Q. Which of the following actions can be useful in making development process more equitable and sustainable?
1. Viewing natural resources as common property of all humanity.
2. Increasing powers and resources of local bodies. 3. Selection of development priorities at the higher levels of political leadership.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. If we understand resources as common to humanity, then humanity would include future generations as well, which would make it sustainable and equitable. If resources are viewed as belonging to state alone then communities which are dependent on it may get alienated as these communities have a specific way of community life and relationship to the environment.
Statement 2 is correct. For development to be equitable, the right of people to participate in decision-making is emphasized. One of the ways which has been suggested to ensure participation is to allow local decision-making bodies to take decisions about development projects in the local area. Increasing the powers and resources of local bodies is thus being advocated.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Strategies of development adopted in most countries have been ‘top-down’, that is, the selection of development priorities and strategies and the actual implementation of projects were all generally decided by the higher levels of the political leadership and bureaucracy. Development thus became a process designed and implemented by the ruling sections in the country who have also often been the major beneficiaries of development projects. This kind of development is inequitable and unsustainable.
