As a measure of development, Human Development Index (HDI) is animprovement over GDP
and per capita income (refer to Chapter 2). Whereas GDPis an indicator of the value
of goods and services produced in the country, the ideaof progress can hardly be
limited to production of goods and services. This ismore so when rapid expansion of
production and incomes can coexist withmalnutrition and lack of education and health
for a large proportion of the people,as is the case in India. HDI expands the
meaning of development to include socialindicators of education and health.
There are, however, many other considerations that even this expanded measureof
development does not capture. In India, more than 90% of the workforce is inthe
unorganised sector, where the conditions of work are not encouraging at all.Incomes
of both self-employed and wage workers in the unorganised sector aregenerally low,
at times pitiably so (refer to Chapter 3). With such a high percentageof workforce
in low-paid employment, increase in GDP and the enormous varietyof goods and
services being produced can benefit only select groups. People withhigh income and
wealth are the ones who have all the choices in the world to buySCERT and consume
(refer to Chapter 10). While some enjoy world-class living comforts,the vast
majority, without proper employment and adequate incomes, are still deprivedof
minimumnecessities for decent living Such wideinequality in incomes and
opportunities across people cannot be the basis for a just society.
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