Gross National Happiness - ICLEI World Congress

Gross National Happiness and its Translation to Thimphu City

Kinlay Dorjee Mayor Thimphu Municipality Royal Government of Bhutan

Gross National Happiness Translation to Thimphu City

Gross National Happiness – An Introduction

Gross National Happiness Index and its application

Conclusion 2

Thimphu Municipality, Local Government

Gross National Happiness Translation to Thimphu City



Conclusion 3


4 Thimphu Municipality, Local Government

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a development approach that seeks to “achieve a harmonious balance between material well-being and the spiritual, emotional and cultural needs of our society.”

GNH based on the belief that since happiness is the ultimate desire of every citizen, it must be the purpose of development to create the enabling conditions for happiness

What is Gross National Happiness?

The Four Pillars of Gross National Happiness

Constitutional Requirement to maintain 60% of country under forest cover

Carbon Neutral Development

Over 50% of country declared as protected areas

Transmission of values

Strengthen family ties

Promote Voluntarism

Promote meditation

Promote knowledge of traditional games, masked dances etc.

Balanced Time use

GNH Pillars

Fostering a vibrant democratic culture

Improve Performance of three tiers of governments

Right to freedom of speech and opinion

Freedom from Discrimination

Trust in media

Fighting Corruption

Poverty reduction

Universal Primary Enrolment

Free health and education services

Land redistribution reforms

Rapid rural infrastructure development

Good governance

Conservation of the environment

Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development

Preservation and promotion of culture

Bhutan’s journey with GNH began more than four decades ago and more elaborate and precise metrics

to measure GNH has been underway since 2008


How is Gross National Happiness being Operationalized?

• Gross National Happiness Commission created to mainstream GNH

• GNH indicators and Policy and Project Selection Tools developed

• GNH Survey carried out every two years to assess our journey towards GNH


• A composite statistic to measure Bhutan’s progress in enhancing the happiness of the people based on a holistic framework made up of 9 domains and 33 indicators


What is the GNH Index?

• The GNH Index, its domains and indicators will be used to guide Bhutan’s development : – draw attention to areas that need to be addressed, basis for

resource allocation etc. – mainstream GNH into new policies & plans by screening the

policies using the Policy/Project Screening Tools (PST)

GNH

Living Standards

•Assets

•Housing

•Household per capita income

Psychological Wellbeing

•Life satisfaction

•Positive emotions

•Negative emotions

•Spirituality

Time Use

• Work

• Leisure

• Sleep

Education

•Literacy

•Schooling

•Knowledge

•Value

Cultural Diversity and Resilience

•Speak native Language

•Cultural Participation

•Artistic Skills

•Driglam Namzha

Good Governance

•Gov’t performance

•Fundamental rights

•Services

•Political Participation

Community Vitality

•Donations (time & money)

•Community relationship

•Family

•Safety

Ecological Diversity and Resilience

•Ecological Issues

•Responsibility towards environment

•Wildlife damage (Rural)

•Urbanization issues

Health

•Mental health

•Self reported health status

•Healthy days

•Disability


Gross National Happiness translation to Thimphu City



Conclusion 9


BHUTAN

• Location: between China and India

• Population : 6,35,000 (2005)

• Area: 39,000 Sq. km

• Free Health care and education

• GDP US$ 2,000 (2010)

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THIMPHU, CAPITAL CITY • Area: 26 Sq. km

• Population: 104000

• Population density: 3,040/km2

• By 2027 it is expected to be 162,000

• 40% of National Urban, 12.5 % Nat. Population

• Growth rate = 10 - 12 %

• Twelve Local Area Plans (3 funded by ADB & 2 by WB)

• Fifteen areas without Local Area Plans

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THIMPHU VALLEY

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Pillar 1: Sustainable economic development

• Long term plan for sufficient drinking water supply

• Thimphu Structural Plan is being reviewed to incorporate more open spaces and parks

• Working on improving the Public Transport to enhance sustainable infrastructures like roads and parking spaces


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Pillar 2: Preservation and Promotion of Culture

• June 2nd is celebrated as Social Forestry Day (huge tree plantation activity in the country) Plantation of 6000 trees in the city against 500 tress felled for development activity in 2011

• Schools and community involved in plantation

• Use of electric cremation (best option for Bhutan due to reliable and low electricity tariff)

• Of the 60,000 vehicles registered in the country 32,694 (more than 50%)are registered in Thimphu (October 2011) – Plan for Bus Rapid Transit


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Pillar 3: Preservation of Environment

• Facilitate more spaces for biking and walking trails to encourage use of bicycle

• Waste segregation has started as a pilot project. Eventually, all organic waste will be diverted for composting instead of sending them to landfill

• Currently used Lagoon system for waste water treatment (methane emission)

• Plans to upgrade to mechanical system (which will reduce methane emission as well as improve treatment efficiency and increase capacity)

• Started Pedestrian's day in city coinciding with the June 5, 2012 and continued every Tuesday thereafter


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Environment contd..

• Introduction of elected Mayor and the councilors

• Streamline processes to curb corruption

• Strict enforcement of rules and regulations

• Community involvement improves vigilance


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Pillar 4: Good Governance

Influence Prioritization,

Resource Allocation,

Policies and Programs

Influence individuals, private

sector, CSOs, Communities & society at large

GNH Index -

True Measure of progress

Compass to show direction


Conclusion

Thank You

for more information – please visit

www.gnhc.gov.bt www.grossnationalhappiness.com

Documents

Gross National Happiness - ICLEI World Congress