(a) the level of Human Development Index of the country;
(b) the chief characteristics of the report received in this regard;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to improve the Human Development Index; and
(c) the success achieved by the Government as a result thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)
(a): As per Human Development Report 2007/2008 released by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) in 2007, India’s value of Human Development
Index (HDI) is 0.619 in 2005.
(b): The Human Development Report 2007/2008 notes the warming of the climate
system, linking it directly to human activity. According to the Report, climate change
is the defining human development challenge of the 21st Century. Failure to respond
to that challenge will stall and then reverse international efforts to reduce poverty. The
poorest countries and populations will suffer the earliest and most damaging setbacks,
even though they have contributed least to the problem. Looking to the future, no
country – however wealthy or powerful – will be immune to the impact of climate
change. The Report mentions that there is now overwhelming scientific evidence that
the world is moving towards the point at which irreversible ecological catastrophe
becomes unavoidable. Increased exposure to droughts, floods and storms is already
destroying opportunities and reinforcing inequalities. It is the poor who are bearing
the brunt of climate change. The Report states that there is a window of opportunity
for avoiding the most damaging climate change impacts, but that window is closing.
The world has less than a decade to change the course. Actions taken – or not taken –
in the years ahead will have a profound bearing on the future course of human
development. The Report argues for initiating measures for deep and early cuts in
greenhouse gas emissions.
(c): India’s development strategy recognises human development as of paramount
importance. The growth of the economy no doubt caters to this aspect. The objective
of growth along with inclusive development adopted in the Eleventh Five Year Plan
is to usher in an era of greater well-being of the people of the country. The
Government in the recent years has launched a number of programmes for Social
Sector development. This includes National Rural Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan, National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, National
Rural Employment Guarantee Programme, Bharat Nirman, etc. In addition, some
programmes specifically for the welfare of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes,
elderly, etc. is being implemented. All these programmes are meant to raise the level
of income, particularly of the poor and the underprivileged, as well as ensuring
greater human development. Further, governance has been considered as a key
component for attainment of growth and poverty reduction objectives. Improved
people’s participation especially through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and Urban
Local Bodies, involvement of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations as development
partners, enactment of Right to Information Act, reforms for improving transparency,
accountability and efficiency, effective monitoring of public expenditure to prevent
leakages, judicial reforms and use of information technology are recognized as
integral elements for a good governance structure. Emphasis is also laid on inclusion
and involvement of the poor in the design and implementation of programmes and
building their organization capacity through social mobilization in order to make
them active partners in the growth process.
(d): The value of HDI for India, as estimated by the UNDP using a consistent
methodology and on comparable trend data, is observed to increase in a secular
fashion since 1990. HDI for India as estimated by the UNDP is observed to increase
from 0.521 in 1990 to 0.551 in 1995, 0.578 in 2000 and further to 0.619 in 2005.