Role of Social Infrastructure on Economic Development
What is Social Infrastructure? Social Infrastructure is defined as the construction of buildings and maintenance for the same to support social services. There are certain types of social infrastructures like hospitals, government schools and universities, public safety, sports and recreation, the transportation facilities like the Indian Railways and many more.
These social infrastructures are under the control of the Government of India. These infrastructures are made to provide services to the people. Most of the time, the facilities provided are free. But sometimes, they are chargeable (a very less amount that all the people can afford).
What is the importance of social infrastructure?
Well, social infrastructure has its own importance. It helps in the development of the economy of the nation and also improves the quality of life of the people. There are people who live in slums and are below the poverty line. These social infrastructures help in providing facilities to these people so that they can have a quality check-up in good hospitals.
In addition to this, various medical camps are also organized by the government. These camps are held for free and people from different areas come and get themselves checked up. Social infrastructures hence play a vital role in the development of the economy.
What is the role of social infrastructure in education? This is a valid question. Social infrastructures do help in the development of the economy but they also play a crucial role in the education sector. The students from the lower-middle-class sections study hard and gain admission in the Government schools and colleges.
The fee of government colleges and schools are relatively very low as compared to private schools and universities. Moreover, they get jobs further in the government sector including the jobs of a clerk, park organizer, sweeper, operator and many more.
Mid-day Meals were also initiated by the government in 1995 providing lunch to the children in school. This is also a kind of social service of providing food to the children of lower sections of the society. There are a number of institutes that offer higher education to the students from these sections of society thereby, increasing the literacy rate.
The literacy rate in India in the year 1991 was 52.2% which further increased to 74.04% in the year 2012. The current literacy rate is 77.7%. When the literacy rate goes up, the economy is automatically developed. Thus, these social structures play a key role in educating the nation.
Now, people often ponder over the fact that what is the role of social infrastructure in economic development? Social infrastructure plays a very vital role in economic development. Everything is interconnected in terms of quality, the standard of living, education and economic development. When people are educated, it adds to the literacy rate of the nation. People get a good career and job opportunity which in turn adds to economic development.
The economic development of the nation is directly proportionate to the quality of life the people live. Social infrastructures provide facilities to the people who cannot afford quality education or medications. As a result with the help of these social infrastructures, there is an increase in employment opportunities.
These infrastructures also play a crucial role in national defense activities. With economic development the trade increases and improves. Thus, these infrastructures are built for these kinds of people who can improve their standard of living.
Now let’s talk about the evaluation of the role of social and economic infrastructure in the promotion of business activities. There are some pointers that you can refer to if you want to know the role of social and economic infrastructure.
1. Agriculture:
With the help of these social and economic infrastructures, there is a development of agriculture in terms of irrigation machinery, power, marketing, transport facilities and many more.
2. Industry:
The industrial sector also develops with the development of infrastructures. Along with all the advancements and availability equipments, there is an increase in manpower, management, transportation, banking and many more.
3. Increase in Productivity:
The development in the transportation and education sectors leads to an increase in productivity. Economic productivity is seen in terms of science and technology along with extensive research work.
4. Development of Lower Classes:
The people residing in chawls and slums are in the dire need of these infrastructures which leads to the development of the backward classes. The social and economic infrastructures play a key role in the development of these regions as quality services and facilities are provided to these people at a very low rate or for free.
There are certain reputed companies which undertake the job of building these infrastructures in order to develop the economy.
Social infrastructure plays a key role in the development of the nation. Economic infrastructure also adds to economic development. These infrastructures are the initiatives taken up by the Government and are fulfilled in a given time – frame thereby, increasing the literacy rate, admissions in sports, indulging in public safety and many more. These all factors lead to the development of the economy and the standard of living of people.
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