Regional Development

Regional Development Theory and Practice Professor R.P. Misra Felicitation Volumes

VOLUME ONE: Concept of Regional Development

VOLUME ONE: VOLUME TWO: VOLUME THREE: VOLUME FOUR: VOLUME FIVE:

Concept of Regional Development Measuring Development Development Patterns and Structures Development Policies Development Challenges

EDITORS B. Thakur (b.1943) is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi and former Vice-Chancellor of L.N. Mithila University, Darbhanga. He has published 12 books, 2 monographs and more than one hundred research papers. He is the recipient of Distinguished Scholar Award of the Association of American Geographers (2005). He is also the recipient of Bhoogol Vachaspati Award (2016). H.S. Sharma (b.1945) is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Geography and Former Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Rajasthan. He is the author and co-author of 18 books and has over 100 research papers. He is the recipient of UGC Career Award (1979-82), Senior ICSSR Fellowship (2013-15), and Bhugol Vachaspati Award (2015). Suresh Misra (b. 1958) is a Professor of Public Administration (Consumer Affairs) and Coordinator, Centre for Administration, New Delhi and was Associate Professor, Faculty of Public Administration at Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Gurgaon (1994-2002). He has published 20 books and about 90 research papers. S. Chattopadhyay (b. 1953) is a former scientist from the National Centre of Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. He was a Post-Doctoral Fulbright Fellow at East-West Centre, Hawaii. He authored and edited 7 books, and published about 100 research papers. He is the recipient of S. Vasudev award (1994), R.N. Dubey Memorial Award (2001), ICSSR Senior Fellow (2014-16) and HWK Institute for Advanced Studies Fellow (2016). Surendra Singh (b.1948) is a former Professor, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. He has published 5 books and 7 monographs on aspects of Indian Agriculture and also more than 80 research papers. He is the recipient of UGC Career Award (1982-85).

Regional Development Theory and Practice Professor R.P. Misra Felicitation Volumes Volume One Concept of Regional Development

Editors B. Thakur, H.S. Sharma, Suresh Misra, S. Chattopadhyay and Surendra Singh

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(Set) (Vol. 1) (Vol. 2) (Vol. 3) (Vol. 4) (Vol. 5)

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Concept Publishing Company Pvt. Ltd. Regd. Office: Since 1974 A/15-16, Commercial Block, Mohan Garden, New Delhi-110059 (INDIA) Phones : 25351460, 25351794, Fax : 091-11-25357109 Email : [email protected] Website: www.conceptpub.com Editorial Office: H-13, Bali Nagar, New Delhi-110 015, India. Cataloging in Publication Data—DK Courtesy: D.K. Agencies (P) Ltd. Regional development : theory and practice : Professor R.P. Misra felicitation volumes / editors, B. Thakur, H.S. Sharma, Suresh Misra, S. Chattopadhyay and Surendra Singh. Communalism from Indian perspective / Sarajit Kumar Chatterjee. volumes cm Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: volume one. Concept of regional development — volume two. Measuring development — volume three. Development patterns and structures — volume four. Development policies — volume five. Development challenges. ISBN 9789351252023 (set) ISBN 9789351252030 (vol. 1) ISBN 9789351252047 (vol. 2) ISBN 9789351252054 (vol. 3) ISBN 9789351252061 (vol. 4) ISBN 9789351252078 (vol. 5) 1. India—Economic conditions. 2. India—Social conditions. 3. Rural development—India. 4. Regional planning—India. I. Misra, R. P., 1930- honouree. II. Thakur, Baleshwar, editor. HC435.R44 2017

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Foreword

Regions and regional studies, and their contemporary versions, regional development and regional disparity, carrying an economic and socio-political slant, have, for long, been a subject of study in geography. The much-debated inadequacy of the regional concept, and still more complicated exercise of regionalization, more specifically definition, recognition and delineation of regions, generated a measure of scepticism about the validity of the concept, during the latter half of the twentieth century. Yet, regional approach has survived and is flourishing as never before. Regional development as a theme, originally adopted by geographers to recognize the unequal development of large countries like India, has lately attracted adherents from multiple disciplines, and most notably from economists and policy-makers. The five-volume series on ‘Regional Development: Theory and Practice’ is a festschrift dedicated to Professor R. P. Misra, a distinguished scholar, widely recognized as one of the pioneers who initiated and promoted Regional Planning studies in India (To get an idea of this distinguished scholar, one has only to browse through the concise biographical sketch, provided in the beginning of volume 1). This five-volume series, with over one hundred research papers on different aspects of regional development, is a fitting tribute to the scholar who spent much of his life time thinking, researching and writing about development in general and regional development in particular. The approach adopted by Professor Misra, a believer in Gandhian philosophy and a votary of the Gandhian path of development, though apparently anachronistic in the contemporary age of neo-liberalism, has stood the test of time. Misra’s early writings were influenced greatly, by his training in an American University that emphasized the importance of central places and growth poles in the spatial diffusion of development. Somewhere down the line, moved by the rural poverty scene in India, the scholar in Misra revolted against the western capitalistic ideas and adopted a people-centric Gandhian approach. The echo of his conviction of the correctness of Gandhian path is found in some of the articles in these volumes.

