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Revisiting the MDG’s: Exploring a Multidimensional Framework for Human
Development
education (the goal of universal primary education). 1 These
are the three disciplines where the MDG’s targeted human
capabilities development, and therefore it can be called its
list of ‘universally applicable capabilities”. It could be seen
that participation and security are the most conspicuous
omissions from this list. Participation typifies the
incorporation of recipient’s choices, priorities and concerns
and it addresses the long term dimensions of human
development by taking care of the issues of ownership and
functional sustainability. Without it any agenda remains
both transient and alien. Security’s importance has swelled
in a polarized world where the ease to interact has also
incremented the convenience to sabotage. It signifies the
capability to protect oneself against threat-immediate or
foreseen, present or future. A diminutive security seriously
compromises even the utility of high capabilities in other
areas. Therefore, adding participation and security to the
spectrum of human development already delineated by the
MDG’s, the list of universally applicable capabilities is
defined to include food, health, education, participation and
security.
Far from an exclusive list covering all blends of human
development, this list provides an indication about the ambit
of universally applicable capabilities for human development.
In fact its ultimate shape could be quite distinct, when all
the diverse needs of people at different locations and under
different circumstances are accommodated within it. The
lists of basic capabilities drawn up by Martha Nussbaum
(Crocker & Robeyns 2010) and Sabina Alkire (2002) could
provide some very useful insights in this regards. A little
clarification is, however, warranted for the apparently glaring
omission of not including income in this list. Income, it
should be understood, is endemic to all the universally
applicable capabilities, like the gender equality. It is a crucial
determinant within the space of conversion factor but is
often mistakenly considered a single capability deprivation.
But income also has this queer characteristic by which the
same amount of income produces quite variable entitlements
1 As explained above, the goal of gender parity and woman empowerment
does not constitute any one capability deprivation but is endemic to all.
Therefore it is left out of this classification.
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