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| Peoples Happiness |
Bhutan is a landlocked state in South Asia located at the eastern end of the Himalayas. It is bordered to the north by China and to the south, east and west by the Republic of India. Further west, it is separated from Nepal by the Indian state of Sikkim, while further south it is separated from Bangladesh by the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal. Bhutan's capital and largest city is Thimphu. With a population just 742,737 as per the estimated 2012 census,BHUTAN in 2006, based on a global survey,Business Week rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world.
The term "gross national happiness" was coined in 1972 by Bhutan's fourth Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who has opened Bhutan to the age of modernization soon after the demise of his father, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk. He used this phrase to signal his commitment to building an economy that would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values.
Four Pillars of GNH:
1. Sustainable Development
2. Preservation & Promotion of Culture
3. Conservation of Environment
4. Good Governance
Sustainable and Equitable Socio- Economic Development
In Bhutan's efforts towards the attainment of GNH, the country does not reject economic development. Rather, it is the balance between economic growth and spiritual traditions that is sought.
The national policy is that to foster and enhance economic growth, it is necessary to first and foremost provide the capacity to engage in economic activities. This must be followed by identifying those areas of the economy which can be developed and contribute to national economic wealth. Bhutan as always paid particular attention to the development of the country's human resources. This is made evident in the successive national development plans wherby almost one-fourth of the Royal Government’s Plan budget has always been allocated to health and education sectors. By early 2000, this figure had reached almost one third. Considerable efforts have also been made in training and developing the capacity of the country in the professional and specialized skills that are required for the development and management of economic activities.
The creation of physical infrastructure such as motorable roads, telecommunications, energy, air links, etc, is also essential to enhance the productive capacity and to avail of the economic opportunities in the country. Added to this is the need to identify and invest in growth sectors such as the energy sector, tourism, utilization of mineral resources, enhancement of agricultural production and other service sectors that will contribute to economic wealth.
Prudential government rules and regulations together with development of financial services are also necessary to create an enabling environment for the enhancement of economic growth. The development of private initiative and capacity is necessary, but the creation of economic opportunities must be equitable so as to prevent wide disparities in income and opportunities.
Preservation and Promotion of Culture
"The destiny of Bhutan lies in the hands of its people"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
For a small country like Bhutan, preservation of its rich cultural heritage is critical to its very survival as a nation state. In addition to safeguarding a sense of identity in a rapidly globalizing world, the living cultural heritage is a source of human values and beliefs that are of eternal relevance and critical for sustainable development. The traditional beliefs and customs underpinned by a strong reverence for all sentient beings and the environment promotes tolerance, compassion, respect, and charity, which are fundamental values for harmonious co-existence between humankind and nature.
In addition to providing a strong sense of identity and values to all Bhutanese, the preservation of the rich cultural heritage also provides a strong link and support between the individual and society at large acting as an effective social security net. The pursuit of individual self-interests during modernization often threatens the rich bonding of individuals as members of extended families and communities. It is necessary to preserve social bonds in which every one, whether children or elderly, are honoured and respected. The breadth and quality of social relations also lie at the root of happiness throughout a person’s entire life cycle, from childhood to old age.
Traditional social values and thoughts provide a benign and supportive role to social change and development.
Conservation of the Environment
"Gross National Happiness [GNH] is more important than Gross National Product [GNP]"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Sustainable development and environmental care is in the interest of every being. Strong ethics of conservation, underpinned by the traditional reverence for nature, have influenced the country’s environmental ethics and practice long before global concerns for environment were raised. The country’s first national park, Manas was established as early as 1966. Today, more than 26 percent of the country’s area is managed as protected areas to preserve the country’s rich biodiversity. 72 percent of the country is under forest cover, most of it in pristine condition. Although forest is one of the main natural resources of the country, one of the basic tenets of the country’s development philosophy is not to exploit it indiscriminately.
The natural environment has become an important economic asset to the country, particularly in the field of energy and tourism. The ethics of conservation must now go beyond the natural environment to cover emerging new areas such as waste management, pollution, recycling, and related areas, which will increasingly impact the quality of life in the future.
Good Governance
"The destiny of Bhutan lies in the hands of its people"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
An individual’s quest for happiness, and inner and outer freedoms, is the most precious endeavor.
It follows then that society’s idea of governance and polity should promote this endeavor. The country is dedicated to establishing a system of governance that promotes well-being and happiness of its citizens. His Majesty the King continues to guide the country towards the fulfillment of that vision in the evolution of its political and social structures, encompassing both the strengths of the country’s resilient and ancient society, and genuine virtues of democracy.
Even before the advent of modernization in 1961, the country consisted of self-reliant and selfsubsistent communities, possessing well-defined community based rules and institutions to facilitate the use of common resources. In 1981, the fourth King initiated a vigorous program of administrative and political decentralization. The decentralization policy has enhanced the democratic powers, social responsibilities, transparent processes, and structures of villages and communities to make decisions at the grass-root levels. The Royal Government and its institutions continue making every effort to serve the people with integrity, accountability and transparency.
The greatest change in the devolution of power took place in June 1998 when His Majesty the 4th King voluntarily devolved full executive powers to a Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly. On the 15th day of the 10th Bhutanese month corresponding to November 30, 2001 the 4th King took another historic step. He commanded the drafting of the constitution of the country by the drafting committee of the constitution. The scope and the magnitude of the initiative were unprecedented. While addressing the committee members a day earlier, His Majesty stated: “It is my duty, as the King, to strengthen the nation so that the people can develop in security and peace, and the nation becomes more prosperous and secure than before."
The year 2008 is momentous in all aspects in the history of Bhutan, and so in political developments and good governance. Institutional arrangements are in place to support the policy of good governance and recent developments over the year have demonstrated the effective and complete transition of the national polity to a democratic constitutional monarchy.
