Regional Development

Theory and Practice

Professor R.P. Misra Felicitation Volumes

VOLUME ONE: Concept of Regional Development

VOLUME ONE: Concept of Regional Development
VOLUME TWO: Measuring Development
VOLUME THREE: Development Patterns and Structures
VOLUME FOUR: Development Policies
VOLUME FIVE: 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

CONCEPT PUBLISHING COMPANY PVT. LTD.

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ISBN-13: 978-93-5125-202-3 (Set)

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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)
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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 DDC 330.954 23
 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.
vi 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 vii

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
viii Regional Development – Vol. 1

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 ix

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
xii Regional Development – Vol. 1

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 xiii

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
xiv Regional Development – Vol. 1

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
xvi Regional Development – Vol. 1

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 Baleshwar Thakur

Delhi H.S. Sharma
Suresh Misra
S. Chattopadhyay
Surendra Singh
 Contents

Foreword by Prof. K.R. Dikshit v

Preface xi
Acknowledgements xv
List of Contributors xxi
Introduction xxiii

Profile of Professor R.P. Misra 1

Section 1
Region, Regionalization and Regional Development

1. Regional Problems: Regional Science and Regional Studies 73

Antoni Kuklinski
2. Regionalization: Evolution of the Concepts and the Objectives of 84
Planning
G.V. Sdasyuk
3. Regionalization: A View on Intellectual and Public Concern in 97
Indian Perspective
B.K. Roy
4. South Asia: As a Political and Economic Region 102
Nitasha Malhotra
5. Regional Policy as a Learning Process 123
Jos G.M. Hilhorst
6. What Should Regional Planners Know? Reflections of a Trainer 144
Om Prakash Mathur
xviii Regional Development – Vol. 1

7. Multilevel Planning: Concept, Principles and its Application to 162

Sectoral Planning
K.V. Sundaram
8. The State of the Mature Industrial Regions in Western Europe 184
and North America
Vijay P. Singh and Silvia Borzutzky
9. Role of Infrastructure in Economic Transformation 207
T.R. Lakshmanan
10. The Role of Multi-disciplinary Research in Agriculture and Rural 232
Development in India
Sudhir Wanmali
11. Perception, Culture and Past Experiences: The Long Road to 256
Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability in
Québec
Christopher Bryant and Bhawan Singh
12. Asian Urbanization in the 21st Century: Conceptual Roots, Trends 265
and Characteristics
Ashok K. Dutt, Frank J. Costa and Christian Tettey
13. Economic Development and Structural Change in Regional 297
Economies: Approaches and Methods
Sudhir K. Thakur
14. Support System for Environment Management 324
Satyesh C. Chakraborty

Section 2
Regional Approach to Socio-Economic Development

15. Social Relations, Spatial Dynamics and Peripatetic Capital: 343

Special Economic Zones in India
Swapna Banerjee-Guha
16. Political Economy of Agrarian Poverty: South Hemisphere 357
Perspective
Anand Prasad Mishra
17. Contemporary Relevance of the Gandhian Approach to Economic 389
Planning and Development
Y.P. Anand
18. Political Economy of Groundwater Depletion in India 418
Inder Jeet
Contents xix

19. Globalization and the State: The Economic Face 431

Sachinder Singh
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: 469
Historical and Contemporary Context
Nilofar Izhar
22. In Commemoration of the International Year for the Shelter for the 480
Homeless
Masahiko Honjo
Index 487
 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.
xxii Regional Development – Vol. 1

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
xxiv Regional Development – Vol. 1

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 xxv

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 post-
globalization 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
xxvi Regional Development – Vol. 1

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.

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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
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Storper, M. (2011) “Why do regions develop and change? The challenge for
geography and economics”, Journal of Economic Geography, 11(2): 333-346.
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