LUCKNOW: Living in an environment which has high pollution levels can directly affect our happiness. If we breathe in clean air and live under clear skies, our happiness index will easily go up, said Bhutan’s former minister of education Thakur S Powdyel, who is here to address a convention on happiness and public policy.
Belonging to a country which believes that the GDP of a country is as important as Gross National Happiness (GNH), Powdyel spoke of how all policies in Bhutan were formulated keeping the environment and sustainability in mind.
Bhutan is the only country in the world to officially measure success by GNH instead of GDP.
“Pursuing the goal of GDP is easy as it pertains to materialistic achievements under set parameters. But, pursuing GNH is not easy. GDP is not worried about planet earth, it is about making money. If we keep chasing GDP and use all of earth’s resources to produce revenue, a time will come when nothing will be left for future generations.
GDP is thoughtless about sustainability but GNH considers the planet’s health and our relationship with the earth. It helps to restrain the impulse to exploit resources like air and water,” said Powdyel, who has also taught at various universities.
‘GNH has to go along with GDP’
If one only focuses on production and consumption without regard for the earth, ills like pollution will affect us, he added.
Speaking to TOI ahead of Saturday’s convention titled ‘Promoting Happiness through Public Policy’, Powdyel elaborated how it was the fourth king of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck who coined the term GNH in the early 80s.
The convention is being organised by Lucknow Management Association and Global Lucknow. It will also have experts from the fields of education, environment and economics.
“Our king believed that holistic development of a country has to include GNH along with GDP. The think tank, Centre for Bhutan Studies and GNH Research, measures GNH of its people with a comprehensive questionnaire,” he said.
According to the institute, there are four pillars of GNH: sustainable and equitable socio-economic development; environmental conservation; preservation and promotion of culture; and good governance. Surveys from time to time suggest what areas of Bhutan need attention in order to perform well in the happiness index.
“If a project is not compatible with these pillars, it does not get state funding,” said Powdyel.
“In repeated surveys, we have seen that health, quality of the environment, education and family life are the top parameters for happiness of people,” said Powdyel. It is this index which guides Bhutan in all its goals and policies—like it’s North Star, added Powdyel.
Rashi Lal, TNN | Nov 15, 2019, 09.16 AM IST
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/pollution-directly-affects-a-nations-happiness-index/articleshowprint/72065290.cms
