🌍 Chapter 7 – Human Resources

🟢 Introduction

• The most important resource on Earth is human beings because they use knowledge, skill, and technology to utilise natural resources.
• Without people, natural resources have no value.
• Thus, human resources = total number + skills + abilities of people.

🔹 1. What is Human Resource?

• Definition: The people who make up the workforce of a country.
• It includes:
  ✅ Physical strength
  ✅ Intelligence
  ✅ Creativity
  ✅ Technical skill
  ✅ Organisational ability
• Key idea: “People are a resource only when they are educated, healthy, and skilled.”

💡 Example:

• A coal mine is useless without miners, engineers, and machines.
• A fertile field is unproductive without farmers.

🔹 2. Distribution of Population

• Population of the world is not evenly spread.
• Factors that decide where people live:

🌱 Favourable Areas (Dense Population):

1. Plains & Fertile Land – Ganga plain (India), Nile valley (Egypt).
2. Mild Climate – Europe, SE Asia.
3. Good Transport – Coastal areas, river valleys.
4. Industrial & Trade Centres – Mumbai, Shanghai, New York.

🏔️ Unfavourable Areas (Sparse Population):

1. Extreme Climates – Sahara desert, Polar regions.
2. Dense Forests – Amazon basin.
3. High Mountains – Himalayas, Andes.
4. Remote Islands – Arctic regions.

📌 Conclusion: Human population is clustered where life is easier.

🔹 3. Population Density

• Definition: Number of people living per square kilometre.

📊 World Examples:

• High Density: Bangladesh (1200+ people/km²).
• Medium Density: India (400+ people/km²).
• Low Density: Australia (3 people/km²).

💡 India Case Study:

• Dense in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal (fertile plains).
• Sparse in Rajasthan, Ladakh (desert, mountains).

🔹 4. Population Change

• Definition: Increase or decrease in number of people.
• Measured by:

📈 Birth Rate: Number of live births per 1000 people/year.

📉 Death Rate: Number of deaths per 1000 people/year.

🔄 Migration: Movement of people in/out of an area.

💡 Formula:
Population Change = Births – Deaths + Migration

🔹 5. Patterns of Population Change in the World

• 🌍 Developed Countries: Low birth rate + low death rate → Slow growth.
• 🌏 Developing Countries: High birth rate + falling death rate → Rapid growth.
• 🏜️ Least Developed Countries: High birth rate + high death rate → Slow growth.

📌 Example:

• Japan: Population shrinking due to ageing + low births.
• India: Growing fast due to high births.
• Africa: High birth rate but also high deaths (disease, poverty).

🔹 6. Population Pyramid (Age–Sex Pyramid)

• Definition: Graphical representation of age and gender structure.

⏳ Three Types of Pyramids:

1. Expansive Pyramid (Triangle shape):
   • Wide base = High birth rate.
   • Example: India, Nigeria.
2. Constrictive Pyramid (Beehive shape):
   • Narrow base = Low birth rate.
   • Example: Japan, Germany.
3. Stationary Pyramid (Rectangle shape):
   • Balanced births & deaths.
   • Example: USA.

📊 Why useful?

• Shows growth trends.
• Helps in planning schools, hospitals, jobs.

🔹 7. Working and Non-Working Population

• Working Population (15–59 years):
  • Backbone of economy.
  • Engaged in jobs, industries, farming, etc.
• Non-Working Population:
  • Children (below 15).
  • Elderly (above 60).

💡 A country with more working-age people = demographic dividend (advantage).

🔹 8. Human Resource Development (HRD)

• Meaning: Improving people’s skills, knowledge, and health to make them productive.
• Main components:

1. Education 🎓
   • Spreads awareness.
   • Improves skills & innovation.
   • Example: IITs, IIMs in India produce global professionals.
2. Health 🏥
   • Healthy people = More productive.
   • Malnutrition, diseases reduce efficiency.
   • Example: Kerala has high literacy + better health = higher HDI.
3. Skill Training ⚙️
   • Vocational and technical education.
   • Example: ITI institutes, Skill India Mission.

🔹 9. Human Development Index (HDI)

• Developed by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
• Measures:
  ✅ Life Expectancy
  ✅ Education (literacy)
  ✅ Income (per capita)

📊 Examples:

• High HDI Countries: Norway, Switzerland, Japan.
• Medium HDI: India, Brazil.
• Low HDI: Many African nations.

🔹 10. Importance of Human Resource

• People are the real wealth of a nation.
• They use technology to turn raw materials into useful products.
• Example:
  • Coal → Electricity → Industries.
  • Cotton → Cloth → Fashion market.

💡 Key Idea: Human beings are not just consumers, but also producers.

🔹 11. Challenges of Human Resources

1. Overpopulation – Strain on food, jobs, housing.
2. Unemployment – Idle manpower → poverty.
3. Illiteracy – Low awareness, low productivity.
4. Poor Health – Reduces working capacity.
5. Unequal Distribution – Some areas over-crowded, some underpopulated.

🔹 12. Steps to Improve Human Resources

✅ Invest in education.
✅ Improve healthcare facilities.
✅ Provide skill training.
✅ Control population growth.
✅ Ensure gender equality.
✅ Encourage research and innovation.

🌟 Summary (Key Points to Remember)

• Human beings are the most valuable resource.
• Population distribution depends on climate, land, resources.
• Population pyramid helps understand age–sex composition.
• Human Resource Development improves a nation’s progress.
• HDI compares the quality of life between countries.
• Balanced growth of population = sustainable development.

📌 Exam-Oriented Q&A

❓ Very Short Questions

1. Define human resource.
2. What is population density?
3. Name the country with the highest population density.

❓ Short Questions

1. Why is human resource important?
2. Write two factors that affect population distribution.
3. What is the Human Development Index?

❓ Long Questions

1. Explain the importance of population pyramids.
2. How does education and health improve human resources?
3. Describe the problems of overpopulation in developing countries.