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Regional Development – Vol. 1

The five volumes in the series, each dealing with a specific aspect of regional development, (1. Concept of Regional Development, 2. Measuring Development, 3. Development Patterns and Structures, 4. Development Policies, and 5. Development Challenges) evoke awe of the sheer volume of work and admiration for the editors of the series, for their initiative in inviting contributions, critically evaluating the articles for selection and finally painstakingly editing them for publication. All the editors, the five of them, are very senior geographers with considerable research to their credit. The series could not have found better editors. The contributors include Indian geographers and economists, half a dozen geographers from abroad, highly specialized in the field of regional development and planning, and a few expatriates of Indian origin settled in the USA. More interesting is the fact that the panel of authors includes very many young talents who appear interested not only in regional development as an academic discipline but as much in its extension to public policies. Each of the five volumes begins with an introduction, which is unique in the sense that this is not merely an introduction to the contributions contained in the volume but also talks of the theory of regional development, contemporary development in the discipline and the contrarian views expressed by various academics and policy-makers. Another significant aspect of these introductions is the global view and a comparative scenario of the developed, developing and under-developed economies of the world, that the editors have kept in view, in a debate seeking an universal theory of regional development. Regions are specifics and often unique and “regional development implies focusing on the assets of the territory, its potential and constraints”. The contributions in the first volume start with a paper written by a distinguished Polish geographer, the late Professor Antony Kuklinski who devoted much of his life time to regional studies, problems and development of regions, followed by papers dedicated to approaches to regional development and some case studies. A very effective introduction to the volume boldly observes that “Regional dimension of development is being recognized as critical for effective and coordinated response to address development problems”. An entire volume (volume 2) talks of ‘Measuring Development’. The introductory volume, rather illuminating, negotiates the various emerging, not necessary conflicting, concepts like Human Development Index (HDI), International Human Suffering Index (IHSI), besides the universal GDP or GNP, all blended with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) or the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the UNO. The papers in the volume, with sections on qualitative and quantitative measurements, are illuminating, often straying into the field of regional disparities and thematic studies of regional problems. After all, measuring development virtually means measuring disparity in a regional frame. The subsequent volume (volume 3) on ‘Patterns of Development’, focuses on systems and processes of development, qualitatively far removed from the exercise of ‘Measuring Development’.

Foreword

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Natural endowments, technology and innovation, globalization and market access, human resource development and above all local and regional aspirations, all functioning in consonance within the broad framework of public policy, constitute the building blocks of a nation’s development. To optimize the role of each of these building blocks and coordinate them to produce a coherent and harmonious picture of the intended model of development is where regional variations and conflicting interests cause distortions. These distortions create a mosaic where patterns, disparities, accumulation and depletion of capital, wanton destruction of nature and natural resources, neglect and deprivation of certain sections of society in one region are juxtaposed with an accumulation of capital in another region. A quote from the editors’ introduction, given below, adequately illustrates this point. “Globalization has linked the countryside with international economy. There is flow of international capital, but its distribution follows the traditional development corridors. The developed states, in India, (italics mine) attracted more investment than the relatively less developed states. Besides, the direct linkage between international market and countryside makes the local people vulnerable without any safe guarding mechanism. The complex relationship between geography and macroeconomic growth is now recognized at the global level”. Many of the conflicting situations in the economic growth of a nation are harmonized through the development policy of a state, which factors-in a multitude of other variables not commonly visible or anticipated. The development policy of a state, thus, assumes eminence. Volume four of the series strives to evaluate the significance and impact of the broad structural policy adopted by a state, in the present case India, which offers a suitable example, having shifted from a socialist pattern of economy to one of economic liberalization inviting capital investment and opening the economy to a regulated free trade. The overly used phrase, ‘liberalization and globalization’, does not tell the whole story nor does it resolve the array of problems encountered in the execution of a public policy. There are microeconomic problems occupying small spatial niches or troubling certain segments of a community. While the introduction to volume four ‘Development Policies’ discusses a general framework and a plurality of paradigms of economic and social development, as enunciated by the FAO, the contributors talk of public policies as adopted in India, about land management, water resources, climate change, food security, energy and coal exploitation and other kindred themes. Besides, policy framework for urban/metropolitan development, intra and interurban transport and development of industrial corridors in the Indian context are the themes that have found favour with the contributors. Emphasizing the need to revisit the development path, a significant observation made by the editors, (based on a UNO report by L. G. Vellu, 2011) rather ironically, refers to a commonly trodden path, advocating change from agriculture to industry

