The Issue of Human Development in India - Case Study Example

Short Essay Name Institution Tutor Date Question 1 Introduction According to the Planning Commission of India, (2014, p114), the employment growth rate in India is basically I%. This shows a very small growth rate. The slow growth rate in employment in has been influenced by a number of factors. One of the basic contributory factors is the capital-intensive development of the manufacturing sector. The Indian manufacturing industry has over the years been an important source of employment. This is due to the fact that it was more labor intensive and incorporated many employees (Panagariya, 2008, p1). Nevertheless, Indian planners put more emphasis on developing a capital intensive, large scale manufacturing industry because of the belief that machines that are made of machines would boost savings and hence developing long run growth. (Rajan et al, 2006, p15). The development of a capital intensive manufacturing industry however slowed down the employment growth of India. Currently, about half a million people are employed in the manufacturing sector which is only minute fraction of the larger Indian labor force (Chai and Roy, 2006 p267). The absence of labor reforms is another reason for the slow growth in employment. The labor laws in India have for the past years been quite rigid. The labor laws that exist in country are usually not employment friendly. In addition, they are unfair towards the organized workforce; they also protect employment as opposed to encouraging employability and employment. Although, the government has come up with recommendations to make reforms by emphasizing the need for flexibility in the laws in order to meet international standards , however the country still experiences the challenge of slow employment growth in spite of increased GDP which is also called ‘’ jobless growth’’ (Datta, 2007, p1). India is also experiencing a reduction in the significance of agriculture which has also influenced the slow growth in employment. Historically, the agricultural sector greatly supported the growth and development of other sectors such as the employment sector. However, in the recent years there has been a decline in the relative significance of agriculture. This is because focus has been turned to the service and industrial sectors. In addition, the population that depends on agriculture for its livelihood has greatly declined due to the increased demand for capital and machinery goods (Monirul, and Ahmed, 2007, p155). This particular trend has therefore led to the withdrawal of labor in the agricultural sector and therefore leading to a decline in the growth of employment. A decline in self-employment is another basic reason for the decline in growth of employment in India. A study of self- employment in various industries indicates a decline has mostly been recorded in the agricultural sector. Other sectors such as the manufacturing and the service industry have also recoded a decline in employment (Mahambare and Nadkarni, 2011, p5). In conclusion, it can be stated that the slow growth rate of employment in India is indeed an alarming challenge that should be addressed. There is therefore need for the Indian government to formulate reforms that can boost an increase in the level of employment Question 2 A distinct quality of human development in India is the aspect state ownership in the process. The Indian state has various roles when it comes to addressing the issue of human development. In order to improve education, the state should change the education policy in the sense that it should not put so much emphasis on enrolment but rather it should focus improving the quality or value of education outcomes. Also, the state needs to expand the number of schools in marginalized regions. This will assist in ensuring that children in marginalized regions are able to easily access schools. It is also essential for the government to increase allocation of funds to the education sector. This will assist in improving the quality of education (Sharma, 2010, p4). Reducing unemployment is another significant role of the state of India. Unemployment is one of the key challenges facing the Indian society. In order to resolve this particular challenge, the state should work towards increasing the national income by developing rapid industrialization. This particular approach will increase the opportunities for employment based on the fact that more people will be able to work in the industries (Pillai, 2010, P4). The Indian state should also encourage self-employment essentially in sectors such as agriculture. This can be done through educating people on the importance of agriculture and allocation of more land for agriculture. In order to address health issues, the state should make reforms in both health institutions and the policies. Pandav (2007, p5) discloses that the Indian government has over the years reviewed its health policy for instance the through the 1992-2012 Health sector reforms. However, in order to effectively enhance human development there is need for institutional reforms for the purpose of policy implementation. In addition, the public health policies should aim at the prevention of diseases through sanitation and offering clean water as opposed to just providing antibiotics in order to fight diseases. Also, it is essential for the Indian government to increase funding to the health care system. Public funding to the health care system is only 1% of the GDP. This percentage is very minimal and cannot meet the health needs of the high population (Sharma, 2010, p5). Population control is another significant way of addressing the issue of human development. A large percentage of the Indian population is actually living below the poverty line while the inequality in terms of income continues to grow. Approximately 800 million Indians live below 20 Rupees per day. The poorest population is essentially among the women whereby about 60% of women are poor. Despite of the increased poverty levels in many states, population continues to grow. There is therefore need for a crucial population control in the country (Pillai, 2010, P4). This can be undertaken through educating women concerning the need for family planning. Also, the government should provide free family planning medication for poor women. In conclusion it can be stated that talking the issue of human development in India is actually a very significant function which the state should focus on. Reference Chai, C and Roy , C.(2006). Economic Reform in China and India: Development Experiences in a Comparative Perspective. Edward Elgar Publishing. Datta, C.(2007). Contemporary issues in Labour laws in India: An overview. Tata Institute of social sciences Mumbai. p 1. Monirul, M and Ahmed, U.(2007). Interlinking of Rivers in India: Issues and Concerns. CRC Press. Mahambare, V and Nadkarni, R. (2011). Employment in India: Uneven and Weak. A study by CRISIL Centre for Economic Research. P5. Pillai S. (2010). Human development in India, Analysis to action. Planning commission of India. Planning Commission of India. (2014). Labour Force, Employment Growth (72-73 to 09-10). Ministry of Labour & Employment. p114. Retrieved on 15July 2014 From Panagariya, A.(2008). What India must do to modernize. Retrieved on 15 July 2014 From < http://www.voxeu.org/article/why-india-lags-behind-china> Pandav, C.( 2007). Strategies for Health Sector Reform in South and Southeast Asia. India Institute of Medical Sciences. Rajan, R, Utsav and Subramanian, AIndia's.(2006). Pattern of Development: What Happened, What Follows?. International Monetary Fund. Sharma, N.(2010). Human development in India: Emerging issues and policy perspective. Institute of Human Development.p4. Read More