I don't know if what this critics said is true or not but i am totally against "Recording the percentage of people who say they are happy will tell you... [just] how people use words," making the analogy that society could not "base physics on asking people whether today was 'hot, nice, or cold'", as Economics professor Deirdre McCloskey. I believe and damn sure that people wont use words for the sake of using it they use WORDS to express feeling and what they have in their mind.
In Bhutan's efforts towards the attainment of GNH, the country does not reject economic development. Rather, it is the balance between economic growth and spiritual traditions that is sought.
The national policy is that to foster and enhance economic growth, it is necessary to first and foremost provide the capacity to engage in economic activities. This must be followed by identifying those areas of the economy which can be developed and contribute to national economic wealth. Bhutan as always paid particular attention to the development of the country's human resources. This is made evident in the successive national development plans wherby almost one-fourth of the Royal Government’s Plan budget has always been allocated to health and education sectors. By early 2000, this figure had reached almost one third. Considerable efforts have also been made in training and developing the capacity of the country in the professional and specialized skills that are required for the development and management of economic activities.
The creation of physical infrastructure such as motorable roads, telecommunications, energy, air links, etc, is also essential to enhance the productive capacity and to avail of the economic opportunities in the country. Added to this is the need to identify and invest in growth sectors such as the energy sector, tourism, utilization of mineral resources, enhancement of agricultural production and other service sectors that will contribute to economic wealth.
Prudential government rules and regulations together with development of financial services are also necessary to create an enabling environment for the enhancement of economic growth. The development of private initiative and capacity is necessary, but the creation of economic opportunities must be equitable so as to prevent wide disparities in income and opportunities.
Preservation and Promotion of Culture
"The destiny of Bhutan lies in the hands of its people"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
For a small country like Bhutan, preservation of its rich cultural heritage is critical to its very survival as a nation state. In addition to safeguarding a sense of identity in a rapidly globalizing world, the living cultural heritage is a source of human values and beliefs that are of eternal relevance and critical for sustainable development. The traditional beliefs and customs underpinned by a strong reverence for all sentient beings and the environment promotes tolerance, compassion, respect, and charity, which are fundamental values for harmonious co-existence between humankind and nature.
In addition to providing a strong sense of identity and values to all Bhutanese, the preservation of the rich cultural heritage also provides a strong link and support between the individual and society at large acting as an effective social security net. The pursuit of individual self-interests during modernization often threatens the rich bonding of individuals as members of extended families and communities. It is necessary to preserve social bonds in which every one, whether children or elderly, are honoured and respected. The breadth and quality of social relations also lie at the root of happiness throughout a person’s entire life cycle, from childhood to old age.
Traditional social values and thoughts provide a benign and supportive role to social change and development.
Conservation of the Environment
"Gross National Happiness [GNH] is more important than Gross National Product [GNP]"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
Sustainable development and environmental care is in the interest of every being. Strong ethics of conservation, underpinned by the traditional reverence for nature, have influenced the country’s environmental ethics and practice long before global concerns for environment were raised. The country’s first national park, Manas was established as early as 1966. Today, more than 26 percent of the country’s area is managed as protected areas to preserve the country’s rich biodiversity. 72 percent of the country is under forest cover, most of it in pristine condition. Although forest is one of the main natural resources of the country, one of the basic tenets of the country’s development philosophy is not to exploit it indiscriminately.
The natural environment has become an important economic asset to the country, particularly in the field of energy and tourism. The ethics of conservation must now go beyond the natural environment to cover emerging new areas such as waste management, pollution, recycling, and related areas, which will increasingly impact the quality of life in the future.
Good Governance
"The destiny of Bhutan lies in the hands of its people"
H.M the 4th Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck
An individual’s quest for happiness, and inner and outer freedoms, is the most precious endeavor.
It follows then that society’s idea of governance and polity should promote this endeavor. The country is dedicated to establishing a system of governance that promotes well-being and happiness of its citizens. His Majesty the King continues to guide the country towards the fulfillment of that vision in the evolution of its political and social structures, encompassing both the strengths of the country’s resilient and ancient society, and genuine virtues of democracy.
Even before the advent of modernization in 1961, the country consisted of self-reliant and selfsubsistent communities, possessing well-defined community based rules and institutions to facilitate the use of common resources. In 1981, the fourth King initiated a vigorous program of administrative and political decentralization. The decentralization policy has enhanced the democratic powers, social responsibilities, transparent processes, and structures of villages and communities to make decisions at the grass-root levels. The Royal Government and its institutions continue making every effort to serve the people with integrity, accountability and transparency.
The greatest change in the devolution of power took place in June 1998 when His Majesty the 4th King voluntarily devolved full executive powers to a Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly. On the 15th day of the 10th Bhutanese month corresponding to November 30, 2001 the 4th King took another historic step. He commanded the drafting of the constitution of the country by the drafting committee of the constitution. The scope and the magnitude of the initiative were unprecedented. While addressing the committee members a day earlier, His Majesty stated: “It is my duty, as the King, to strengthen the nation so that the people can develop in security and peace, and the nation becomes more prosperous and secure than before."
The year 2008 is momentous in all aspects in the history of Bhutan, and so in political developments and good governance. Institutional arrangements are in place to support the policy of good governance and recent developments over the year have demonstrated the effective and complete transition of the national polity to a democratic constitutional monarchy.
I don't know if what this critics said is true or not but i am totally against "Recording the percentage of people who say they are happy will tell you... [just] how people use words," making the analogy that society could not "base physics on asking people whether today was 'hot, nice, or cold'", as Economics professor Deirdre McCloskey. I believe and damn sure that people wont use words for the sake of using it they use WORDS to express feeling and what they have in their mind.
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