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and services, from local market to super market, from staple cereal to meat, and above all a change from autocracy to democracy. Invariably subjecting the traditional societies to a sudden and disruptive change, this common approach disregards the socio-economic milieu of the society, resource endowment and other ethno-political constraints, specific to a region. In this paradigm, “site specificity or uniqueness of an area is considered as noise and plurality is viewed as a hindrance to development”. Looking through the prism of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and Millennium Development Goals, as propounded in UNO resolution reminds us of the shortfall in our efforts to promote rapid development. It is acknowledged universally that development, economic or social, on a national or regional scale, implies change that is not always smooth. It requires accommodation on the part of the state and reconcilling the conflicting interests of the individual, society and the state. Ensuring availability of capital and appropriate technology is only a part of the process; the willing cooperation of the local community and the region is equally vital. Execution of development plans, whatever their nature and magnitude, poses many challenges, and overcoming these challenges is very significant part of the whole story of development. Building of a bridge, an airport, a dam across a river for a hydroelectric power project, a manufacturing unit or a nuclear plant, not to mention the exploitation of the resources of the region, arouses a natural apprehension in the minds of the regional communities. Uncertain of the benefits of the projects, and incapable of evaluating the benefits, the local communities often foresee the disadvantages that they are likely to suffer. Frequently, they are apprehensive of not getting their legitimate share in the benefits of the project. These are the challenges that any regional development initiative is likely to encounter. The volume five of the series, a collection of essays aptly titled as ‘Development Challenges’, examines how the local or regional situations, involving conflicts over the acquisition of land resources, or disputes over inter-state sharing of water by the riparian states, or the large scale entrepreneurial exploitation of mineral resource, or the acquisition of a huge chunk of territory in areas inhabited largely by tribal communities, depending almost exclusively on local resources, can create an impasse, delaying a development project or blocking it altogether for a foreseeable future. Other challenges to development planning are rooted in disputes on sharing of the benefits between multiple states, possible risks like flooding, as in case of a large dams, atmospheric pollution as in the case of a aluminium plants or thermal power plants, or a remotely possible risk of radioactive radiation as in case of a uranium mining or a nuclear power plant. These are serious hurdles in the path of regional development. A commonly observed protest in the name of degradation or destruction of natural environment is the most popular stick to beat even an excellently designed project, though the latter may have made allowance for all possible risks and eventualities.

Foreword

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The readers will find several studies discussing problems in areas related to foreign direct investment, sustainability of urban sprawl, affordable housing in large towns, intra-urban mobility, and even social issues like feminization of poverty that mar the development picture. The volumes collectively titled as ‘Regional Development: Theory and Practice’, incorporating a well written introduction to each volume and scholarly contributions, besides being a splendid addition to the literature in the field, present a multidisciplinary evaluation of the discordant theories of regional development, the development processes in different economies, but specifically in India, the constraints and challenges, and the resulting picture of a developed socio-economic landscape. Presenting not quite the expected picture, but certainly showing greater economic strength with an attendant socio-cultural progress and a visible rise in the standard of living of the society, the regional development initiatives have their impact. Yet, the bright picture of a developed region, that ought to emerge after all the development efforts, is often marred by the stark presence of dark patches of poverty and deprivation and a large section of the community still struggling to claim their share in the development pie. The lingering socio-economic inequality, in whatever form it is expressed, is the Achilles’ heel of most of the development plans, and regional development plans are no exceptions. The five volumes, put together, present a wealth of ideas besides an evaluation of theoretical approaches to regional development. Drawn from different parts of India, and rooted in different disciplines, the articles in the volumes present a cross section of views and approaches substantiated by case studies. Not a few of them are based on field observations, presenting a segment of economic reality, highlighting region-specific issues of development and the need to address the problems that crop up. One hopes, the readers enjoy reading the scholarly contributions contained in these volumes and feel intellectually rewarded, and enriched in their understanding of regions, regional issues and regional development, especially in the Indian context. 18 October, 2016

