1.7. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Once it is realised that even though the level of income is important, yet it is an inadequate measure of the level of development, we begin to think of other criterion. There could be a long list of such criterion but then it would not be so useful. What we need is a small number of the most important things. Health and education indicators, such as the ones we used in comparison of Kerala and Haryana, are among them.

This chunk introduces the idea that while income is an important factor in gauging development, it doesn’t give a complete picture. We need other important criteria such as health and education to assess how developed a nation really is. This means that a country might have a high income, yet its citizens may not be healthy or educated, indicating poor development overall. Therefore, a balanced understanding includes multiple factors.

Imagine a school. If a school has high fees (like high income) but poor facilities and a high dropout rate, it cannot be considered a good school. Similarly, a country can have a high income but if its citizens are unhealthy and uneducated, it cannot be deemed developed.

Over the past decade or so, health and education indicators have come to be widely used along with income as a measure of development. For instance, Human Development Report published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels of the people, their health status and per capita income.

This chunk explains the Human Development Index (HDI), a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income. It emphasizes that HDI provides a broader picture of a country's development by combining health, education, and living standards, rather than looking solely at economic data. This is important for accurately assessing overall well-being in a country.

Think of HDI like a balanced diet. If you only eat sugary snacks (high income), you might feel good temporarily but won't be healthy. However, a balanced meal (HDI) that includes vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates leads to better long-term health.

Table 1.6 shows that though Nepal and Bangladesh have low per capita income than that of India, yet they are better than India in life expectancy.

This chunk highlights a surprising reality: despite India's higher income, its citizens have a shorter life expectancy compared to those in Nepal and Bangladesh. This points out that wealth does not guarantee better health outcomes. It illustrates that countries can be ranked differently based on various indicators, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond income.

Imagine two friends: one lives in a mansion with lots of toys but gets sick often and the other lives in a smaller house but is healthy and active. The second friend is like Nepal or Bangladesh—showing that a good living condition doesn’t always mean a healthy life.

However, since the second half of the twentieth century, a number of scientists have been warning that the present type, and levels, of development are not sustainable.

This section addresses the concept of sustainability in development. It highlights that the way development is pursued currently could harm the planet's resources, compromising future generations' ability to develop. Sustainability involves finding ways to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Consider using a rechargeable battery instead of disposable ones. When you use rechargeable batteries, you reduce waste and ensure that resources aren’t exhausted. This is similar to sustainable development, where we aim to meet our needs while being mindful of the environment for future generations.

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