Beyond Equitable Development Outcomes: Place of Values in Development

Author: Ranjani K Murthy, September 8 2018 - For a long time, development was equated with economic growth measured through per-capita Gross Domestic product.  Then the concept of human development and capabilities emerged, promoted amongst others by Mehboob Haq and Amartya Sen. Human development is a composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income. Inequities in these categories across countries, gender and class are also measured.  

Yet, while countries have moved from low to medium human development, and a little progress has been achieved in inequality adjusted human development across countries (from a value 0.53 in 2010 to 0.56[1] in 2015), inequitable VALUES persist in countries. The inherent dignity of human beings is lost, as in when one race, caste, religion and gender, etc., considers itself superior to another. This is most apparent when a marriage/relationship is proposed across groups. The Special Marriage Act, 1951 permits Indian citizens of different castes and religions to marry in a secular manner, and marriages under this Act has increased from 2264 to 10 665 between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016[1].  These marriages are mainly of inter caste or inter-religious couples.  The year 2015 also saw an increase in reported honour killings from 28 (in 2014) to 251 (in 2015) when India began counting them separately from murder. These killings are by the bride or groom’s family of either or both the couples[2].  There has also been an increase in “lynching” of marginalised people by dominant groups in India, who are suspected of cow slaughter or carrying beef (which is not a crime in all states), kidnapping children etc.  

At another level, countries ‘flooding’ each other (through release of water without warning), engaging in trade embargoes, restricting refugees, or engaging in war is also an indicator of the low value placed on human dignity. An example of flooding is the unannounced release of water without warning by North Korea in 2016 from its border area dam which affected residents in border areas in Gyeonggi in South Korea.[3] The fishing nets of fishworkers got damaged, adversely affecting their livelihoods.  On the issue of Trade, the Trump Administration has issued a statement that 25% tariffs will be imposed on listed goods imported from China. If this materialised, the Chinese economy would be affected, affecting its citizens[4].  With the war in Syria, there has been an increase in political refugees who have attempted to cross into Greece through Turkey (through precarious ways). Some have been turned back by the EU police and face threats to their lives if they return. While it is true that EU countries have to protect their citizens, the violation of human dignity and rights of refugees is a concern.[5]   

Equitable values are not just about values of human dignity and values of equity across gender, class, caste, gender, abilities, sexual orientation and gender identity.  They are also about valuing both human beings and environment, and using environment in a sustainable way. An example is how a community level women’s group supported by TEWA an NGO in Nepal, cleared and protected a natural spring which had been blocked for several years. This enabled to them to access water for household consumption and for vegetable cultivation, and reduced their work load as bamboo pipes ensured the arrival of water close by.    

As long as development is measured only in human development outcomes (life expectancy, education and income, etc.) and equity in these outcomes but not progress in equitable values (vis a vis human beings and environment), there is a danger that gains in these human development outcomes will not be sustained.   Cases in point are: expulsion of Rohingyas out of Myanmar; increase in violence against women/girls in India; cutting of forest cover; and flash floods in South Korea. Some of the children of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have dropped out of school, due to the crisis, to earn for their family or look after siblings after fleeing Myanmar.  Flash floods in Republic of Korea, as discussed, eroded livelihoods and income of fishermen. Violence against women/girls in India is a loss to the Indian economy and household income (of the affected) and, in extreme cases, can lead to premature death.  It is also one of the reasons why women from middle class hesitate to work outside home or are not allowed to do so[6].  Thus, unless values of human dignity, gender equality, bodily integrity, and environment are respected, human development may not be sustained.      

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