K. R. Dikshit

Preface

Geography in India as an academic discipline has a long and chequered history. It is about 100 years old. Professor Misra has played a significant and pivotal role in the growth and development of geography in India since 1965 through teaching, research, publications and administration. He injected a new life in Indian Geography by establishing an interdisciplinary Institute of Development Studies in 1971 at the University of Mysore to strengthen the link between the people, government and the university. He organized many national and international conferences, seminars, symposium and workshops in the field of quantitative geography, regional development planning, locational analysis and Gandhian studies. Professor Misra is an internationally known geographer, development planner, and Gandhian scholar. He is a diligent, productive scholar, a conscientious teacher and a true gentleman. He has numerous books to his credit on local and regional planning, rural development, urbanization and Gandhian thought. He has authored and edited over 56 books and published over 111 articles on various themes in reputed journals and as chapters in books both in India and abroad. He is known for his growth centre theory now being widely used in urban and regional planning in developing countries. He is one of the greatest Indian contributors to the theory and practice of regional development since the late 1960’s. During his 62 years of time after completing post-graduation from Allahabad; Professor Misra has travelled far and wide from NATMO; Lok Sabha Secretariat; Lecturer in Geography, Banaras Hindu University; University of Maryland (USA); Reader, Professor and Head of the Department of Geography, University of Mysore; Director, Institute of Development Studies, Mysore; Vice-Director of United Nations Centre for Regional Development at Nagoya; Vice-Chancellor at the University of Allahabad; Professor of Geography, Delhi School of Economics and Chairman, Gandhi Bhawan, University of Delhi. Professor Misra has been interested in developing theory and method of rural and regional development applying scientific and Gandhian method. At every workplace, he was associated with

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dozens of collaborators to work with him on rural, regional and urban development problems by his brilliant ideas and practical insights. Gandhian method and praxis brought him closer to reality. This festschrift in honour of Professor R.P. Misra is a five-volume set. Professor Misra will be completing 86 years on 5th September, 2016. Our hearty congratulations to him on the completion of 86 years. Spread across his vast dimensions of research interests and activities, some of his important works are: (1) ‘Monte Carlo Simulation of Spatial Diffusion: Rationale and Application to Indian Condition’ (1969); (2) ‘Diffusion of Information in the Context of Development Planning’ (1971); (3) ‘Regional Development Planning in India: A New Strategy’ (1974); (4) ‘Rural Development: Capitalist and Socialist Paths’ (1985); (5) ‘Gandhian Model of Development and World Peace’ (1989); (6) ‘Sustainable Rural Development: The Micropolitan Approach’ (1997); (7) ‘Rebuilding our Universities: Lessons from Experiments at the Oxford of the East’ (2006); (8) ‘Hind Swaraj: Gandhiji Challenge to Modern Civilization’ (2007); (9) ‘Geography of Health: A Treatise on Geography of Life and Death in India’ (2007); and (10) ‘Indian Geography: A Twenty First Century Perspective’ (2013). Among his best publications are ‘Regional Development Planning in India: A New Strategy’ (1974). These volumes in his honour contains 111 papers spread over 2000 pages. Drawing from Professor Misra’s legacy of collaborations, this book, too, is a pooled in effort of 154 contributors. They are diverse scholars drawn from different fields of research and work. One hundred twenty two contributors are Professor Misra’s friends and admirers, followed by twenty-seven own M.Phil. and Ph.D. students and five have been his colleagues at the universities and centres he has worked. In other words, friends and admirers constitute 80 per cent contributors. They come from different countries. Of these, 87 per cent are Indians and 13 per cent non-Indian. Drawn from different countries, 135 authors are from India, 11 from USA, 2 from Canada, one each from Japan, Poland, Russia, Thailand and The Netherlands. There are 148 geographers, 5 planners and one sociologist. The heterogeneous and diverse nature of contributors, mark Professor Misra’s intellectual influence as well as charismatic aura of his personality. Such has been the honour and recognition to Professor Misra that a single volume was insufficient. The contributions, therefore, have spilled into five volumes. The first volume is titled Concept of Regional Development which contains 22 papers. It provides an understanding of regional development. The volume has been divided into two sections based on their themes. The first section, Region, Regionalisation and Regional Development contains 14 papers of which 7 papers are on the conceptual issues; the rest seven papers are concerned with the topics of industry, agriculture, urbanization, economic development, infrastructure and environmental management. The common thread is idea of a region and process of regionalization. The second section consisting of 8 papers deal with Regional Approach to Socio-economic Development.

