RELATIVE ECONOMICS – AS THE ROAD MAP TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REVISED

1. RELATIVE ECONOMICS – AS THE ROAD MAP TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
By :
Professsor (Dr. ) Trilok Kumar Jain
Dean,ISBM, Suresh Gyan Vihar University
Jagatpura, Jaipur
Mobile : 91+9414430763, jain.tk@gmail.com
Presented at the Vice Chancellors’ Meeting in Gangashahr on 8/2/14 organised by
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajasthan
Abstract :
This paper highlights the need of courses on relative economics and how such courses
can help in the development Green Economy, Sustainable Development and
development of better citizens. This paper also presents a summary of the global
movements towards Green Economy and Sustainable Development. The paper also
presents the contents that can be added in courses relating to relative economics.
Keywords: course, curriculum, university, education, sustainable development, relative
economics, green economy
Contents:
Introduction to Relative Economics
International Movements towards sustainable development
International Trends with regard to Sustainable development
Curriculum Designing for Sustainable Development
Conclusion
Introduction to Relative Economics
Higher education is at a cross-road. There are competing options before the students.
There are courses, which prepare students for professions and impart only technical
and professional skills. There are courses, which impart fundamental knowledge and
prepare students for fundamental research. There are courses, which prepare students
for their overall development and prepare them for life as a whole. At this juncture, we
all agree that there is a need of courses, which prepare students for the skill-sets
required in the future and for the courses which prepare them as better citizens. It is
also important to impart education that prepares the students for the next generation
challenges. Thus there is a need of constant planning and brainstorming on what type
of courses to be offered so that students are able to prepare for the challenges of
tomorrow. Universities across the globe have started preparing courses on sustainable

2. development, green economy and green technology to prepare students for the
emerging challenges. At this juncture, it is pertinent to look at the rich Indian heritage
and explore how we can prepare courses that can be useful in this context and enable
us to launch such courses which Universities from other countries can also look upon as
reference courses. ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumkam’ is the fundamental philosophy in India,
therefore Indian Universities should become the pioneers in offering courses on
sustainable development. This paper presents one such concept – the concept of
relative economics – which can be offered as a course towards sustainable
development.
The ideas of Relative Economics are rooted in the concept of non-violent developmental
approach as enunciated by Mahavir Swami and presented in the present day context
by Acharya Shri Mahapragya Ji. It is a broad concept towards development. It is
extremely useful for development planners, entrepreneurs, economists, social
development workers, activists, managers and every one interested in overall
development of our civilization. Relative Economics is the discipline which takes a
wholistic perspective towards development. While preparing development plans, we
must take into account environmental, social, economical and other considerations also
and we must not deprive next generations from their opportunities. The present
developmental plans ignore the possibilities with regard to next generations and
therefore these plans turn out to be short lived and have negative impact in the long run.
The UN and the ICC have adopted Green Economy as the goal and they have asked
governments to prepare roadmap for green economy. The concept of green economy is
based on the concept of sustainable development. The concept of green economy is
the concept for preparing an economic framework which considers environmental
framework and issues with regard to sustainable development into consideration.
Relative Economics is the concept that takes into account broader framework for
development. There are following issues that are included in relative economics : a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Promoting Value Based Education
Promoting Bio-diversity
Promoting Sustainable Development – by being Nature Friendly
Promoting Social Entrepreneurship
Promoting Balanced Approach to Development
Promoting Harmony with Society, Nature, Ecology and Environment
Promoting Peace and Collaboration
The concept of relative economics is very important for educational planners due to
following reasons : -

3. a. Growth in Industries relating to Green Technology and Sustainable
Development : There are growth projections in wind energy, solar power, and
other renewable energy sectors. Large number of new units are expected
to be set up in these sectors. There are many estimates, which are
projecting a higher than normal growth rate in these industries. For
example Wind Energy 2012 report states that there will be tremendous
growth in wind energy in India. Since these are emerging sectors, the
actual growth may be more than expectations. This will create huge
employment / self employement possibilities for students in these
sectors.
b. Saturation in Traditional Professional Courses : There have been saturation
in traditional courses due to various reasons. We have seen that many
engineering and management institutions are not able to offer sufficient
placement opportunities and this is affecting their admissions and they are not
able to get sufficient number of admissions and therefore finding it difficult to
survive. There is mis-match in the market. Companies need employees which
are prepared for the future and have skills required for the next generation
technologies, but the institutions are not able to meet those requirements.
c. Responsibilities of Universities to Widen up Education Base : Universities
have to impart education that develop good citizens. The contents and quality of
education has to be periodically reviewed to ensure that our curriculum prepares
the students for the requirements of the future. The modern day challenges have
put the responsibilities on the universities in incorporate courses on relative
economics so that the students have a perspective for sustainable development.
International Movements towards sustainable development:
Now many new companies are emerging, which are working in the area of sustainable
development, green energy, and green economy framework. There is a need of skilled
manpower in these sectors. These companies will be able to progress and prosper only
if they are able to get skilled manpower. This is a challenge as well as an opportunity.
We can start a university which can meet the requirement of these companies as well
as develop entrepreneurs for the future, who will create companies for these sectors.
a. Global Funding Initiatives: World Energy Summit, Adaptation Fund, and other initiatives are only a few examples of
large number of funding agencies working to help entrepreneurs and governments in
movement towards sustainable development. The OECD has funded Green Economy
movement in Austria:European Universities have agreed towards movement for
sustainable development. They have started courses on sustainable development. We
have seen that a large number of universities in Europe are offering courses on
sustainable development.

