If the 2022 GNH Index report released by the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies is anything to go by, Bhutanese are generally happy. The report states an increase in the GNH index by 3.3 per cent compared to 2015. The increase shows improvements in housing, positive emotions, income, schooling, services, and literary indicators in the last seven years. However, as happy as the Bhutanese are, the report saw a significant decrease in cultural participation, Driglam Namzha, healthy days, and political participation indicators.
The GNH Index measures the population’s overall well-being and happiness. It is a comprehensive tool based on 33 indicators, which measure the nine domains of GNH.
Psychological well-being, health, education, and good governance are some of the domains.
For the report, the population was classified into four groups; deeply happy, extensively happy, narrowly happy, and unhappy.
About 10 per cent of the population was found deeply happy. Whereas about 40 per cent were extensively happy, and nearly 45 per cent reported being narrowly happy. Meanwhile, some six per cent were found unhappy.
Despite the improvements, the deterioration in good governance and political participation shows that there is an increase in the proportion of people who are not willing to vote and attend meetings.
“For instance, currently, only civil servants are given this opportunity to have postal ballots. So, why don’t we make that postal ballot service accessible to other members of society like from the private sector and Civil Society Organisations for instance?” said Tshoki Zangmo, a researcher with the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies.
Likewise, the researchers say the decline in cultural participation could be due to restrictions during the pandemic.
Speaking at the launch of the report, yesterday regarding cultural participation, Prime Minister Dr LotayTshering said it is important to reconnect with one of the core principles of GNH, Driglam Namzha, and revamp policies to fill the gap.
The fourth GNH survey was delayed by two years due to the pandemic. The four-month-long survey between April and August last year interviewed over 11,000 respondents.
The survey was carried out in 198 gewogs and 53 towns across the country.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Sherub Dorji