Preface

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The second volume is called Measuring Development. It consists of 18 papers which are presented in three sections. They deal with Qualitative Measurement (7 papers), Quantitative Measurement (6 papers) and Space and Information Technology-Based Measurement (5 papers). Measurement of development is needed for comparison and also to understand spatial dimensions of development process. This volume provides glimpse of innovative ideas of gross national happiness of Bhutan, occupational diseases, health inequality, poverty and migration, management of forest fires, waste management, regional industrial ecology, shift-share analysis, urban sprawl dynamics, mapping of floodplains, carbon fluxes and climate change, space technology in drought management, location of information technology enabled service industry and GIS analysis of rainwater harvesting. The third volume is on Development Patterns and Structures. It consists of 22 papers in three sections dealing with Regional Disparities (8 papers), Urbanisation and Regional Development (7 papers) and Impact of Rural Areas on Regional Development (7 papers). This volume presents the emerging pattern of development, its regional dimension, and growth and change. Most importantly, the striking feature is the uneven distribution of resource endowment, infrastructure development, accumulation of wealth or poverty. The first section deals with food security, socio-economic transformation, globalization, urbanization and migration, CO2 emission and socio-economic style and socio-economic services. The second section includes land use change, land transformation, commercial activities, transport, hierarchy of settlements, urban sprawl and urbanization and development. The third section covers women’s participation, village natural resources, quality of life, makhana, human development, quality of living and urban-rural interaction. Development Policy is the name of the fourth volume. It deals with the path of development, government policies and appropriate strategy, a country proposes to follow. The volume contains 25 papers divided into four sections. The first section deals with Development Strategies (7 papers), second section Urban Policy (4 papers), third section Resource Policy (10 papers) and fourth section Sustainable Development (4 papers). The volume addresses contemporary issues in development like neo-liberalization, cluster-based economic development, women empowerment, foreign migrant, watershed management, land policy, food security policy, climate policy, sustainable livelihoods and sustainable rural development. The fifth volume is on Development Challenges. It includes 24 papers divided into four sections. The first section deals with Environmental Conflicts (7 papers), second section Economic Problems (5 papers), third section Urban and Social Problems (7 papers), and fourth section Development Constraints (5 papers). The volume addresses contemporary challenges in development like environmentally-induced conflicts, micro-level challenges in agriculture, inter-state water sharing, groundwater arsenic contamination, flood hazard, feminization of poverty, hunger, rural poverty, planning gap, FDI, urban

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hydrology, barrier free urban mobility for disabled persons, waste management, survival ecology of girl child, missing unborn girls, education status of daughters, development constraints, impact of embankment breach, housing for urban poor and affordability of housing. Editors

Acknowledgements

Many people made possible and helped to see the completion of five volumes. The completion of this volume has been possible because of the tremendous support we received from the 154 authors, particularly, for their patience to cope with the delays on our part. The editors would like to thank all the authors who contributed chapters to this book. We are particularly, indebted to Professor K.R. Dikshit, Bhugol Ratna, and Former Head of the Department of Geography, University of Poona for writing the Foreword. These volumes would not have been possible without the encouragement, advice, criticisms, and assistance of colleagues and friends from different parts of the country, particularly, Professor P.S. Tiwari, Professor Gopal Krishan, Professor H. Ramachandran, Professor Noor Mohammad, Professor S. Aggarwal, Professor Anu Kapur, Professor S.C. Rai, Professor R.B. Singh, Professor H.N. Misra, Professor Sudesh Nangia, Professor M.H. Qureshi, Professor Surya Kant, and Professor V.K. Verma. The festschrift volume Regional Planning and Development: Essays on Space, Society and Development in Honour of Professor R.P. Misra (1989) edited by Dr. K.V. Sundaram, Professor A. Ramesh and Professor P.S. Tiwari have been helpful in writing the academic profile of Professor R.P. Misra. The Editors of these volume are thankful to them. The Senior Editor is thankful to Dr. Sudhir K. Thakur, Associate Professor of Business Administration, California State University, Sacramento (USA) for the help in graphics in academic profile. He is equally thankful to Dr. Rajiv Thakur, Assistant Professor, Department of Geosciences, Missouri State University, West Plains (USA) for editorial help and references. He is specially thankful to Dr. Rajesh Kumar Abhay, Assistant Professor of Geography, Dyal Singh College, Delhi, for typing the manuscript as well as excellent editorial assistance. The Editors wish to extend special thanks to Shri Ashok K. Mittal for showing long-standing patience and continuous support during the preparation and publishing of the volumes. We would like to place on records

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our sincere thanks to Chanda, Maya, Bharati, Mahamaya and Kaushal, the spouse of each of the editors, for their patience and perseverance during the five-year journey. Last but not the least; the Editors would also like to acknowledge the family members of Professor R.P. Misra at Stanley Road, Allahabad and Vasant Kunj, New Delhi for their warmth and hospitality. Professor R.P. Misra is an icon of Geography in India. He is remembered for his wisdom, erudition, scholarship and dedication. We wish him long life with good health in the years to come. This book is a humble tribute to him. 11 October, 2016 Delhi

