Unit – Five

Development
1. Concept and Meaning of Development
Simply, development means positive change which signifies
evolution. The condition of continuously growing or improving is
termed as development. Former American President Harry
Trueman has used the word 'development' is unending and
ongoing process.
It is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political
process which aims at the constant improvement of the well- being
of the entire population and of all individuals. Development
implies change and this is one sense in which the term
development is used, that is, to describe the process of economic
and social transformation within countries.
Development is a process of economic and social transformation
that is based on complex cultural and environmental factors and
their interactions. A better society with more of modern amenities
is the gift of development. People want a better life and nation
wants advancement.
According to Hugo Slims "development is a process of change that
enables people to take change of their own destinies and realize
their full potential. It requires building up in the people the
confidence, skill, assets and freedoms necessary to achieve the
goal"
According to David Korten- " Development is a process by which
the members of a society increase their personal and institutional
capacities to mobilize and manage resources to produce sustainable
and just distributed improvements in their quality of life consistent
with their own aspirations."
 According to Michael Todaro – "Development is a multi-
dimensional process involving major changes in social structure,
popular attitude and national institution as well as the acceleration
of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication
of absolute poverty".
Following concepts can be summarized as development-
 The systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to
meet specific objectives of requirements.
 An extension of the theoretical or practical aspects of a
concept, design, discovery or invention.
 The process of economic and social transformation that is
based on complex cultural and environmental factors and
their interactions.
 The process of additional improvements to a parcel of land,
such as grading, subdivisions, drainage, access, roads
utilities.
 A specified state of growth or advancement.
 The process of converting land to a new purpose by
constructing buildings or making use of its resources land
suitable for development.
 A significant event or change.
 Determination of the best techniques for applying a new
device or process to production of goods or services.
 It is a unending and ongoing process towards better.
 Qualitative and quantitative changes.

2. Criteria (Indicators) of Development

 Development can be measured mainly in 3 criteria's. They are
known as indicators of development. Generally development
concerns with economic development and primary needs of
people. Only the economic development and infrastructures cannot
explain to development. Social indicators are very important for
civilized countries. After 1990, human development is also the
main measurement of development.
Most commonly, the criteria for evaluating the degree of economic
development are-
 Gross domestic product (GDP)
 The per capita income
 Level of industrialization
 Amount of widespread infrastructure
 General standard of living
Economic criteria have tended to dominate discussions. One such
criterion is income per capita, countries with high gross domestic
product per capita would thus be described as developed countries.
Another economic criteria is industrialization, countries in which the
tertiary and quaternary sectors of industry dominate would thus be
described as developed. More recently another measure, the human
development index, which combines an economic measure, national
income with other measures, for life expectancy and education has
become prominent. These criteria would define developed countries as
those with a very high rating.
Economic criteria (1950- 1970)

 Industrialization
 Employment
 Income
 Fulfillment of basic needs
 Amount of wide spread infrastructure
 Resource mobilization

Social Criteria (1970-1990)

Human Development Criteria

 Reduce discrimination
 Good governance
 Justice
 Freedom
 Security
 Equality
 Social welfare

Human development criteria (after 1990)

 Life expectancy
 Income which maintains life
 Literacy / education
 3. Development and poverty reduction

United Nation Development Program (UNDP) has completed many

development programs under Millennium Development Goals.
Sustainable development goals are being conducted now. The main
objective of these development goals is poverty reduction. To reduce
poverty following programs are conducted by UNDP in the different
parts of the world. They are- democratic governments, crisis prevention
and recovery, environment and energy, HIV/AIDS, women's
empowerment and capacity building. All the development programs are
planned for poverty reduction, especially third world counties are
suffering in the situation of poverty and they need development.

Development and poverty reduction goes parallel; both of them are

never ending process because poverty is one of the biggest challenges
regarding the pace of development in society. One of the primary
objectives of development is to address and reduce poverty. Poverty is
always in search of development. Development is a multi-dimensional
process in which development and poverty has reciprocal relationship.

Henery George in his economics, development are those that raise or

are intended to rise, enabling the poor to create wealth for themselves as
a means for ending poverty forever, only poverty reduction is not
development. If poor counties are unable to adopt the policies they need
transform their industries and diversify their economics. Poverty
reduction depends on entrepreneur but not aid. Entrepreneur however is
changing the world. Since 2005 as estimated half billion people or more
have been raised out poverty. Mainly by small business, trade,
liberalization and gains in productivity.
In China, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Nigeria, the local economics are
creating millions of jobs. Entrepreneurs can create employment and
increase production.

