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5.1 Concept of Quality of Life
Quality of life is related with the improvement of comfort required for survival i.e.,
making goods and services easily available to the people. Quality of life is a very broad
subject. It includes the satisfaction of physical, mental and emotional, socio-cultural and
spiritual needs. One of the main objectives of population education is to improve the
quality of life of individual, family, society, nation and the entire world. Different people
have different views to define quality of life. Some people define quality of life on the basis
of economic prosperity, some define it according to individual’s priority and philosophy
of life. Some define it on the basis of fulfillment of social, emotional and physical needs
to gain happiness and satisfaction in life. Though there are different views for quality
of life, they come to the conclusion that quality of life is the condition in which there is
satisfaction and happiness with the fulfillment of needs of people.
According to R.C Sharma “Quality of life is very complex concept as it involves the
satisfaction of emotional needs and social aspiration of the community or society as well
as the society’s ability to meet the basic needs of food, energy, space, housing, etc. by
itself.”
According to UNESCO Seminar on Quality of Life and Environmental Indicators in 1976
“Quality of life is the sense of being pleased or satisfied with those life elements that are
most important to a person.”
The quality of life may also vary from person to person or with the change in time and
situation. For example, for a very poor man, a small room or a hut may satisfy him for
his housing need. But for a very rich person, even a very big and comfortable house can’t
satisfy him. Similarly, it may also vary from one country to another. Quality of life is also
affected by the size of family, income of family, health, education, etc.
In short, quality of life includes all the necessary services and facilities that are required
to make people happy and satisfied.

Aspects of Quality of Life
Quality of life is the lifestyle full of happiness and satisfaction with the fulfillment of
basic, socio-cultural, emotional and psychological needs. It is the degree of satisfaction
one has in relation with the various aspects of human needs. The various aspects required
for quality of life are given below:

a. Physical needs

Nutritious food, balanced diet, clothing, clean housing, fresh air, pure drinking water, etc.
that are required for survival are included under these needs.

b. Social cultural needs
Education, health facilities and services, employment opportunities, transportation and
communication, entertainment, security, human rights, etc. are included here.

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