Baleshwar Thakur H.S. Sharma Suresh Misra S. Chattopadhyay Surendra Singh

Contents

Foreword by Prof. K.R. Dikshit Preface Acknowledgements List of Contributors Introduction

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Profile of Professor R.P. Misra

1

Section 1 Region, Regionalization and Regional Development 1. Regional Problems: Regional Science and Regional Studies Antoni Kuklinski

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2. Regionalization: Evolution of the Concepts and the Objectives of Planning G.V. Sdasyuk

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3. Regionalization: A View on Intellectual and Public Concern in Indian Perspective B.K. Roy

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4. South Asia: As a Political and Economic Region Nitasha Malhotra

102

5. Regional Policy as a Learning Process Jos G.M. Hilhorst

123

6. What Should Regional Planners Know? Reflections of a Trainer Om Prakash Mathur

144

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7. Multilevel Planning: Concept, Principles and its Application to Sectoral Planning K.V. Sundaram

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8. The State of the Mature Industrial Regions in Western Europe and North America Vijay P. Singh and Silvia Borzutzky

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9. Role of Infrastructure in Economic Transformation T.R. Lakshmanan

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10. The Role of Multi-disciplinary Research in Agriculture and Rural Development in India Sudhir Wanmali

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11. Perception, Culture and Past Experiences: The Long Road to Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability in Québec Christopher Bryant and Bhawan Singh

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12. Asian Urbanization in the 21st Century: Conceptual Roots, Trends and Characteristics Ashok K. Dutt, Frank J. Costa and Christian Tettey

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13. Economic Development and Structural Change in Regional Economies: Approaches and Methods Sudhir K. Thakur

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14. Support System for Environment Management Satyesh C. Chakraborty

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Section 2 Regional Approach to Socio-Economic Development 15. Social Relations, Spatial Dynamics and Peripatetic Capital: Special Economic Zones in India Swapna Banerjee-Guha

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16. Political Economy of Agrarian Poverty: South Hemisphere Perspective Anand Prasad Mishra

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17. Contemporary Relevance of the Gandhian Approach to Economic Planning and Development Y.P. Anand

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18. Political Economy of Groundwater Depletion in India Inder Jeet

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Contents 19. Globalization and the State: The Economic Face Sachinder Singh

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20. Economic Reforms, Higher Education and New Career Aspirations: 448 A Study of Indian Women in Higher Education Rituparna Bhattacharyya 21. Women, Culture and Health in the Kashmir Valley: Historical and Contemporary Context Nilofar Izhar

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22. In Commemoration of the International Year for the Shelter for the 480 Homeless Masahiko Honjo Index

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List of Contributors

Anand Prasad Mishra, Professor of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, UP. Antoni Kuklinski, Professor and Director, Institute of Socio-economic and Regional Geography, University of Warsawa, Warsawa, Poland. Ashok K. Dutt, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Planning and Urban Studies, University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA. B.K. Roy, E-76, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash, III, New Delhi -110085. Bhawan Singh, Director, Laboratoire de Climatologie, Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. Christian Tettey, Department of Geography and Planning, University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA. Christopher Bryant, Director, Laboratoire de Développement durable et dynamique territoriale, Département de Géographie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. Frank J. Costa, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Planning, and Urban Studies, University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA. G.V. Sdasyuk, Faculty of Institute of Geography, the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. Inder Jeet, Professor of Geography, M.D. University, Rohtak-124001, Haryana. JOS G.M. Hilhorst, Rector, Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands. K.V. Sundaram, #641, Sector A, Pocket C, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110030. Masahiko Honjo, International Development Centre of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. Nilofar Izhar, Academy for the Study of Environment and Social Wellbeing, 138-B, Greater Azad Enclave, P.O. Kwarsi, Dhorra, Aligarh- 202002, Uttar Pradesh.

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Nitasha Malhotra, Associate Professor of Geography, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110049. Om Prakash Mathur, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi. Rituparna Bhattacharyya, Prag Foundation for Capacity Building, Guwahati, Assam. Sachinder Singh, Professor of Geography, M.D. University, Rohtak-124001, Haryana. Satyesh C. Chakraborty, Flat No. 4, Block 8, Kankulia Road, Kolkata-700029, West Bengal. Silvia Borzutzky, Department of Geography, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pen, USA. Sudhir K. Thakur, Associate Professor, College of Business Administration, California State University, Sacramento, CA, 95819-6088, USA. Sudhir Wanmali, Senior Associate, and Director, Agricultural and Rural Development, Sheladia Associates, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, 20850, USA. Swapna Banerjee-Guha, Professor of Development Studies, School of Social Sciences, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra. T.R. Lakshmanan, Professor of Geography, Boston University, Boston, USA. Vijay P. Singh, Professor of Geography, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pen, USA. Y.P. Anand, 513, Pocket C, Sector A, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070.

