Development-What is it and what constitutes it?

Development-What is it and what constitutes it? 

              Everyone wants to develop economically & socially if not spiritually to say the least. Individuals, countries, governments, instrumentalities, political parties-all are mad after it. Elections are fought making development as a central issue. In fact Development happens to be the key-concern of the post colonial world.

          Even if we leave spiritual aspect of development from our domain of discussion defining even material development is not easy.

It means differently to different people. 

For some it is all about doing such things as help increasing growth rate. 

Economists and governments around the world, generally speaking, are busy giving shape to development by expanding their economic capacity through working upon growth rate. They believe that high growth rate is nothing short of a panacea which can cure all ailments in the society. They forget that growth can be measured but development can't. It is immeasurable.

Needless to say they are wrong in so far they hold the economic growth rate in the centre of their scheme of development.

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          Whenever we should think over the term development we must ask ourselves the following questions- 

The way we seek to answer these questions will reveal many things that may vex us but then we shall begin to understand development deeper and deeper.

1. What is development?- An acceptable answer may be like this-

              The result of any such activities on part of the individual, society and State that help make life better and happier and fulfills their aspirations in a mutually acceptable way is called development.

2. Development for whom? 

               The sensible answer is -for all and without discrimination.

        The society is not a homogeneous entity.

It comprises people in interaction with one another through various ways and means from                    

                        * different regions having their own characteristic problems and solutions.

                         * different types and levels of natural resources across the regions under the global boundary.

                         * different sources of livelihood and methods of earning and lifestyles.

                         * different languages

                          *different social and age groups

                          *different technological bases/ backgrounds

                          * different castes / religious affiliations.

                          * different nationalities.

                          * different income levels

                          * different social and cultural traditions they hold so dear to continue.

                          *different educational attainments.

                          * different levels of political consciousness.

         & Last but not the least different aspirations.

*The above enumerations is sufficient to conclude that there is no model that could be a fit for all model of development. 

**Nevertheless it suggests that any such model that seeks to fulfill the needs and aspirations of all the above enumerated sections of people would be a welcome proposition. 

***Hence, the idea of inclusive development came into being which has become a buzz- word for governments of the day. 

**** Above enumerations don't lead us to conclude that development envisages trading in weapons and building arsenals of mutually assured destructions (MAD) though GDP does take into account such trade.

3. Is making dams,roads,bridges, ports, factories, malls & multiplexes development?

For many of us it is. The reason is simple; it provides comforts and removes hardships that were due to absence of these facilities. 

But this development has a cost- both direct as well as indirect. 

While direct cost is born by the State by way of capital expenditure (investment) through loan or equity by the State,it is the people who are left to bear the indirect costs associated with this type of development.

    @When we talk of indirect costs, the displacement of people to be relocated to other places due to these development projects automatically comes to our attention. 

Therefore, development can never be robing Peter to pay Paul. Rehabilitation is a cost of existing model of development.

Modernisation/ industrialization that results in leaving a section of population thrown out of gear due to dislocation is the social cost associated with this model.

   People being thrown out of gear and their natural source of livelihood very often fall prey to crimes and criminal activities.       

    Recent experiences during COVID has only proved this inter alia.

                     To what extent we can bear this cost without impairment of social fabric is a matter of cost-benefit analysis. And the cost must include the long term one.

    @@ When we speak of the cost on long- term, the one in the form of environmental cost naturally draws our serious attention. 

      What we have done in the name of industrialization and developments?

               We went on deforestation,we quarried mindlessly. We constructed big dams etc.etc.

    We are paying the cost of such activities by way of losing millions of lives through massive flood, inundation,tsunami and earthquakes. 

                We have become carbon emmitters. We are gas guzzlers. We have made this earth hot and hotter. We have allowed glaciers to melt to rise sea-level in consequence. The long- term outcome of such development is not far to foresee. The short term gain has made us blind to long-term damage.

                 And the irony is that now we sit together to issue protocols like Montreal or Paris or Kyoto to contain our temperature. We propose to contemplate together in Glasgow (COP-26) on how not to allow global temperature to rise beyond 1.5 degree centigrade. 

      We have become worst polluting species who go for our selfish interests polluting rivers and waterbodies mindlessly by ways more than one.

                   Animals pollute through their faeces only but we have left far behind even them in terms of polluting capacity. 

         Our each and every activity has become polluting in nature making our entitlement to live on this planet out of the question.

      I hold these deliberations something like voluntarily spoiling the broth and then undertake a repair work.

4. Development,anyway, is whose responsibility?

Development,I hold, should be primarily one's personal responsibility. The State or government can play the role of the facilitator or assistant. It should only light the path of development so chosen by an individual in pursuance of his/her aspirations.

Development should never be spoon feeding by the government. 

    But the governments across the world often seem to adopt a prescriptive approach. This non participative Top-Down approach. Development decisions are always thrust upon the people. The people whose development is proposed is not taken into confidence nor are given heed to the plight of those whose interests are going to be affected by the implementation of the decision.

                The result is we have prolonged protests, agitations, hartals etc. which are often highly violent. Recent farmers' agitations can be seen in this light also.

Cost associated therewith is very difficult to anticipate and calculate in money terms. 

     Thus Top-Down approach or Bottom-up approach could be two ways. 

Communist countries are by default in favour of Top-Down whereas where democracies thrive it is better to go for the democratic way that is Bottom-up.

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           I know I have not been able to answer satisfactorily aspects in full and issues in details apropos development;nevertheless I hold that only such model(s) of development can help humanity as

                 - consumes less and less non- renewable energy explores.

                 - explores alternative lifestyle to live a life on the earth with minimum exhaustion of natural resources.

                 - establishes friendly relations with nature and natural habitats.

                  - pre-empts possibility of power rivalry between the nations to impose superiority over one another.

                  - agrees in real terms that co-operation as a way of life is always a better option than competition.

                          Can succeed on sustainable basis.

                     All the above taken together will be equivalent to devising and honouring life-style of "back to basics". 

             COVID has only reinforced that a simple life leads to happy life and the complexity ultimately brings unhappiness and disappointment. The choice is ours.

Unless nations and governments of the world transform themselves from "greed oriented" to "need oriented" the development will continue to be a source of long-term perpetration than a matter of short-term solace.

                                       R.R.Prabhakar.

                                          09.10.2021.