Unit- II
Chapter -3
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
EXERCISES
1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the following best describes development?
(a) an increase in size (c) a positive change in quality
(b) a constant in size (d) a simple change in the quality
Answer: (c) a positive change in quality
(ii) Which one of the following scholars introduced the concept of Human
Development?
(a) Prof. Amartya Sen (c) Dr Mahabub-ul-Haq
(b) Ellen C. Semple (d) Ratzel
Answer: (c) Dr Mahabub-ul-Haq
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What are the three basic areas of human development?
Answer: Determining the "three basic areas" of human development can depend on the specific context and framework used. However, in many cases, three widely recognized and interconnected areas come to the forefront:
1. Access to Health:
This refers to the availability and quality of healthcare services, including preventive care, treatment, and essential medicines. A healthy population is crucial for individual well-being, community productivity, and economic development.
2. Access to Education:
This encompasses formal and informal education opportunities, ensuring literacy, numeracy, and knowledge acquisition critical for personal growth, participation in society, and informed decision-making. Education empowers individuals and opens doors to better livelihoods and social mobility.
3. Access to Resources:
This involves having sufficient income, food security, safe drinking water, sanitation, and other basic necessities for a decent standard of living. Meeting these needs is fundamental for survival, dignity, and the ability to thrive as a human being.
These three areas are considered basic because they lay the foundation for individual and societal development. Without adequate health, education, and resources, people face limitations in achieving their full potential and contributing meaningfully to the world.
It's important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, and other crucial aspects like environmental sustainability, social justice, and political freedom are also integral to human development. However, focusing on these three core areas provides a solid starting point for understanding and addressing the complex challenges of development around the globe.
(ii) Name the four main components of human development?
Answer: While there's no universally agreed-upon set of "four main components" for human development, two prominent frameworks offer widely recognized perspectives:
1. The Human Development Index (HDI) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
The HDI uses three core dimensions to measure development:
*Health: Measured by life expectancy at birth.
*Education: Measured by expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling.
*Living Standard: Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP).
These dimensions are chosen as they represent essential aspects of human well-being and capability.
2. The Four Pillars of Human Development proposed by Mahbub ul Haq:
Dr. Haq, who played a key role in developing the HDI, identified four interconnected pillars of human development:
*Equity: Ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for all individuals and groups.
*Sustainability: Maintaining environmental and social sustainability while pursuing development.
*Productivity: Encouraging human efforts to contribute actively to economic and social progress.
*Empowerment: Enabling individuals and communities to have control over their lives and participate in decision-making processes.
Both frameworks highlight crucial aspects of human development, with some overlap and complementary focuses. The HDI provides a quantifiable measure of progress, while the Four Pillars offer a broader conceptual framework encompassing equity, sustainability, and individual agency.
Therefore, depending on the context and emphasis, you might encounter references to either the three dimensions of the HDI or the four pillars as key components of human development. Both perspectives contribute valuable insights to understanding and promoting progress in this multifaceted field.
(iii) How are countries classified on the basis of human development index?
Answer: Countries are classified on the basis of their Human Development Index (HDI) score into four tiers:
1. Very High Human Development:
HDI score between 0.800 and 1.000.
Examples: Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Singapore.
Characterized by very high life expectancy, strong education systems, and excellent living standards.
2. High Human Development:
HDI score between 0.700 and 0.799.
Examples: Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Hong Kong.
Possess high life expectancy, well-developed education systems, and good living standards.
3. Medium Human Development:
HDI score between 0.550 and 0.699.
Examples: China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia.
Show improvement in life expectancy, access to education, and living standards, but still face challenges in these areas.
4. Low Human Development:
HDI score less than 0.550.
Examples: Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Niger, Somalia.
Struggle with low life expectancy, limited access to education, and poor living conditions.
The HDI score is calculated based on three key dimensions:
*Health: Measured by life expectancy at birth.
*Education: Measured by expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling.
