Post on 15-Dec-2015
transcript
Gross National Happiness: Its relevance for Bhutan
and its indicators
Thimphu City Corporation15th Feb 2011Bologna, Italy
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
Presentation Outline
• Definition of GNH• Origin of GNH as a concept• Four pillars of GNH• Nine Domains of GNH• The Indicators
GNH: What is it?• A development model• Considering all aspects of
development• Understanding that Happiness
is the innermost desire of every human being
Origin of GNH• The 4th King of Bhutan (1974)• He was then 17 years old and • The youngest Monarch in the word
Four Pillars of GNH• Sustainable and equitable
socioeconomic development• Environment Conservation• Preservation and Promotion of
Culture• Good governance
Economic Development• GNH does not reject the conventional
economic development model• Considers social and equitable
development• Bottom - up approach in
development
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
Culture and tradition• Preservation of traditional societal
norms• Strong extended family system• Institutions have been established to
promote• both performing and non-performing
arts
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)
Nine Domains of GNH• Psychological Well-being• Time Use• Community Vitality• Culture• Health• Education• Environmental Diversity• Living Standard• Governance
Indicators• General psychological distress indicator• Emotional balance indicators• Spirituality indicators• Family vitality indicator• Safety indicator• Trust indicator• Social support indicator• Socialization indicator
Indicators (Contd’)• Dialect use indicator• Traditional sports indicator• Community festival indicator• Artisan skill indicator• Value transmission indicator• Basic precept indicator
• Health status indicator• Health knowledge indicator• Barrier to health indicator• Education attainment indicator• Ecological degradation indicator• Ecological knowledge indicator
Indicators (Contd’)
• Income indicator• Housing indicator• Food security indicator• Hardship indicator• Government performance indicator• Freedom indicator• Institutional trust indicator
Indicators (Contd’)
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”