Human resource development

The important of human element in development can hardly be over emphasized. Classical economist laid emphasis on land as the main factor of production. Later on the economist laid emphasis on the availability o natural resources for making rapid progress in the economy of a country. Colonization of Asia and Africa by the Europeans followed as a result of this search for natural resources. Industrial revolution in Europe in the 18^th century shifted the importance to machines and mechanical devices. The trend continued unabated for about two centuries and recently the economist have started placing importance on development of a country. The key to development is now believed to be in the making o human productive by developing his skills, capability and motivation. In fact, productivity of man is now considered to take off point and attempt to propel the society further upward.

Human resource development is a process o helping people to acquire competencies. It is a process of increasing knowledge, skill and capacity of a people in a society. In economic term it means accumulation of human capital and its effective utilization for development of an economy. In political term the human resources development prepares people or active participation in the political process. From the social and cultural point of view, the development of human resources contribute to the enrichment of life. It is now admitted that human factor is the basic element involved in any development effort. For example, if the people engaed in any productive enterprise are not equipped with adequate knowledge and skills, the production is found to remain stagnant.

Education and training are considered to be the primary inputs to develop the people into effective human resources. The people in general without skill can neither be called man power nor resources in any development process. For the purpose of development, it is necessary to convert the population into man power and human resource through system of education, training, motivation and proper health care. All the economist including Adam Smith, David Ricard, Stuart Mill etc. have considered investment on education as vital for human capital formation. It was once believed that labour, capital and organization are the primary factors of production. But it is now said that the growth of economy is not determined by the capability of human beings. It was so in the past and shall continue to remain in the year to come.

Great philosopher like Pleato, Aristotle and Russel said that education is a human enterprise and must be patronized by the state. Plato in his book Republic wrote that If the citizens are made responsible men by good education, then will readily see through all the questions. So education plays an important role in development. USA as the first country to take education as a state policy. In 1827 Massachusetts was the first state to enact law for compulsory primary education and this was allowed by other states. In 1862 US congress passed the famous Merril act commonly known as Land Grant for the state to promote education. As a result agriculture and industrial development were accelerated by the newly educated and highly educated manpower rising the labour efficiency by 30 percent and education alone contribute to 42 percent of growth in production. Ten years of compulsory and universal primary education programe in Russia after the bolshevic revolution increased the level of literacy from 30 percent to 90 percent during 1920 to 1960. This contributed a tremendous impact on the efficiency of labour force.

Japan is a unique example of human resource development through education and training o her people. The strategy of of good teacher efficient administrators trained supervisors, wise manager and skilled labours. In the Japanese fundamental code of education 1872, education was considered to be the principle instrument for future development. The miraculous recovery of the post world war divested economy of Japan and the then west Germany and their emergence as great economies of the present day world stand as an outstanding testimony of the crucial role that human capital can play in the economic