NOTES
NOTESFOR
FORTHE TEACHER
TEACHERS
CHAPTER I : DEVELOPMENT
Development has many aspects. The enable better understanding of the themes
purpose of this chapter is to enable discussed by bringing the learners closer
students to understand this idea. They to their real life situations.
have to understand that people have There are certain terms used in this
different perspectives on development and chapter that would require clarification —
there are ways by which we can arrive at Per Capita Income, Literacy Rate, Infant
common indicators for development. To Mortality Rate, Attendance Ratio, Life
do this, we have used situations that they Expectancy, Gross Enrolment Ratio, and
can respond to in an intuitive manner; we Human Development Index. Though data
have also presented analysis that is more pertaining to these terms are provided,
complex and macro in nature. these would need further explanation. You
How can countries or states be may also need to clarify the concept of
compared using some selected Purchasing Power Parity that is used to
development indicators is another calculate Gross National Income per capita
question that students would read in Table 1.6. It is necessary to keep in mind
about in this chapter. Economic that these terms are used as an aid to the
development can be measured and discussion and not something to be
income is the most common method memorised.
for measuring development. However, Sources for Information
the income method, though useful,
The data for this chapter is taken from
has several weaknesses. Hence, we
reports published by the Government of
need newer ways of looking at
India (Economic Survey, Reports of the
development using indicators of
National Family Health Survey and
quality of life and environmental
Handbook of Statistics on the Indian
sustainability.
Economy), United Nations Development
It is necessary for you to expect the Programme (Human Development Report)
students to respond actively in the and World Bank (World Development
classroom and on a topic such as the Indicators). Many of these reports are
above, there would be wide variation in published every year. It may be interesting
opinion and possibility of debate. Allow to look up these reports if they are
students to argue their point of view. At available in your school library. If not, you
the end of each section there are a few may log on to the websites of these
questions and activities. These serve two institutions (www.budgetindia.nic.in,
purposes: first, they recap the ideas www.undp.org,www.worldbank.org,
discussed in the section and second, they www.rbi.org).
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CHAPTER I
DEVELOPMENT
The idea of development or progress
has always been with us. We have
aspirations or desires about what we
would like to do and how we would
like to live. Similarly, we have ideas
about what a country should be like.
What are the essential things that we
require? Can life be better for all? How
should people live together? Can there
be more equality? Development
involves thinking about these
questions and about the ways in
which we can work towards achieving
these goals. This is a complex
task and in this chapter we shall
make a beginning at understanding
development. You will learn more
about these issues in greater depth
in higher classes. Also, you will find
answers to many of these questions
not just in economics but also in your
course in history and political science.
This is because the way we live today
is influenced by the past. We can’t
desire for change without being aware
of this. In the same way, it is only
through a democratic political
process that these hopes and “Without me they cannot develop...
possibilities can be achieved in in this system I cannot develop!”
real life.
DEVELOPMENT 3
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WHAT DEVELOPMENT PROMISES —
DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT GOALS
YOU WANT A CAR
CAR? THE WAY OUR COUNTRY IS
Let us try to imagine what SET UP ALL YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS MAY BE TO
ONE DAY OWN THE RICKSHAW YOU PULL!
development or progress is likely to
mean to different persons listed in
Table 1.1. What are their aspirations?
You will find that some columns are
partially filled. Try to complete the
table. You can also add any other
category of persons.
TABLE 1.1 DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS OF DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF PERSONS
Category of Person Developmental Goals / Aspirations
More days of work and better wages; local school is able to
Landless rural labourers provide quality education for their children; there is no social
discrimination and they too can become leaders in the village.
Assured a high family income through higher support prices for
Prosperous farmers from Punjab their crops and through hardworking and cheap labourers; they
should be able to settle their children abroad.
Farmers who depend only on
rain for growing crops
A rural woman from a land
owning family
Urban unemployed youth
A boy from a rich urban family
She gets as much freedom as her brother and is able to
A girl from a rich urban family decide what she wants to do in life. She is able to pursue her
studies abroad.
An adivasi from Narmada valley
Having filled Table 1.1, let us now They seek things that are most
examine it. Do all of these persons important for them, i.e., that which
have the same notion of development can fulfil their aspirations or desires.
or progress? Most likely not. Each In fact, at times, two persons or
one of them seeks different things. groups of persons may seek things
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which are conflicting. A girl expects So, two things are quite clear: one,
as much freedom and opportunity as different persons can have
her brother, and that he also shares different developmental goals and
in the household work. Her brother two, what may be development for
may not like this. Similarly, to get one may not be development for
more electricity, industrialists may the other. It may even be
THOSE PEOPLE
want more dams. But this may destructive for the other. DON’T WANT TO
submerge the land and disrupt the DEVELOP!
lives of people who are displaced – such
as tribals. They might resent this and
may prefer small check dams or tanks
to irrigate their land.
INCOME AND OTHER GOALS
If you go over Table 1.1 again, you more income or more consumption
will notice one common thing: what because material goods are not all
people desire are regular work, better that you need to live.
wages, and decent price for their crops
Money, or material things that one
or other products that they produce.
can buy with it, is one factor on which
In other words, they want more
our life depends. But the quality of our
income.
life also depends on non-material
Besides seeking more income, one- things mentioned above. If it is not
way or the other, people also seek obvious to you, then just think of the
things like equal treatment, freedom, role of your friends in your life. You
A demonstration
security, and respect of others. They may desire their friendship. Similarly, meeting against
resent discrimination. All these are there are many things that are not raising the height
important goals. In fact, in some cases, easily measured but they mean a lot of Sardar
Sarovar Dam on
these may be more important than to our lives. These are often ignored.
Narmada River
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However, it will be wrong to conclude Similarly, for development,
that what cannot be measured is not people look at a mix of goals. It is
important. true that if women are engaged in paid
work, their dignity in the household
Consider another example. If you
and society increases. However, it is
get a job in a far off place, before
also the case that if there is respect
accepting it you would try to consider
for women there would be more
many factors, apart from income,
sharing of housework and a
such as facilities for your family,
greater acceptance of women
working atmosphere, or opportunity
working outside. A safe and secure
to learn. In another case, a job may
environment may allow more women
give you less pay but may offer regular
to take up a variety of jobs or run
employment that enhances your
a business.
sense of security. Another job,
however, may offer high pay but no Hence, the developmental goals
job security and also leave no time for that people have are not only about
your family. This will reduce your better income but also about other
sense of security and freedom. important things in life.
LET’S WORK THESE OUT
1. Why do different persons have different notions of development? Which of the following
explanations is more important and why?
(a) Because people are different.
(b) Because life situations of persons are different.
2. Do the following two statements mean the same? Justify your answer.
(a) People have different developmental goals.
(b) People have conflicting developmental goals.
3. Give some examples where factors other than income are important aspects of our lives.
4. Explain some of the important ideas of the above section in your own words.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
If, as we have seen above, individuals different persons could have
seek different goals, then their notion different as well as conflicting
of national development is also likely notions of a country’s development.
to be different. Discuss among
However, can all the ideas be
yourselves on what India should do
considered equally important? Or, if
for development.
there are conflicts how does one
Most likely, you would find that decide? What would be a fair and just
different students in the class have given path for all? We also have to think
different answers to the above question. whether there is a better way of doing
In fact, you might yourself think of things. Would the idea benefit a large
many different answers and not be too number of people or only a small
sure of any of these. It is very group? National development means
important to keep in mind that thinking about these questions.
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