
Human Development | 301
development and obscures the centrality of people as the ultimate end of development.
Therefore, it is better to treat productivity only as one part of the HD paradigm—with
equal importance given to equity, sustainability, and empowerment.
Empowerment
HD paradigm envisages a full empowerment of the people. Empowerment means
that people are in a position to exercise choices of their own free will.
It implies a political democracy in which people can influence decisions about
their lives. It requires economic liberalism so that people are free from excessive
economic controls and regulations. It means decentralisation of power ...