4. b. International Agreements for Sustainable development :
Year
1972
1975
Event
UN
Conference
on
Human
Environment
–
Stockholm
conference
UNESCO – Belgrade Charter
1977
1987
Tbillsi Declaration
Our common future
1988
1990
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1997
1998
2000
2000
2001
2002
Recommendations
It was agreed that education on
environment matters should be there
(principle 19)
Principles of Environment Education were
articulated
World commission released report on our
common future and popularized the concept
of sustainable development
Copernicus – CRE
Cooperation among Universities in Europe
for education on sustainable development.
Now over 300 European Universities are
signatories of this agreement and are trying
to introduce courses on sustainable
development.
Tailores Declaration
31 University leaders articulated and agreed
on sustainable development
World conference on education for It was agreed to spread primary education
all
Halifax Declaration
It endorsed the role of Universities in
moving towards sustainable development
UNCED
Section 36 : Promoting education, public
awareness and training for sustainable
development
Kyoto Declaration
In support of sustainable development
CRE Copernicus Charter
Universities in Europe agreed to enhance
initiatives for sustainable development
Thessaloniki Declaration
Agreed to spread public awareness for
sustainability
WCHE
The values of higher education must be to
promote sustainable development
Dakar Framework
Quality education for all by 2015
UN Millenium summit
Priority areas are peace, development,
environment, human rights and protecting
the vulnerable
th
56 UN General Assembly
MDG (Millenium Development Goals were
adopted)
World Summit on Sustainable Countries have adopted resolutions that
development
obstacles on sustainable development have
to be removed

5. 2002
Ubuntu Declaration
Emphasis on education for sustainable
development and international partnerships
for these goals
th
2002
57 UN General Assembly
Decade as decade for education for
sustainable development (2005-15)
2003
WCHE
World Conference on Higher Education
2004
DESD Draft
Decade for Education for sustainable
Development
2005
DESD launched
Decade (2005-15) of Education for
Sustainable development. UN is supporting
initiatives for sustainable development.
International Trends with regard to courses, admissions and placements
There are a large number of companies which have been set up in the recent past in
the sectors relating to Green Technology, Geen Energy and Sustainable Development.
Due to international funding, a large number of companies, organizations and
institutions are to be set up in the future with in the sectors relating to sustainable
development. Thus there is a need of skilled manpower as well as that of entrepreneurs
in these sectors. We shall be able to meet this emerging need. There have been
increase in courses towards sustainable development world over. Over 300 European
universities have started courses on sustainable development. In India TERI University,
NIRD Hyderabad, and a few other Universities have started courses on sustainable
development. While the admission for traditional engineering and management courses
is declining, the trend is towards courses on sustainable development and more and
more students are opting for these courses.
Through the courses on relative economics, we propose to promote social
entrepreneurship in the sectors like education, green technology, renewable energy,
social development, green initiatives etc. We propose to train students in these sectors,
which will enable them to become social entrepreneurs. They will create employments.
They will become the change makers of tomorrow and will create a series of enterprises
in the direction of green technology and green economy. Since extensive subsidies,
loans and financial support is available from the central government towards these
sectors, our training will convert them into social entrepreneur earlier than expected.
This will usher in a new era of development as more and more persons will move
towards self employment through social development ventures. In the OECD
benchmarking initiative on higher education for sustainable development, there was no
Indian University. There are huge funding options available for setting up research
centres in these sectors.
Curriculum Designing for Relative Economics

6. Ideally a course on relative economics should have following contents : Theoretical contents :Fundamentals of Relative Economics
Concepts of Syadvad, Aparigrah and Preksha
Concepts of Self Discipline, Anuvrat and Tolerance
Concept of Anupreksha
Concept of Balanced Development
Importance of Nature and wild life in our planet
Social Entrepreneurship
Social Development planning
Practical Contents : Practical projects relating to nature, environment and civic life
Field visits to forests, nature journey and visit to rural artisans and rural industries
Field visits to industries working in Green Technology
Field visits to NGOs promoting sustainable development
Preparation of Business plans for social entrepreneurship
Preparation of development plans and budgets based on the ideas of relative
economics
Budget Analysis
Discussion on Budgets, Economic Reviews
A number of Universities have started courses on Relative Economics. Their
experiences can become a benchmark for us. These courses and courses on
sustainable development may be started by Indian Universities. You can encourage
your academic planners, deans, board of studies to offer such courses. You may start
as follows : a. You may start as a separate paper
b. You may start as a separate course on relative economics
c. You may start as guest lectures / workshops on relative economics
d. You may start as certificate programme / diploma on relative economics
e. You may start research centres on relative economics and sustainable
development
We wish that you should emerge as pioneer in promoting this cause and set up an
example before others. Your initiatives will be followed by others. We assure you of all
our support in starting these courses. We firmly believe that you are the planners and
visionary leaders and therefore you are interested in introducing courses which are
different from the traditional courses and you wish to prepare students in the skill sets
needed for the future. With the courses that we propose, you will develop students for

7. the careers for tomorrow, which will not just be a career, but a journey towards
transforming our society for a better future. Please join together on this day and start.
Conclusion
The concept of relative economics will help us in developing the society on the path of
sustainable development – which is the need of the hour. The concept of relative
economics will help us in preparing our development plans on broader framework. We
shall be able to develop social entrepreneurs and managers as per the need of the
tomorrow. We shall be able to prepare more responsible and concerned students
through courses on relative economics. The roadmap of the discipline of relative
economics is to be prepared jointly by the academicians and the beginning of the
journey has to be started now. Those who take initiatives will become the pioneers in
the movement towards sustainable development. This is the area where India should
lead and give direction to the world. However, the European Universities have already
started their initiatives. It is the right time that we should take up initiative for preparing
our courses and curriculum towards relative economics.