Introduction

Volume 1 is concerned with the concept of regional development. Although regional development is multi-disciplinary, geography has a long tradition of regional development studies. In fact, it is one of the main research themes in geography. Studies on formation of regions and explanation for its growth, development and change are challenges in geography and allied social sciences. Regional development embodies complex economic development processes that are shaped due to interaction of a wide range of forces, which are dynamic and mutually dependent. Geography and economics converge in the realm of regional development. Economic geographers normally emphasize that the spatial economic development is the result of unique, context driven, place-specific combination of forces, that as a consequence can neither be modeled, nor even subject to large-scale causal enquiry (Storper, 2011). This view is gaining ground. Regional development is considered as one of the dimensions of development. It emphasizes territorial systems evolved as a set of interrelationships between rural and urban areas. It is characterised by resource potential, human activities like production and consumption of goods, services, culture and social life, connected by information systems and transport infrastructures (Bellu, 2011). Development of a particular region is not an isolated phenomena, it is open to influences from outside the region-national and international. Regional development implies focusing on the assets of the territory, its potential and constraints (FAO, 2005). Policies to exploit and enhance this potential play an important role in the development process. The twnety-first century witnessed the change in focus of regional development bringing people in the focus. New theories of regional development focus on human and social capital, innovation and spatial dynamics-demographic change—as key components, however, the purpose and objectives of regional development has not changed (McCall, 2010). Regional dimension of development is being recognized as critical for effective and coordinated response to address developmental problems. So far region used to be considered as an outcome of deeper political-economic

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process, however, since early 1980s it was asserted that region might be a fundamental basis of economic and social life “after mass production” (Storper, 1997). Regional variations of economic activities and specificities like institution and technology cannot be explained without considering the fundamental link already evolved between capitalism and regionalism. The new regionalism is driven by the issues like trade, connectivity, monetary and financial coordination and cooperation, and meeting the health, food security and social protection concerns of an increasingly mobile population on the one hand, and on the other hand, it gained importance as buffer against global shocks and crisis at a time when global regulations and institutions have proved inadequate or ineffective (UNRC, 2011). Regional development implies focusing on the assets and potentials of the region and also to address the constraint that hinders development. Aim of the regional development policies is to enhance this potential and meet local aspirations. Region or territory can be conceived as a socio-ecological system. The interactions and synergies of ecological, economic, and social processes are scale dependent (Gibson et al., 2000) and therefore subject to territoriality. They change from the local to the regional, national and global levels. Spatial scale analysis is thus important to understand development dynamics. In this context, territorial approach and local level initiatives assume greater significance in development process. Regional level information are required as part of international process on cultural and behavioural drivers of global environmental change as well as preferred cultural and behavioural responses. Perception is a reality in regional development, which is very political and at the same time very local. There are two sections in this volume: Section 1 on ‘Region, Regionalization and Regional Development’ consists of 14 chapters. Of which seven chapters are on conceptual issues, the rest seven chapters are concerned with the topics of industry, agriculture, urbanization, economic development, infrastructure and environment management. This volume opens with Antoni Kuklinski’s chapter on ‘Regional Problems, Regional Science and Regional Studies’. These three issues are of fundamental importance in elaborating the concept of regional development. Problems of development are region bound and vary spatially. Emergence of regional science and regional studies is perhaps to tackle regional problems. In the next chapter G.V. Sdasyuk deals with ‘Regionalization: Evolution of the Concepts and the Objectives of Planning’. Regionalisation is a process to identify regions based on a set of criteria and objective of planning is to minimize spatial disparity and enhance regional potential. B.K. Roy in his chapter ‘Regionalization: Intellectual and Policy Concerns in India’ deals with the concept of regionalization from the point of view of policy. Nitasha Malhotra elaborated her idea of region considering chapter ‘South Asia: As a Political and Economic Region’. She viewed all countries in South Asia as a part of a single region, both politically and economically. Jos G.M. Hilhorst consideres chapter ‘Regional Policy as a Learning Process’. O.P. Mathur took the perspective of a trainer to discuss

