●     In the Peruvian southeastern regions where mining is practiced, the Human Development Index (HDI) grows at a higher rate

“Human development is closely linked to sustainable territorial development,” stated Francisco Santa Cruz, coordinator of Human Development Reports in Peru for the United Nations Development Program, during his lecture at the decentralized event Rumbo a PERUMIN, where the development opportunities promoted by mining in the regions of Apurímac, Cusco, and Puno were analyzed.

During the lecture, he underscored the responsibility of the State to ensure that the income generated by mining has a greater impact on people’s well-being. “Human development demands that all stakeholders (the company, the local governments, the peasant communities, etc.) contribute to make sure that the extractive income, such as fiscal redistribution (canon minero), is invested in the regions,” pointed out Santa Cruz.

The UNDP specialist also stated that in the Peruvian southeastern provinces where mining activity is practiced, the growth rate of the Human Development Index (HDI) is higher than in other provinces where there is no major productive activity. Places like Cusco, Urubamba, Espinar, and Canchis (in Cusco); San Roman, San Antonio de Putina, and Puno (in Puno); and Abancay (in Apurímac) have high development levels, as their HDI is higher than the national average.

Other cases, such as La Convención, Chinchero, Anta, Calca, and Chumbivilca (in Cusco); Lampa and Melgar (in Puno); Andahuaylas and Cotabambas (in Apurímac), started with a low development index, but now their growth rate is gradual and above the national average.

The specialist said that human development is the process of expanding people’s capacities and rights within a framework of equal opportunities to get ahead in freedom. He also explained that the HDI is an indicator established based on people’s life expectancy, their educational growth, and their access to goods and services. His analysis evidenced that regions located at a higher altitude (within the national territory) have lower HDI values, whereas urban areas have higher HDI values.

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