A Ministry of Happiness

Context: A paradigm shift and an effective mechanism are needed to deliver the skill of happiness.

International Efforts:

• World Happiness Report 2020

• Criteria: Income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity.
• Ranking: It ranked 156 countries.

• Finland topped the list, despite not having the highest GDP, while materially superior countries are ranked lower.
• Social safety, personal freedom, and a work-life balance were the responsible factors, leading to happiness.
• Implication: Growth in happiness is not always accompanied by growth in economic prosperity. 

• Easterlin paradox: Observed by Richard Easterlin in post-World War USA, this paradox showed a decline in happiness at a very high level of economic growth. 

• Reason: Skewed distribution of income and wealth, resulting in growing economic inequality accompanying economic growth. 

• If people are covered by a social safety net, they have little to worry about healthcare, education, unemployment, or old-age pension. 

• Gross National Happiness: coined in 1979 by Bhutan and was determined by nine domains and four pillars. 
• International Day of Happiness: observed on March 20, as the United Nations in 2011 recognized the achievement of happiness as a fundamental human goal. 

• India, Canada, Brazil, the US, UK, UAE, the Philippines, and Thailand have undertaken efforts to measure and increase happiness and well-being beyond GDP. 

Efforts to ensure happiness:

• The Way to Happiness Foundation International conducts workshops across schools and the Delhi Police.
• Happiness classes: included in Delhi schools based on the triad for happiness. 
• Certificate course in Happiness Counselling: introduced by Gujarat University through meditation, yoga, neurology, social activities, music, food, and dance.
• Madhya Pradesh’s Happiness department: organises Happiness Camps to teach a positive outlook towards life.
• Happiness Index department of Andhra Prades: to measure development in the state. 

Way Forward:

• A scheme that allows volunteers to serve old or ailing people can be framed.

• Their service hours there can get deposited in a social service bank account.
• In return, the volunteers can assure old-age care for themselves by claiming the same number of service hours in their old age.

• Media, movies, and market can create awareness about safety and dignity of women, for social harmony.
• For the safety of life, traffic and cleanliness, all stray animals need to be looked after by animal-loving people and organisations. 
• Speedy delivery of justice: for enduring mental peace, litigation needs to be minimised by minimising laws, that too codified in simple language.
• NGOs must work in tandem with the government: to achieve plan objectives in areas like education, skill centers, hospitals, helping orphans/unemployed/old people, protecting women and the environment. 

• This will contain their growth in an unorganised manner, thereby complementing the government’s efforts to achieve Plan objectives through better utilisation of voluntary funds. 

• A Ministry of Happiness is needed with academicians, economists, psychologists and social thinkers, to map the road to happiness forever.

Conclusion: The quest of humanity for another habitable planet must begin with making our own planet happy and liveable.