The main reason of poverty in Nepal is under utilization of resources,

lack of infrastructure, illiteracy, low industrial development, lack of
technology, lack of effective plans and soon. Nepal id rich in natural
resources and most of the resources are not utilized. Natural resources,
human resources and capital resources are underutilized.

4. Sustainable Development

The term sustainable development consist of two different words,

'Sustainable' and 'Development'. Development refers to the gradual
growth of something so that it becomes more advance and strong and
etc, in the same manner sustainable means durable or long lasting. Thus,
sustainable development is also called durable, bearable or forever
development. Sustainable development involves the use of natural
products and energy in the way that doesn’t harm the environment.

The term sustainable development is used by The World Commission on

Environment and Development (WCED) in report of 1987. WCED
published a report on "Our Common Future" including the concept of
sustainable development. According to this commission- " Sustainable
development is a process in which the exploitation of resources, the
direction of investment and the orientation of technological development
and industrial change meet the need of present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The
main aim of sustainable development is to balance among population
various resources, various aspects of environment and development.
Various resources and means should be conserved and appropriately
utilized which helps to sustainable development.

Sustainable development is development based on patterns of production

and consumption that can be perused into the future without degrading
the human or natural environment. It concerns and include:
 Economic development that is conducted without distruction of
natural resources\
 Environment, economic and social well being for today and
tomorrow.

United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) was organized in 1973

with a slogan that we should use natural resources for development but
do not harm environment. Participatory development and local resource
mobilization by local people to fulfill local needs and based on local
technology will be sustained. Depended development with developed
countries will not be sustained for forever and counties as well as
development process will not be self reliant. There are mainly three
dimension of sustainable development

 Environmental dimension
 Social dimension
 Economic development
Objective of Sustainable development
Sustainable development has many objectives. The following are main :

 To maintain the standard of living with equality and justice.

 To conserve and protect natural resources
 To innovate new technology and scientific techniques.
 To respect diversity
 To decentralize government institution
 To plan international institution, to support poor nation
 To seek peaceful co-existence of all nations
 To conserve the bio-diversity
 To increase public participation
 To conserve cultural heritage

5. Law and development

Law is the indicator of civilized society. Role of law is an ideal of modern society
and ideal society is indispensible for development. Law and development is an
interdisciplinary study of law and economic and social development. It examines
the relation between law and development and analysis how to use law as an
instrument to promote economic development, democracy and human rights, this
ensures that with the changing world the law is not violated.

Law and development can be stated as two sides of same coin. Law as an
instrument, as a means can tool which facilities guides and directs towards the
rational positive change coined by development. Poverty needs development which
can be maintained by law. Law is means of social and economic planning.
Development is possible through the developmental and other various planning.
Development is the output of effective government, transparency, human
development, sustainability, decentralization, participation etc which is maintained
by law.

Law helps to co-ordinate, regulate and control the subjects matter of society and
development. According to David Korten, "Right to development is human right,
development is process which is every changing key role of the law always
prevails in development in the form of policy, principles standards, customs etc.
Today each and every plans policies and programs are formulated and
implemented through legal aspects and legal procedure".

It is difficult to say that law leads the development or development leads the law.
Law shapes the developmental activities in a multitude of ways. Sometimes
development leads to law, due to the development of science and technology
mainly email and internet, new innovations and increasing complexities of society
that law regarding cyber was made in order to prevent cyber crime. In this situation
law remains behind and development goes ahead. In the same manner, sometimes
law leads to development, abortion right to women has been addressed by law, and
likewise the society can be changed through the legislative, administrative and also
judicial reinterpretation of constitution. It plays a vital role to abolish bad customs
and practices of society, such as abolition of sati, slavery, polygamy, child
marriage, domestic violence.

It is said that the rule of law as a goal of development policy. Development is not
possible without rule of law so, law and development cannot be kept separately.
Law which does not promote, protect and preserve the development is not a law at
all. The law and development partnership provides high level strategic advice and
support to developing countries. It empowers people in the developing world to
excess justice, economic opportunities and good governance.