What development? For whom?

Development is as much a process of providing services as of removing obstacles

and giving freedom from all sorts of discrimination
Chapal Mehra

n what is perhaps one of Indias most

communal, polarising, divisive and
personalised election campaigns, we are
told far too often that this election is
really about development. Yet, none of
the political parties clearly denes development either in their speeches or in
their manifestoes. So, what do they mean
by development and who is it intended
for?
Development is not a singular, universally accepted paradigm. Nor can one
kind of development benet everyone.
Anyone or any country that advocates a
single paradigm of development (Gujarat, China) is misinforming this discussion. The most effective development
paradigms are rarely superimposed but
instead evolve and are implemented with
participation from its recipients.

What development means

Yet there is the persistent question of
what development means to each of us.
The short answer is: it depends. Consider
this: what is development to a poor person from the northeast living in Delhi?
To a displaced Muslim in Gujarat? To a
lower caste migrant Bihari worker in a
Mumbai slum? To every woman in India?
There will certainly be points of convergence but the answers might be surprisingly diverse.
So what is the kind of development
India needs? Development in its simplest
sense should be the ability of all Indians
to realise their true potential without
fear or obstacles. Development should
address the lack of capabilities, knowledge, nancial resources, and opportunity to step out of poverty and deprivation
without fear. Development then is as
much a process of providing services as of
removing obstacles and giving freedom
from all sorts of discrimination, exclusion, insufficient opportunities and fear
of identity. Do any of our leaders promise
us this kind of development in this election? Sadly not. The development narrative in this election is shallow and empty.
What is equally disturbing, though not
surprising, is that Indian industry is
cheering this empty rhetoric. Big businesses will have India believe that like
China, quick clearances without due diligence, public land at low prices and a lack
of environmental concerns represent development. They are trying to equate
business growth with human develop-

MANY DEFINITIONS: Development for a poor person may mean something different for a displaced Muslim
in Gujarat, a lower caste migrant Bihari worker in Mumbai or a woman. PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR
ment. These are not and never have been law enforcement and clean and effective
the same.
public systems which work without prejWe all want development but lets not udice. Similarly, a larger economy does
be misled by incorrect assertions. Deni- mean growth but not development. It
tions are important. Because nations doesnt ensure appropriate wealth distriarent just roads, big
bution, access to
businesses, shining Nations arent just
quality healthcare,
tall buildings; they
housing or a safe enare people, commu- roads, big businesses,
vironment. In fact, it
nities, genders, each shining tall buildings;
can acerbate the inof whose welfare and
equality problem as
development needs they are people,
incomes rise only for
may be different and
a few. The poor can
often dependent on communities, genders,
continue to live in
government policy each of whose welfare
slums in big shining
and
programmes.
cities with poor nuThese are in turn de- and development needs
trition, health and
termined by people may be different
safety.
whose biases are ofFor any party that
ten reected in these policies.
comes to power, development is going to
Politicians will have you believe that be a hard climb. India has the largest
rising incomes, growing infrastructure is number of poor people in the world. We
development. Not true. Evidence indi- also lead in diseases like Tuberculosis,
cates that rising income is no guarantee cancer, and diabetes among others. Our
of greater personal welfare. The most ba- cities are increasingly overcrowded, unsic indices of human development for the safe, and unlivable. One of every two Inmost vulnerable being healthy, well- dian children is malnourished and is
nourished, literate, and having equal op- likely to be stunted. Even though we have
portunity without fear are dependent the Right to Education, operational
on strong local governments, unbiased schools and teachers are a far cry.

As a new government comes to power,

we must ask ourselves what kind of development we will get. The deeper question though will be what kind of
development can any government provide in a climate of fear and hate polarisation that has been generated in India?
Will vulnerable groups, minorities, be
free from discrimination, harassment
and intimidation? If not, what will it
mean to seek development with insecure
identities and without personal freedom? To quote a famous Indian: Is freedom to choose not development?
Indias next government will have to
rst ensure that its denition of development is inclusive, unbiased and participatory. Otherwise development efforts,
however sincere, will fail in a social system fractured by religion, caste and gender. Our political leaders need to
understand that development is a hope
that every Indian should have to live a life
of dignity, free of deprivation and fear,
within their community, city and nation
state. If they cannot promise us this, any
other denition of development may
mostly be irrelevant.
(Chapal Mehra is an independent New
Delhi-based writer.)