ICDEOL, HPU, Shimla.
Human Resource Development is a vital input for speedy and sustainable economic growth, and for achieving desirable changes in social environment and a harmonious society, free from conflicts and disparities. It is essential for cultivating a positive attitude, creating awareness and a sense of responsibility towards rights and duties and inducing inner strength to overcome oppression and inequality.
Education and training are among the most important factors in raising the level of quality of Human Resources and core sectors for generating proficiencies, optimising resources and increasing synergies, facilitating expansion and upgrading of existing networks, mobilising resources and improving outreach for assured quality, results and impacts.
The National Policy of Education, 1986, as modified in 1992 envisages improvement and expansion in all sectors, elimination of disparities in access to Education and laying greater stress on improvement in the quality of education at all levels, including technical and professional education.
It also emphasises the interventionist role of education in correcting social and regional imbalances, empowering women and securing a rightful place for the disadvantaged and minorities. Free and compulsory elementary education for all, covering children with special needs, eradication of illiteracy, vocationalisation of education, gender equality and focus on education of SE/ST are other important components of the new education policy. The economic progress of a region does not depend exclusively upon its physical resources. Economic progress is very much influenced by the manpower resources of the region concerned. Human resource is a working resource. It is a means as well as an end of production. From the point of view of natural resources, Himachal is a poor state. But Himachal is endowed with an efficient, hardworking and progressive manpower.
Education is the key to prosperity and welfare. No investment can yield better returns than the investment in the development of human resources. Human beings are a precious asset and resource of a nation. They need to be developed with care, tenderness and dynamism. The growth ofan individual poses a range of problems during one's journey from womb to tomb. Educations acts as a catalyst in this process of growth, which requires to be planned with care, caution and great sensitivity. The national needs require different nations to develop their systems of education to ensure proper expression and promotion of their sociocultural identity as also to meet the challenges of time. The development of education aims at refining the sensitivities and perceptions that contribute to national cohesion, a scientific temper and an independence of mind and spirit, thus furthering the goals of socialism, secularism and democracy enshrined in our constitution.
A brief appraisal of the endeavours made by Himachal Pradesh in achieving these goals has been done in this paper, with focus on literacy, elementary education and higher education.
