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Developing Human Resources and Institutions!

Humans, the most important of all resources, are capable of


converting almost everything into a new resource for the greater
public good. Hence, this resource must be harnessed prudently in
the best interests of all. Man, the most gifted creation of nature, is
bestowed with the ability to think. Properly channelized human
energy in the desired direction can do wonders. Several ways and
means have been employed for this purpose since ages according to
the needs and level of innovativeness of the people in time and
place. Need for developing human resources and the related
institutions is vital and equally important is how we do it.
Development means things are getting better. Human resource
development (HRD) is empowering the mankind to use logical
mental-frame to overcome the difficulties of life for the progress of
civilization. This write-up will focus on psycho-social theme of the
HRD broadly within Indian experience.
Man is a social being from womb to tomb. He acquires his
conscience in mothers lap and accumulates a great variety of
experiences and knowledge throughout his life. The limitations and
restrictions imposed on him by the extraneous factors besides his
own instinct play major role in shaping his mind and actions.
There are certain basic needs viz., food, clothe, shelter. Some add
education, health, neat environment, Societal Liberties, Political
Freedom etc. These factors are a must and a minimum of each
must be available to all. Besides, there are other parameters
considered in development planning such as Economic patterns,
Communication techniques, Infrastructure, Leisure & Entertainment,
Media including Social media and its reach etcetera. All together
constitute what we may term as sustainable development.
It puzzles why certain things happen in some and not in other
societies. The reason could well be the different sets of principles of
working, called institutions. The institutions have to evolve for the
existence and maintenance of the civilization.
Society develops and maintains the institutions needed for its
forward movement. Primitive societies had requirements quite
different from what the modern societies have. Strong and workable
institutions from family to government are the driving force behind
the upgradation of human skills and changing social parameters in
all areas from religion to reason and from tradition to modern.
Comtes Law of Three Stages establishes the close association
between intellectual evolution and social progress. Methods and
techniques have been devised from the early days to the modern
times to improve mans adjustment to life.

Education, especially child education, is one of the thrust areas of


HRD. Childhood is the most important phase in a persons life.
Studies show how mans rearing decides his future; hence emphasis
must be on childs self-development. Hindu scriptures mention that
a person without education is like an animal predicating the
cruciality of learning for human development. Education makes
people aware of their rights and duties. People acquire social and
technical skills and knowledge necessary to come out of poverty
and realize prosperity. The occurrence of knowledge leads to the
transformation of society.
Greater coverage and quality education from basic literacy to hitech science and technology is a precondition for raising agricultural
productivity and industrial quality, improving health and sustenance,
domestic stability and quality of governance. Concerted efforts are
required to abolish illiteracy and broaden access to higher education
and vocational training through both traditional and non-traditional
delivery systems for which a better coordination among the
educational institutions and the society as a whole is desired.
Societies build assets on the constituent human ingenuity and
learning from others culture and practices. Death of distance
owing to recent communication advancements has brought speed
and reliability in information transfer ensuring efficient and
appropriate resource utilization. The mass media is revolutionizing
the concept of living and helping to create a worldview on various
issues of concern. As literacy is no bar for television viewing, it
should be utilized for creating social awareness and instilling
scientific temper among the masses. The
e-information flow
enhances the knowledge cache of the societies.
Religion, although abundant with irrationality and transcendental
nuances, reinforces feelings of solidarity and unity within group life.
When religion says, Do not steal, Speak truth etc.; it has a
lasting impact on human mind and persuades a person to behave
decently. Various kinds of social taboos regulate peoples daily
routine. Religious and public opinion leaders as well as media should
strive towards continuously shaping public opinion and imbibing the
values of integrity and honesty among people. Secularization and
rationalization engender social cohesion and communal harmony.
Standard of living is a measure of the persons being covering
various aspects of life and is determined by a variety of interacting
factors. It is generally assumed that individuals are guided by the
goal of seeking a higher level of living and the actual behaviour
should be seen as the reflection of that. Our concern here is how to
mould that behaviour of a person for his gains only. The
perspectives on training and development differ as the knowledge

and background varies from person to person. For example, a ninth


class student considers an atom indivisible which is absurd for a
Master in Physics.
An ancient saying goes A sound mind lives in a sound body. Health
also influences other areas of human experience. Proper health care
infrastructure should be in place to control diseases for normal
civilizational growth. Efforts should be made towards realizing the
health standard as envisioned in 1978 Alma Ata declaration of the
WHO.
Civil society organizations and Governments together have to play a
tremendous role in bringing the weaker sections of the society to
the mainstream of knowledge and economic status and
safeguarding natural rights of people. The Public-Private partnership
in areas like employment, education and health would be critical.
Affirmative
actions
for
Blacks
(USA)
and
Protective
Discrimination for backward classes (India) are examples of what
government should do for the development of its people.
Super Thirty, a coaching institute in Patna, India is a brilliant case
of how individuals can help to create a knowledge society by putting
in strenuous efforts.
Transparency
in
the
governance
ensures
the
effective
implementation of development plans. In India, recently formulated
Right to Information has triggered movement for making public
authorities accountable to society.
Involvement of celebrities in movements like Polio eradication, Aids
awareness, Family planning, Illiteracy elimination etc. does help.
Issues like corruption, beggary, racism, terrorism etc. ridicule the
developmental actions initiated. Collapsing value system and rising
intolerance has created some concerns. Bonding responsible for
keeping the society together must be kept intact to ensure peaceful
existence of the humanity.
It is rightly said that the destiny of a nation is shaped in her
classrooms as the youth, especially students, have the capability to
change even the course of history. Proper mentoring is needed to
steer the youth force for the betterment of the society. Youth i.e.,
the prospective leaders in all walks of life, must be groomed to take
on the rigors of life ahead. Shoulders of the youth should be strong
enough to bear the responsibility of nations progress. The
foundation of every state is the education of the youth and it is the
chief defence of nationsEdmund Burke.