Introduction

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regional planners activities in his chapter on ‘What Should Regional Planners Know? Reflections of a Trainer’. K.V. Sundaram wrote chapter on ‘Multi-level Planning: Concept, Principles and Its Application to Sectoral Planning’. These seven chapters addressed conceptual issues from different perspectives. The common thread is idea of a region and process of regionalization. The next seven chapters in this section deal with individual sectors including urbanization and environmental management. The chapter by V.P. Singh and Silvia Borzutzky on ‘The State of Mature Industrial Relations in Western Europe and North America’ is a state-of-art of deliberations on mature industrial relations. Both Western Europe and North America are going through post-industrial development phase. These lessons are important for developing countries as the development trajectory is largely the same across the world. T.R. Lakshmanan linked infrastructure development and economic development in the chapter on ‘Role of Infrastructure in Economic Transformation’. Sudhir Wanmali highlighted importance of multi-disciplinary research in development. Rural development depends on agricultural development. His chapter ‘The Role of Multi-disciplinary Research in Agriculture and Rural Development in India’ is a critical evaluation of the subject. Christopher Bryant and Bhawan Singh in their chapter ‘Perception, Culture and Past Experiences: The Long Road to Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability in Quebec’ deal with a topic of contemporary importance. Adaptation to climate change is an issue of wide concern and there are various measures taken by national governments. This chapter highlights some of the experiences in the context of Quebec, which may be useful. The urbanization trend of Asia differs significantly from that in Europe and North America. Although initially the pace of urbanization was slow in Asia, it is now progressing at a faster rate. Ashok K. Dutt, Frank J. Costa and Christian Tettey in their chapter on ‘Asian Urbanization in the 21st Century: Conceptual Roots, Trends and Characteristics’ have dealt with some of these issues and tried to find their conceptual root. Economic geography has drawn considerable interest in recent years as it is well realized that discourse on regional economic development remains incomplete without resorting to geographic dimension. Sudhir K. Thakur in his chapter on ‘Economic Development and Structural Change in Regional Economies: Approaches and Methods’ advocates a methodology for understanding economic development and its changing nature. The last chapter in this section was written by Prof. Satyesh C. Chakraborty. In his chapter ‘Support System for Environment Management’ he argued for various support systems that are required for environment management. The second section consisting of eight chapters discusses ‘Regional Approach to Socio-Economic Development’. Swapna Banerjee-Guha in her chapter on ‘Social Relations, Spatial Dynamics and Peripatetic Capital: Special Economic Zones in India’ critically evaluates SEZ in India, which has raised several questions in postglobalization era. Anand Prasad Mishra drew our attention to the agrarian situation of the southern Hemisphere in his chapter on ‘Political Economy of Agrarian Poverty: South Hemisphere Perspective’. Poverty is a complex issue and

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larger political economic questions are involved in tackling this issue of global concern and one of the millennium development goals. Y.P. Anand in his chapter ‘Contemporary Relevance of Gandhian Approach to Economic Planning and Development’ examines Gandhiji’s idea about economic development and its relevance in today’s context. In the post-Independence era the Gandhian approach was debated from time to time and rural development was given high importance. It is quite interesting to reexamine Gandhian approach in post-globalization era. Groundwater depletion is a matter of great concern across the country. Dependence on groundwater is increasing over the years resulting in fall in groundwater level. Groundwater resource extraction, use and governance are important questions in groundwater management. Inder Jeet discussed some of these issues in his chapter on ‘Political Economy of Groundwater Depletion in India’. Sachinder Singh’s chapter ‘Globalization and the State: The Economic Face’ highlights economic implication of globalization. There are two chapters concerning women issues. One of the chapter by Rituparna Bhattacharyya on ‘Economic Reforms, Higher Education and New Career Aspirations: A Study of Indian Women in Higher Education’ discusses career aspirations of Indian women in post-liberalization era. The other chapter on ‘Women, Culture and Health in the Kashmir Valley: Historical and Contemporary Contexts’ by Nilofar Izhar presents a case study on Kashmir valley. The last chapter in this volume by M. Honjo ‘In Commemoration of the International Year of the Shelter for the Homeless’, discusses the issue of homelessness and shelter. This is yet another issue drawing attention even of the UN bodies for lasting solutions.

References Bellu, L.G. (2011) Development and Development Paradigms—A (Reasoned) Review of Prevailing Visions, EASYPol, Resources for Policy Making, FAO, United Nations, Rome. FAO (2005) An Approach to Rural Development: Participatory and Negotiated Territorial Development (PNTD), Rural Development Divisions, United Nations. Gibson, C.C., Ostram, E. and Ahn, T.K. (2000) “The Concept of Scale and the Human Dimension of Global Change: A Survey”, Ecological Economics, 32: 217-239. McCall, T. (2010) “What do we mean by regional development?”, Institute of Regional Development, University of Tasmania. Storper, M. (2011) “Why do regions develop and change? The challenge for geography and economics”, Journal of Economic Geography, 11(2): 333-346. United Nations Regional Commission (UNRC) (2011) The Regional Dimension of Development and the UN System, A Study Sponsored by UN Regional Commission, New York.