Basic Needs Model
Model: A simple description of a system, used for explaining how something works.
Introduction: The Bariloche Foundation in Argentina (1972) first developed a world model to show the possibility of meeting the basic needs of people all over the world based on certain assumptions.
Important points of BNM:
Development must reach to the poorest of the poor and satisfy their basic minimum needs e.g. food, clothes, shelter, education, healthcare etc. by providing employment and income.
It was an attempt to deal directly with the world poverty by meeting the basic needs of the lowest 40% income groups.
The model advocated for the satisfaction of non-material needs for quality of life once the material needs are satisfied.
In this model, the emphasis shifted from measuring income per capita as a growth indicator to measuring the physical quality of life (PQLI) as the indicator of welfare. PQLI is measured by life expectancy, infant mortality rate (IMR is the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. India=55, Sierra Leone=160.3, USA=6.3, World=49.4 IMR as per 2006 United Nations Population Division report) and literacy.
In this model there is increased emphasis on the importance of equitable distribution of rewards, quality of life and meeting basic human needs.
BNM and causes of underdevelopment:
The model points out a few causes of underdevelopment as given below:
Poor organization of the poor. Organization of the poor serves three purposes: first to participate in community life; second, to overcome the mere survival strategy; and third, to break a pattern of powerlessness, exploitation, permanent indebtedness, and a state of dependency bordering slavery.
Lack of proper policy framework for development. It should have multiple growth goals: a commitment to development from bottom-up; local self-reliance; grass-root organizations participating in planning, decision making and implementing in areas affecting communities; substantial allocation of national funds for health, education and housing in favour of the lowest 40% income.
Information Poverty. There is information poverty among the 'have-nots' and communication gap with the 'have'.
Communication Model in BNM:
Decentralization (to give some of the power of a central government, organization, etc. to smaller parts or organizations around the country) of communication networks and democratization of their control would be essential pre-condition for the success of BNM.
Decentralization and rural integrated development in this model suggest two-way communication, both top-down and bottom-up in the development infrastructure.
The top-down communication is from the govt. to the masses for awareness of the basic amenities provided. A bottom-up communication from the people to the development planners for need based programs.
Role of communication in BNM:
In BNM, the emphasis is on inter-personal communication channels, which are used to inform, educate, motivate and persuade the masses with support from the mass media.
The govt. should provide community TV, radio sets and newspapers etc. and make use of satellites and other improved methods of broadcasting, such as short-wave, to the poor who have low physical accessibility to mass media because of low purchasing power or living in areas where reach of the media is low.
Along with physical access, it is necessary to have access to the operation of community media. This will safeguard against information blockage to the have-nots.
The efforts to meet the basic needs and to affect the required attitudinal changes require unprecedented inflow of information into the village capable of reaching the poorest of the villagers as well.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs designed to transform the village from the traditional society into and Information Community of a new kind.
Conclusion: Though the BNM is not yet considered as a replacement for development strategy but it has contributed a lot in shaping the policy of many developing countries.
Introduction: The Bariloche Foundation in Argentina (1972) first developed a world model to show the possibility of meeting the basic needs of people all over the world based on certain assumptions.
Important points of BNM:
Development must reach to the poorest of the poor and satisfy their basic minimum needs e.g. food, clothes, shelter, education, healthcare etc. by providing employment and income.
It was an attempt to deal directly with the world poverty by meeting the basic needs of the lowest 40% income groups.
The model advocated for the satisfaction of non-material needs for quality of life once the material needs are satisfied.
In this model, the emphasis shifted from measuring income per capita as a growth indicator to measuring the physical quality of life (PQLI) as the indicator of welfare. PQLI is measured by life expectancy, infant mortality rate (IMR is the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. India=55, Sierra Leone=160.3, USA=6.3, World=49.4 IMR as per 2006 United Nations Population Division report) and literacy.
In this model there is increased emphasis on the importance of equitable distribution of rewards, quality of life and meeting basic human needs.
BNM and causes of underdevelopment:
The model points out a few causes of underdevelopment as given below:
Poor organization of the poor. Organization of the poor serves three purposes: first to participate in community life; second, to overcome the mere survival strategy; and third, to break a pattern of powerlessness, exploitation, permanent indebtedness, and a state of dependency bordering slavery.
Lack of proper policy framework for development. It should have multiple growth goals: a commitment to development from bottom-up; local self-reliance; grass-root organizations participating in planning, decision making and implementing in areas affecting communities; substantial allocation of national funds for health, education and housing in favour of the lowest 40% income.
Information Poverty. There is information poverty among the 'have-nots' and communication gap with the 'have'.
Communication Model in BNM:
Decentralization (to give some of the power of a central government, organization, etc. to smaller parts or organizations around the country) of communication networks and democratization of their control would be essential pre-condition for the success of BNM.
Decentralization and rural integrated development in this model suggest two-way communication, both top-down and bottom-up in the development infrastructure.
The top-down communication is from the govt. to the masses for awareness of the basic amenities provided. A bottom-up communication from the people to the development planners for need based programs.
Role of communication in BNM:
In BNM, the emphasis is on inter-personal communication channels, which are used to inform, educate, motivate and persuade the masses with support from the mass media.
The govt. should provide community TV, radio sets and newspapers etc. and make use of satellites and other improved methods of broadcasting, such as short-wave, to the poor who have low physical accessibility to mass media because of low purchasing power or living in areas where reach of the media is low.
Along with physical access, it is necessary to have access to the operation of community media. This will safeguard against information blockage to the have-nots.
The efforts to meet the basic needs and to affect the required attitudinal changes require unprecedented inflow of information into the village capable of reaching the poorest of the villagers as well.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs designed to transform the village from the traditional society into and Information Community of a new kind.
Conclusion: Though the BNM is not yet considered as a replacement for development strategy but it has contributed a lot in shaping the policy of many developing countries.
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