Resources and Development

Resources

Everything in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs and is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable is termed a ‘Resource’. Human beings themselves are essential components of resources. They transform material available in the environment into resources and use them.

Development of Resources

Resources have been used by human beings indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems.

• Depletion of resources to satisfy the greed of a few individuals.
• Accumulation of resources in a few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two segments i.e., rich and poor.
• It has led to global ecological crises such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.

Resource planning is essential for the sustainable existence of all forms of life. Sustainable Economic Development means “development should take place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of future generations.”

Resource Planning

In India, there are some regions which can be considered self-sufficient in terms of the availability of resources and there are some regions which have an acute shortage of some vital resources. This calls for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and local levels.

Resource Planning in India

Resource planning is a complex process which involves:

(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.

(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set-up for implementing resource development plans.

(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

Resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by appropriate technological development and institutional changes. India has made concerted efforts towards achieving the goals of resource planning right from the First Five Year Plan launched after Independence.

To overcome irrational consumption and over-utilisation of resources, resource conservation at various levels is important.