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National Development: Beyond Income and Quality of Life

December 4, 2023 836 0

National Development: Exploring Different Perspectives

It is very important to keep in mind that different persons could have different as well as conflicting notions of a country’s development. However, can all the ideas be considered equally important? 

  • If there are conflicts how does one decide?
  • What would be a fair and just path for all? 
  • Is there a better way of doing things?
  • Would the idea benefit a large number of people or only a small group? 

National development means thinking about these questions.

How do we compare countries or states for national development?

National development status of a country is categorized as either “developed” or “developing” based primarily on their per capita income.

  • Per capita income: It refers to the average income of a country’s residents and is calculated by dividing the total income of the country by its population.
  • The World Bank employs per capita income as a crucial criterion for classifying countries in its World Development Reports.
  • It classifies countries into four categories, namely low-income countries, lower-middle-income countries, higher-middle-income countries, and high-income countries.
    • Countries with a per capita income of US$ 49,300 or more annually in 2019 are labelled as “high-income” or “rich” countries
    • Countries with a per capita income of US$ 2,500 or less fall into the category of “low-income” countries.
  • India’s Position: India, with a per capita income of US$ 6,700 per annum in 2019, falls into the classification of “low middle-income” countries.
    • Notably, the term “developed countries” is typically reserved for the wealthier nations, excluding some Middle Eastern countries and a few smaller nations, which belong to the category of “high income.”

This classification provides a framework for understanding a country’s economic standing in the context of national development.

  • Recent Classification of the World Bank as given in the image below.

Average incomes of two countries

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How does National Development go beyond Income, considering other criteria?

  • Aspirations and Goals Beyond Money: Goals for National Development:  In assessing national development, individual aspirations and goals go beyond just seeking better income. People also value security, respect for others, equal treatment, freedom, and more. 
    • Similarly, when evaluating the development of a nation or region, factors beyond average income come into play.

image 2023 12 04T122842.397

  • Example: Look into the per capita income of Haryana, Kerala, and Bihar given in Figure.
    • Although these figures represent Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices for 2018–19, they can be understood as the per capita income of the state.
    • Haryana has the highest per capita income, with an average of Rs 2,36,147 per person, while Bihar has the lowest, with an average of only around Rs 40,982 per person.
  •  Other Aspects of Development: True State development: If per capita income alone was a measure of development, Haryana would be considered the most developed state, and Bihar the least developed, among the three. 
    • But this is not true, as there is need to use other aspects in decisive criteria of development of the state. 
  • Table below highlights further such contrasts about development of state. 

State wise Comparisons: A closer look at Haryana, Kerala, and Bihar

  • Figure given below reveals a stark contrast between states like Kerala and Haryana. 
  • In Kerala, out of 1000 children born, 7 die before completing one year of age. 
  • In contrast, Haryana experiences a much higher infant mortality rate, with 30 children out of 1000 not surviving their first year, nearly three times higher than Kerala’s rate.
  • This data is from the year 2018, but only 70 years after India’s independence. The issue goes beyond infant mortality.
  • The figure also shows that approximately half of the children aged 14-15 in Bihar do not continue their education beyond Class 8. 
  • This means that in a Bihar classroom, nearly half of your elementary school friends would be missing because they are unable to attend school beyond this level. 
  • These disparities highlight the significant variations in living conditions and access to basic necessities across different regions of India.

Comparative data on Haryana, Kerala and Bihar

Explanation of some of the terms used in this table:

Infant Mortality Rate (or IMR) indicates the number of children that die before the age of one year as a proportion of 1000 live children born in that particular year.

Literacy Rate measures the proportion of literate population in the 7-and-above age group.

Net Attendance Ratio is the total number of children of age group 14 and 15 years attending school as a percentage of total number of children in the same age group.

Role of Public Facilities in National Development:

  • Quality of Life in National Development: Beyond Income 
    • The average income of a person in Haryana may be higher than that in Kerala, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a higher quality of life. 
    • Money alone cannot purchase essential services like a pollution-free environment or guarantee access to unadulterated medicines. 
  • Collective Solutions for Common Needs: Strengthening Community Well-being
    • Many critical aspects of life are best provided collectively rather than individually, such as security for a neighbourhood versus individual households hiring security staff. 
    • Similarly, access to education often depends on collective efforts, as not every family can afford private schooling. 
  • Essential Services:  Pillars of Well-being in State Development: The provision, like healthcare and education, plays a crucial role in determining the overall well-being of citizens. 
    • Example: Kerala’s low infant mortality rate is attributed to its robust healthcare and educational facilities. 
    • Similarly, states with well-functioning Public Distribution Systems (PDS) tend to have better health and nutritional outcomes for their residents.

Educational achievement of rural population of Uttar Pradesh

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हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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