Question

Answer the following question in not more than 150 words.

What do you understand by the term human development?

Answer 1

Dr. Mahbub-ul-Haq introduced the concept of human development. He described human development as a process that enlarges people’s choices and improves their lives. People are central to all development under this concept. These choices are not fixed but keep on changing. The basic goal of human development is to create conditions where people can live meaningful lives.

A meaningful life is not just a long one. It must be a life with some purpose. This means that people must be healthy, able to develop their talents, participate in society, and be free to achieve their goals through full access to resources, education, and health facilities. There should be no hindrance to a person’s progress due to deprivation of life chances. Leading a long, healthy life, gaining knowledge, and having sufficient means to live a decent life are the most important aspects of human development. Building people’s capabilities in areas such as health, education, and access to resources is therefore important for enlarging their choices. If people lack capabilities in these areas, their choices are also limited.