A Ministry of Happiness

The Indian Express     23rd September 2020     Save    

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.