ORIGIN AND GROWTH

OF HR FUNCTION IN
INDIA

ORIGIN OF HR
The worlds first management book, titled Arthasastra

written by Kautilya, in 400 BC, codified many aspects of

human resource practices in ancient India.

GROWTH OF HUMAN
RESOURCE

HRM in India could be traced back to the period after

1920, when emphasis was on worker welfare.
In 1931, the royal commission on labor suggested the
appointment of labor officer to protect workers interests .
Appointment of labor officer

 The second world war

Enactment of Industrial dispute Act
Enactment of Factories Act
1960 and after..

FIRST PHASE
Immediately after independence the focus was on four

points to deal with manpower in organizations:

Maintain discipline
Prevent their formation of and break-up the leadership of
trade unionism
Handle recruitment and termination
Keep some form of attendance and personnel records.

SECOND PHASE
IN 1960S, Indian industrialization got a fillip with the rise

of the public sector. Hence 3 more functions were added

i.e.,
Labor welfare
Participative management
Industrial Harmony
In this period, the human relations movement of the west
also had its impact on Indian organization.

THIRD PHASE
In 1970, the people management function was neatly

divided into two :

Personnel officer
Establishment officers

Fourth Phase
In 1976, birth of worker training institute and attitudinal

development.

Fifth Phase
In 1985, organization shifted towards creating a separate

HR deptt.
HRD and personnel functions were clubbed together.

Sixth phase
In early 1990s :
HRM was seen as strategy
Motivation and stress were considered to bring change in

HRM
Focus on organization objectives

Seventh Phase
In the mid of 1990s, sub specialization like :
Industrial Relations
Training & Development
HR Information system

Eight phase
HRM is not seen as a separate function of a separate

department any more.

It became the part of Corporate Strategy formulation and
strategy implementation team.

Late Arrival of HRM in India

Late arrival of factory system
Low status of industrial worker
Professionalization of Human resource Management
Social responsibilities of Business
Change of government attitude

Factors Impending the growth of HRM

in India
Abundance of cheap labor
Weak labor movement
Highly Authoritarian culture
Technological Backwardness
Instability in Employment
Unhealthy growth of Trade unions
Migratory characteristic of Indian labor

Evolving Role of HRM in India

Origin Of Human Resource Management in India
The police Man
The Welfare Man
The law Man
The Liaison Man
The HR Man