2: Giving Meaningful Meaning of Development

Following India’s independence, the government faced the monumental task of fostering socio-economic development in rural areas. To address these challenges, the Government of India initiated various measures through institutions such as the Planning Commission, Finance Commission, and Panchayat Raj Institutions. Both central and state governments launched numerous schemes, underpinned by development projects, aimed at stimulating socio-economic progress.

There are different schools of thought that define development aspects in their way. Some relate to subjective and owing to the nature of the development process like economic development, social development, human development, environmental development, technological development, etc. There is no specific definition of development, but it is largely narrated from a subjective perspective having a multitude of meanings attached to the idea of development. The term is complex, contested, ambiguous, and elusive. Perspectives on development range from the conversion of natural resources into cultural capital to improvements in people’s quality of life and socio-economic transformations. Some emphasize its dynamic nature, constantly evolving as goals and contexts shift.