health and child death
rate by the Child Vaccination Programme63.
• Vaccinations provided: O.P.V. (for polio), B.C.G
(tuberculosis), hepatitis-B, D.P.T. (Diptheria, Pertussis
and Tetanus), measels, M.M.R. and Typhoid64.
• Life Effects: Man is leading a long, healthy life, and decline
in birth rate, mortality rate, and child mortality rate has been
recorded65.
New Health Challenges:
• Malnutrition: Waterborne diseases and malnutrition are
major problems66. Ladies, children, and poor people suffer
from a lack of nutrients, causing their development to be
incomplete or stopped67.
• Environmental Issues: Environmental pollution and
poisonous gases are daily challenges68.
 • Urbanization: Increasing urbanization and crowded habitats
have created more problems for new health facilities69.
B. Sex Ratio / Discrimination Against Women
• Constitutional Guarantee: Indian constitution guarantees
equality and justice to all citizens70.
• Male/Female Proportion (2011 Census): 48.46% females
and 51.54% males71.
• Reasons for Discrimination: Biological differences,
differences in upbringing, and social/cultural expectations
lead to different paths of development for male and
female72.
Forms of Discrimination/Disparity73:
• Economic: Women often have no contribution in economic
earnings of the family or country74.
• Decision-Making: They do not have power to take
decisions in the family75.
• Health: They suffer from inadequate healthcare76.
• Social Evils: They are victims of child marriage, parda
system, dowry system, and other social evils due to low
literacy77.
• Violence/Abuse: They are victims of child infanticide, low
respect, desire to have a son, social traditions, and sexual
discrimination78.
• Opportunities: They experience discrimination in clothes,
games, education, food, and behavior79.
• Professional: Male dominance is seen in high posts, high
income, and high salary in industries and jobs80.
• Proportion of female members in Parliament is hardly
12.2%81.
 • Less female proportion in Parliament, Vidhan Sabha,
senior officers, managers, directors of companies, and
technical fields82.
C. Women Empowerment
• Economic Freedom: Economic empowerment is the main
aspect of women empowerment; economic freedom is
essential83.
• Impact of Education: If a woman is educated, she would
educate a house, a society, and ultimately the entire
nation84.
• Progress: Women have served as Prime Minister, President,
and Chief Ministers85. They are engaged in jobs from taxi
driver to pilot86.

4. Women Welfare Schemes (India & Gujarat)

A. National Initiatives (India)
• Timeline: Many plans and programs related to women
development have been implemented since 198087.
• National Commission for Women: Set up in 199288.
• National Policy for Empowerment of Women-2001: Set
up by the Department of Women and Child Development89.
• United Nations Declarations:
• 1975: Declared as "Women's Year"90.
• 1975-1985: Declared as "Women's Decade"91.
• 2002: Celebrated as "Women Empowerment Year"
in India929292.
• Family Property: An Act has been amended to give women
equal right in family property93.
B. Steps Taken to Stop Women Exploitation
• Abhayam Helpline (Gujarat): 181 Abhayam Women
Helpline has been started in Gujarat for helping women
suffering from various types of violence94. They can get
guidance for their progress by making a call95.
• Women Courts: Set up so that poor women get justice
easily96.
• Women Welfare Centers: Set up to solve social, legal, and
employment-related problems of women97.
• Legal Protection: Law passed in Parliament to give working
women protection against sexual harassment in
government offices, private businesses, or as maids98.
• Government Vigilance: The government is vigilant to
provide protection against physical, mental, and sexual
exploitation99.
C. Gujarat Government Schemes (Since 2001)
• The government has emphasized women empowerment by
focusing on three aspects100:
[Link] empowerment
[Link] health
[Link] safety
• Educational Initiatives:
[Link] Entrance Ceremony and Girl Education
Chariot Festival: Started to encourage girls'
education, resulting in 100% admission and increased
women literacy101.
[Link] Bond: Given to a girl child in villages with
less than 35% women literacy or to BPL families in
 urban areas upon admission in primary or secondary
school102.
[Link] Sadhna Yojna: Provides free bicycles to
girls (1.5 lakh girls)103.
[Link] Travel: Girls going out of the village to study are
given free travel facility in ST Bus104.
• Health and Nutrition:
[Link] Yojna: Provides nutritional food to adolescent
girls and develops their skill105.
2.E-mamta Programme: Registers pregnant women
through mobile technology and issues mamta cards.
Aims to control death at the time of maternity106. Also
takes care of mother and child health after birth through
the vaccination program107.
[Link] Yojna: Provides SC/ST pregnant women with
medicines, laboratory tests, and operation facility
free of cost108.
• Financial and Security Schemes:
[Link]: Provision of 33% reservation for women
in government jobs109.
[Link] Bodies Reservation: Women reservation
percentage increased from 33% to 50% in local self-
government institutions (Panchayat/Municipality)110.
[Link] Mangalam Yojna: Provides economic help to
women through Sakhi Mandal to make them self-
reliant111.
[Link] Swavlamban Yojna: Provides pension to
proletarians and destitute old people. Destitute widows
are also given economic help112.
• Social Campaigns:
 [Link] Girl Child ("Beti Bachhao Abhiyan") and "Beti
Badhao, Beti Badhao and Beti Padhao" programme
(which gave important contribution in women
empowerment)113.

5. Other Indicators and Future Outlook

Other Indicators in HDI Report (2015)114:
[Link] Development Index
[Link] and Youth
[Link] Health and Health Expenditure
[Link]
[Link] Over Allocation of Resources
[Link] Competencies
[Link] Insecurity
[Link] Integration
[Link]
[Link] Trends
[Link] Indicators: Perceptions of Well-being
Importance of Citizen Action
• Issues like pregnant women not getting proper nutrition,
children suffering from malnutrition, children not going to
school, high drop-out rates, daughters not being sent for
higher studies, and lack of youth employment all affect the
Human Development Index115.
• The country can only compete with nations having high
human development if not only the government but also
the citizens become active in the direction of
development116