Development: progression of human societies

What are we working towards?

What is development? Starting from the time I began working with marginalized populations and now further amplified with each and everyday’s awakening to the majestic snow covered Himalayan peaks, this question has been an ever present discourse of enormous proportion for me. I suppose at the present moment I would explain “Development” as: An umbrella term widely used to describe efforts toward the progress of human societies inclusive of advances in the expansion of land, technology, business, international relations, sustainability, and aid to disenfranchised communities with a sector comprised of varied institutions and organizations ranging from NGO’s to Banks (both state and private) to Governments.

Efforts towards building clinics, treating illnesses, fixing roads, providing microfinance schemes, distributing technology, creating jobs, constructing schools, etc are often individually tossed under the general classification of development work for impovered populations.

But is this enough?

Is it enough to build a HIV testing facility for Female Sex Workers without raising awareness about the prevention and transmission of the virus, or without providing guidance for job security once their ability to be involved in the “flesh trade” has expired, or without providing legal action for those illegally trafficked against their will? Even if a clinic exits with extended services and care i.e. legal protection, self help groups, condom distribution, sex education, etc, will this be able to protect these women from the structural violence or a system of inequalities that prevent social equity and access to available resources and ultimately their survival? Although, collectively these efforts aid in the livelihoods of underserved communities, what is actual development within the communities and target populations that our programs operate?

I have continued to learn through my work in India that in the context of serving the poor, to refer to development as a growth in the size of a community or a simple increase of financial gains within a target population would not be correct, though these are often presented as solid examples of a development within society. It has become clear to me that development should be looked at as increases in strength, capacity, and complexity within a community. It is social change, where a community becomes more complex, adding institutions, increasing its collective power, and changing qualitatively in its organization.

Lavina Shahani is working in Uttarakhand on a Targeted HIV Intervention for Female Sex Workers with KAGAS, a rural livelihoods NGO.