What do you understand by the term development? Would all sections of society benefit from such a definition of development?
Development is a process that ensures good quality of life to all the people in terms of happiness, harmony and satisfaction of essential needs. It is related to improvement, progress and aspirations of people. This definition of development would benefit all the sections of society as it shows the basic need approach. It allows more people to make meaningful choices and the pre-condition for this is the fulfilment of basic needs like food, education, health and shelter.
The previous concepts of development that were based on only economic growth have not been beneficial for poor people and environment and have resulted in a wide gap between rich and poor and imbalanced ecology. Therefore, a definition that aims towards improving the quality of people's life would justify the essence of development.
What are some of the new claims for rights which the process of development has generated?
Discuss some of the social and ecological costs of the kind of development which has been pursued in most countries.
In your view how successful have popular struggles like been in making the state responsive to the social and environmental costs of development? Discuss with examples.
