Which one of the following approaches of human development was initially proposed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and emphasised on health, education, food, water supply, sanitation and housing ?
Basic needs approach
Understanding Human Development Approaches: The ILO and Basic Needs
This question asks about a specific approach to human development that was first suggested by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It particularly focused on making sure people have access to fundamental things like health, education, food, clean water, sanitation, and proper housing. Let's look at the options provided and see which one matches this description.
Analyzing the Options for Human Development Approaches
We need to identify the approach that aligns with the ILO's initial proposal and its emphasis on these key areas:
- Health: Access to healthcare and well-being.
- Education: Opportunity to learn and gain knowledge.
- Food: Enough to eat for proper nutrition.
- Water Supply: Access to clean and safe water.
- Sanitation: Proper facilities for hygiene.
- Housing: Having a safe and adequate place to live.
Let's consider each option:
- Welfare approach: This approach focuses on the government's responsibility to provide social welfare services and spending on social programs. While it includes things like health and education, its primary focus is often on state provision rather than defining a minimum set of needs for development itself.
- Basic needs approach: This approach directly addresses the provision of a minimum basket of essential goods and services required for a decent standard of living. It explicitly includes items like food, health, education, water, sanitation, and housing. This approach was indeed championed by the ILO in the 1970s as a response to concerns that economic growth alone was not alleviating poverty sufficiently.
- Income approach: This is the oldest approach to human development. It views income level as the primary indicator of development. A higher income is believed to give individuals more freedom to purchase goods and services, thus achieving a higher level of development. However, it doesn't directly guarantee access to essential services like health or clean water if they are not affordable or available.
- Capability approach: Developed by Amartya Sen, this approach focuses on what people are actually able to do and be (their capabilities), rather than just the resources they have or their income. It emphasizes freedoms and opportunities to achieve different 'functionings' (states of being and doing), such as being healthy, being educated, participating in the community, etc. While it encompasses basic needs, its scope is broader, focusing on freedom and opportunities.
Identifying the Correct Approach
Comparing the description in the question with the approaches, the Basic needs approach perfectly matches the details: it was initially proposed by the ILO and focuses on providing essential goods and services covering health, education, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing.
Therefore, the approach described, with its emphasis on health, education, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing, and its origin with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is the Basic needs approach.
| Approach | Key Focus | Initial Proponent (Contextual) | Aligns with Question? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welfare approach | Government provision of social services | State/Government | Partially, but not specific focus/ILO origin |
| Basic needs approach | Minimum essential goods & services (food, health, education, etc.) | International Labour Organisation (ILO) | Yes |
| Income approach | Income level as primary indicator | Early economic theories | No |
| Capability approach | Capabilities and functionings (what people can do and be) | Amartya Sen | Broader focus, later development |
Revision Table: Human Development Approaches
| Approach | Main Idea | Example Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Income Approach | Higher income leads to development. | GDP per capita, National Income |
| Welfare Approach | Government provides services to increase welfare. | Government spending on health, education, social security |
| Basic Needs Approach | Focus on providing minimum needs for life. | Access to food, water, sanitation, housing, basic healthcare, primary education |
| Capability Approach | Focus on people's freedom to achieve desired outcomes. | Life expectancy, literacy rate, access to resources, political freedoms |
Additional Information on Basic Needs and ILO
The Basic Needs Approach gained prominence in the 1970s as a direct attempt to tackle extreme poverty more effectively. The ILO, in its 1976 World Employment Conference, highlighted the importance of meeting basic needs as a key goal of development strategies. This approach shifted the focus from purely economic growth indicators to more direct measures of human well-being and access to essential services for the poorest populations. It influenced development policies of many international organisations and national governments for a period, emphasizing targeted interventions in sectors like rural development, primary healthcare, and education.
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