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

“Every man wants to be happy but in order to be so one must know what

happiness is”

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”

Thank You