*Living Standard: Measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (PPP).
These classifications are helpful for understanding the relative levels of human development across different countries, but it's important to remember that they are just one way to look at a complex issue. There are many other factors that contribute to human well-being, and the HDI does not capture everything.
Here are some additional points to consider:
The HDI is updated annually, so the countries within each tier can change over time.
There are variations in human development within countries, so some regions or groups may be better off than others even within the same tier.
The HDI should be used as a tool for understanding and addressing human development challenges, not as a definitive ranking of countries.
3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.
(i) What do you understand by the term human development?
Answer: Human development is a multifaceted concept encompassing the expansion of people's freedoms and capabilities to lead a fulfilling life. It goes beyond mere economic growth and focuses on the well-being, dignity, and potential of individuals within a society.
Here are some key aspects of human development:
*Health: Access to quality healthcare, adequate nutrition, and a clean environment, ensuring a long and healthy life.
*Education: Opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in society.
*Standard of living: Sufficient income, secure housing, access to sanitation and water, and other basic necessities for a decent life.
*Equality and equity: Fairness in access to opportunities and resources, ensuring everyone has the chance to reach their full potential, regardless of background or circumstances.
*Sustainability: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, maintaining environmental and social equilibrium.
*Empowerment: Providing individuals and communities with the agency to make choices, participate in decision-making, and have control over their lives.
Human development is an ongoing process, constantly evolving with changing societal needs and global challenges. It requires multi-pronged efforts towards improving health, education, economic opportunities, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
Here are some key frameworks used to measure and analyze human development:
*The Human Development Index (HDI): Developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the HDI uses three key dimensions - health, education, and living standard - to rank countries by their level of human development.
*The Four Pillars of Human Development: Proposed by Mahbub ul Haq, these pillars emphasize equity, sustainability, productivity, and empowerment as essential elements of human development.
Understanding human development is crucial for tackling complex issues like poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and global health. By promoting development policies that prioritize the well-being and capabilities of individuals, we can work towards a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
(ii) What do equity and sustainability refer to within the concept of human
development?
Answer: Equity and sustainability are crucial pillars of human development, each playing a unique but interconnected role in promoting the well-being and potential of individuals and societies.
Equity:
Refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of opportunities, resources, and benefits.
In human development, it emphasizes ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity, class, or any other factor, has equal access to the means and conditions needed to thrive.
This includes access to quality education, healthcare, income, employment, political participation, and decision-making processes.
Promoting equity means addressing existing inequalities and discrimination, creating a level playing field where everyone can reach their full potential.
Sustainability:
Refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
In human development, it ensures that progress towards improving well-being and capabilities happens in a way that doesn't harm the environment, deplete resources, or limit opportunities for future generations.
This includes promoting practices that protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and build resilience to climate change.
Sustainable development balances economic progress with environmental responsibility and social justice, ensuring long-term well-being for all.
Interconnection:
Achieving equity and sustainability goals are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
Inequitable societies often face significant environmental challenges due to overexploitation of resources by privileged groups.
Unsustainable practices can exacerbate existing inequalities, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities and limiting their development opportunities.
Therefore, pursuing inclusive and sustainable development requires addressing both equity and sustainability concerns simultaneously.
Examples: Investing in renewable energy sources can create jobs and improve air quality while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change.
Providing equal access to education for girls can empower them economically, improve overall family health, and contribute to sustainable development.
Implementing policies that promote fair income distribution and resource management can improve social well-being, reduce environmental degradation, and ensure long-term prosperity for all.
By understanding and prioritizing both equity and sustainability, we can build a more just and resilient future where everyone has the chance to live a healthy, fulfilling life within the limits of our planet.
Project/Activity
Make a list of the ten most corrupt countries and ten least corrupt countries.
Compare their scores on the human development index. What inferences can
you draw? Consult the latest Human Development Report for this.
Answer By: Himashree Bora.
