Gross National Happiness: Its relevance for Bhutan and its indicators

1. Gross National Happiness: Its relevance for Bhutan and its indicators Thimphu City Corporation 15th Feb 2011 Bologna, Italy

3. Salient features of Bhutan • Location: between China and India • Population : 6,35,000 (2005) • Area: 39,000 Sq. km • Free Health care • Free education till graduation • Absence of caste stratification

4. Presentation Outline • Definition of GNH • Origin of GNH as a concept • Four pillars of GNH • Nine Domains of GNH • The Indicators

5. “Every man wants to be happy but in order to be so one must know what happiness is”

6. GNH: What is it? • A development model • Considering all aspects of development • Understanding that Happiness is the innermost desire of every human being

7. Origin of GNH • The 4th King of Bhutan (1974) • He was then 17 years old and • The youngest Monarch in the word

8. Four Pillars of GNH • Sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development • Environment Conservation • Preservation and Promotion of Culture • Good governance

9. Economic Development • GNH does not reject the conventional economic development model • Considers social and equitable development • Bottom - up approach in development

10. Environment Conservation • Forest cover is about 72% • 29 % is protected areas (Parks and Biological Corridors etc) • 60 % forest cover to be maintained for all times to come (Constitution) • Emphasis on hydro- power • Export of ban on timber

11. Culture and tradition • Preservation of traditional societal norms • Strong extended family system • Institutions have been established to promote • both performing and non-performing arts

12. Good Governance • Gradual democratic process was introduce • In 2008 government was elected by the People • Local Government Act passed for further decentralization • Check and balance system • Extensive fight on corruption (ACC)

13. Nine Domains of GNH • Psychological Well-being • Time Use • Community Vitality • Culture • Health • Education • Environmental Diversity • Living Standard • Governance

14. Indicators • General psychological distress indicator • Emotional balance indicators • Spirituality indicators • Family vitality indicator •  Safety indicator •  Trust indicator •  Social support indicator •  Socialization indicator

15. Indicators (Contd’) • Dialect use indicator • Traditional sports indicator • Community festival indicator • Artisan skill indicator • Value transmission indicator • Basic precept indicator

16. Indicators (Contd’) • Health status indicator •  Health knowledge indicator •  Barrier to health indicator • Education attainment indicator • Ecological degradation indicator •  Ecological knowledge indicator

17. Indicators (Contd’) • Income indicator • Housing indicator •  Food security indicator •  Hardship indicator • Government performance indicator •  Freedom indicator •  Institutional trust indicator

18. Way forward • Operationalizing the GNH • Debate among the scholars around the world • International seminars are being held • Some even propose “Operationalizing GNH as the eight MDG”

19. Thank You