Human Development : Whose responsiblities?

     The elaborate discussions of Human Development (HD) Strategy as proffered in a paper i recently read begin with the question whether HD is an end or means of development. HD is a method to attain the potential of the people by using and improving their capabilities, and by necessary implication, this means the empowerment of the people to enable them to participate actively in their own development. HD is also a means, for in the process of attaining the objective, it is necessary that their skills, capabilities, potentials, productivity, knowledge and inventiveness be also enhanced. This is done through the progression of formation of human capital. HD is therefore a people-centered strategy of development as opposed to good-centered or production centered strategy usually banked upon in ordinary economic development strategies.

      A development anchored on people-centered strategy raises the question on the role of the state in this process. It raises the question on how the power of the state must be exercise. It seriously questions the concentration of power of authority of the state. On which platform of governance should the state plays their role, on a centralized system of governance or decentralized
approach? Many states, who has a high rate in HD Index, approached their HD strategies in a centralized system of governance while many states also possesses HD best practices through decentralized system of governance approach.

     Aristotle of the ancient Greece once said “Wealth is evidently not the good we are seeking, for it is merely useful for the sake of something else.”  For me, having worked previously in community development in the Philippines both through Non-Government Organizations and Government Organizations, the issue whether HD development strategies should be approached on a centralized system or decentralized system of governance is immaterial or a minor issue at best. Both the Central Government and Local Government can work in complementarily to attain and achieved the objectives of  HD without strain and conflicts. What is important in HD strategy is that the people, in the course of the implementation of the strategies, are empowered and in the end, the people themselves can identify what they want, know their dreams and aspirations, pinpoint the hurdles that obstructs them in attaining those objectives, be capable to identify and implement their priorities, come up with concrete actions to attain those objectives, and be able to implement those concrete actions all by themselves using resources available to them or in the community.

      Suffice it to say, HD should be an initiative or intervention by the people, for the people and of the people. HD should be a process that is organized and undertaken by the people themselves. People participation is an important element in the development participation and one important role of the government, whether its authority is centralized or not, is to allow the development of supporting institutions that will permit and encourage people to partake in the process of development. Thus, it is safe to concur that a society that enables people participation, not hinders them, is a critical element in the HD approach.

     HD is the creation of society of enabled and participating people, allowing them to pursue their dreams and aspirations,
enabling them to use their potentials and lead a productive and creative lives based on their needs and interests. HD is more than GDPs and PPPs. HD is about allowing the people to create a productive future for, and by, them and live a life they value. HD is the development of the people – the true wealth of a nation, and expanding their choice. HD is more than figures and numbers of gross domestic incomes or purchasing power parity; it is about increasing their opportunity to live a productive life.

     Enabling people is a fundamental element of increasing their choice. This means that human capabilities (Human Resource
Development) should also be built and expanded. Included in this capabilities are the ability to lead a long and healthy life (access to health and medicine), be knowledgeable (access to education and skills enhancing trainings), to be able to tap resources for a decent standard of living (access to livelihood, employment, and productive endeavors) and to be able to be heard (participation in the policy making process and governmental interventions). Without these basic capabilities, people’s opportunities and choices are limited and shall remain inaccessible.

      It seems therefore to me that HD is intertwined with the objectives of Human Rights (HR). Both HD and HR share the common goal – that is human freedom, whether it is “Freedom from want” and/or “Freedom from Fear”. Freedom is primordial in pursuit if this expansion of capabilities and realization of these rights. HD espouses the freedom of the people to exercise their choice and be able to participate in the policy making especially from those decisions of the government that affects their lives. HR espouses the same. Thus HD and HR are reciprocally reinforcing. Both aims to ensure the well being of the people, enable them to uphold their dignity, build respect for themselves, and respect for the others. 

      Thus, in concurrence with Aristotle, human well being should be the end purpose of development. In our concern for the accumulation of financial wealth and goods, let us not lose sight of this end. But it is not to say that in the pursuit of HD, normative economic development should also be disregarded. Both should come hand in hand and in equal footing. None should subsume the other.