Status of nation affects the population and vice versa. Democracies


allow their citizens to develop with a critical mind while a totalitarian
state ensures complete subjugation of their subjects. Selfgovernance has become a genuine demand of all local communities.
Democratization or decentralization at the local level is gaining
momentum in recent times. More than 70 countries are
implementing political and administrative reforms aimed at
strengthening the local governance. Sustainable development can
only be assured if grass-root organizations play an effective role on
the principles of participation and transparency conforming to the
basic rights of every being.
Strong and well-organized women's movement has contributed in
enhancing the social status of women. Educating girls yields
benefits that extend beyond themselves to their communities and to
the society at large. Mahatma Gandhi once said Educating a girl is
like educating a whole family. Women should be encouraged for
greater participation in governance.
Making society liberal and resilient to changing values in social
relationship is a very crucial task before us. Free mind is host to
creativity and innovation. In some societies, people may not be able
to do of their own for the fear of societal condemnation or
ostracization. It gradually disappears with dissemination of
progressive values. To cope with this kind of situation, we need a
sort of social counselling mechanism. In the context of Indian
society, issues like homosexuality, inter-religion or inter-caste
marriages, pre-marital relations, widow-remarriages etc. cause
tremendous strain in the social framework. A matter can be
anachronistic for one but could be close to others heart. People
should be educated on these matters for their own sake. Social
education succeeds but mostly after a procrastinated and tiring
mental battle as bringing out any change in the social mindset takes
time.
Industrialization triggers growth in all spheres of human activity
bringing forth the ingredients of development. Employment
opportunities should be raised by mobilizing all available resources
for all job-seekers across sectors. We often hear about the dearth of
quality manpower in the job-market. Critical policy issues need to be
addressed in order to fully develop and tap that potential.
Human capital management is now focus of all organizations across
sectors. Various tools are used to ascertain the training
requirements of the workforce. Top management & lower rungs in
the same organization have different motivational needs. One is
trained to give his best; other is trained for taking best of him.

In this era of massive globalization and hyperactivism, nothing can


remain untouched. In a globalized world, prices of goods fall down.
Surging demand increases the monetary flow, thus improving the
living standard of the people world-over and the cycle goes on.
Widening gap between rich and poor as a result of unbridled
expansionism could be checked by proper redistribution system.
Barriers isolating the mental-frame of diverse human islands are
disappearing ensuing an integrated thought process that helps in
the assimilation of various ways of living. Myopic approaches
towards race, religion, caste etc. wither away paving way for a
salubrious
and
all-inclusive
cosmopolitan
atmosphere
for
development. Newer hybrid models of living are sprouting in many
parts of the world.
Human mind can change anytime: for better or for worse. Love is
the most powerful weapon that can win any war without shedding
any blood. If tried honestly, it can be a sure winner. In no case,
coercive measures should be resorted to, even if there is a shortterm gain. For lasting peace and prosperity in the world, we need to
understand others and empathize with them; it could be an
individual, community or nation, possibly schizophrenic. No
explanation can justify an inhuman act whatsoever be the
provocation. Example of Mahatma Gandhi is worth mentioning here
who got India achieve freedom by the weapon of Non-violence.
Reward and punishment are means of reinforcing the desired
behaviour patterns among people and preventing them from
digressions. It is for the civilization to evolve systems to harmonize
all forms of social relationship. Before taking punitive measures, we
must analyze and understand the cause. We have already lost Jesus,
Socrates and Gandhi because of insane decisions and that is
enough!
Last but not least, self-belief is an important measure of the Human
development. Poverty breeds many evils in the society. The blazing
example of Mohammad Yunus efforts towards empowerment of
rural people especially women in Bangladesh through micro-credit
approach is rightly recognised by the Nobel Peace prize committee.
A man has proved beyond doubt that the poor is creditworthy. It is a
revolution of a different kind in a world seeking solution to the
demons of unemployment and poverty.
While applying all means for the HRD, limitations should also be
taken into the consideration. A balanced move towards the cause
will definitely make this world a safer and happier place to live.
Never to forget, there is always scope of improvement.
Thanks to everyone who inspired directly or indirectly in wirting this article only for
academic interest.

-Rajesh Ranjan

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