MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS
Q1. Why did India’s human development not keep up with its economic progress?
GS III – Economy/Growth-related issues
Introduction:
- While economic development refers to ongoing endeavours for prosperity through growth, employment, and sustainable resource efficiency, human development refers to enhancing well-being through education, healthcare, gender equality, and general quality of life.
There are a number of intricate and related reasons why India’s economic and human growth are not keeping pace with each other:
- economic disparity: A large section of the population in India lacks fair access to healthcare, education, and basic amenities due to persistent economic disparity, which disproportionately benefits the wealthy.
- Education Disparities: High dropout rates, poor quality, and inadequate infrastructure are only a few of the issues relating to education that India faces despite its economic progress, which restricts the country’s ability to develop its human capital and enter the workforce.
- Healthcare Inequities: In addition to having restricted access to clean water and sanitary facilities, unequal healthcare access, particularly in rural regions, contributes to high illness loads and child death rates, which have an influence on human development indicators.
- Gender Disparities: In India, prejudice and violence based on a woman’s gender further impede her growth. Gender disparity limits women’s access to economic, healthcare, and educational possibilities.
- Social Exclusion: Historically, populations in India have been marginalised by the caste system and social hierarchies, which has limited their possibilities and affected the results of human progress.
- Inadequate Social Safety Nets: India’s welfare initiatives frequently fail to meet the requirements of the most vulnerable citizens and provide only a patchy shield against hunger and destitution.
- Environmental Degradation: The long-term effects of unsustainable development and environmental degradation for economic growth include pollution, resource depletion, and climate change, all of which pose a threat to human well-being.
- Governance Challenges: Ineffective bureaucracy, corruption, and weak governance can make it difficult for policies and programmes to be implemented successfully.
- Nonetheless, India has seen tremendous advancements in its social, political, and economic spheres throughout the years, and its human development has been keeping up with its rapid economic expansion. India’s HDI score rose from 0.429 in 1990 to 0.633 in 2021.
Q2. The developmental and welfare programs of India face certain key challenges which need to addressed sooner than later. Critically analyze.
GS II – Government Policies and Interventions
Introduction:
- The goal of development and welfare programmes is to improve groups that are economically, socially, or physically disadvantaged. Although some perceive them as discriminatory, their purpose is to advance fairness and justice by guaranteeing that all individuals have equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of their circumstances or history.
The development and welfare programmes for the weak appear to take a prejudiced stance because:
- Welfare and development programmes are not universal; they have distinct eligibility requirements based on socioeconomic variables, which may exclude certain persons and give the impression that they are being discriminated against.
- Targeted strategies in programmes like Standup India, which are restricted to recipients who are SC/ST/Women, might cause alienation or bitterness among the marginalised communities.
- Like reservations, affirmative action policies seek to right historical wrongs, but by giving people preference based on their identity or origin, they are fundamentally discriminatory.
- When scarce resources are distributed to disadvantaged groups, resource competition may result, leading individuals who do not meet reserved quota requirements to feel that their treatment is unjust.
However, it is not a bad or unwanted feature. These programmes are advantageous and required for the following reasons:
- They tackle the systemic and historical injustices and inequalities that have long marginalised and oppressed particular communities. For instance, the reservation policy and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are designed to safeguard and strengthen India’s historically marginalised castes and tribes.
- By making sure that the needs and voices of the most vulnerable groups are taken into consideration, they support diversity and social inclusion. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Standup India programmes, for instance, are designed to empower women and girls who experience violence and prejudice in a variety of contexts.
- They promote human growth and welfare by enhancing the standard of living and means of subsistence for the most vulnerable populations. For instance, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana offer the impoverished and needy access to essential facilities and services like food and lodging.
- By utilising the abilities and potential of the most vulnerable groups, they aid in the general growth and advancement of the country. For instance, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana offer possibilities for education and skill development, enabling the vulnerable populations to become productive and employable.
- As a result, the welfare and development programmes for the vulnerable seem to take a discriminatory stance, although this is neither a bad thing nor a disadvantage. Instead, this is a strength and a virtue because it shows how committed and accountable society and the government are to making sure that no one is left behind or denied the benefits of progress.
