Dear Readers,
You might be aware that I am going to present a paper in the third world conference of GERA to be held in Paro, Bhutan. Here is my paper. Please review it and post your comments/suggestions, so that I can refine it.
Happiness,
an obligatory requirement for Development
Kuntal
Desai
Abstract
Happiness is a
compulsory ingredient for development of a country. Its actually a transitive relationship.
if people living in a country are happy, they will work more and hence country
will prosper. This basic rule applies in every arena be it education, politics,
marriage, daily routine etc. GDP(Gross Domestic Product) is commonly used as an
indicator of the economic health of a country, as well as to gauge a country's
standard of living. It is time for our statistics system to put more emphasis
on measuring the well-being of the population than on economic production.
People are looking less to internal personal growth and more to material
growth.
Research Design
We have to understand
that the best things in life aren't things. Building community, sharing
wealth and caring for each other are far more likely to lead to satisfied lives
than the individualist ethics. Now-a-days we are are bombarded with a fake
image of success which defines success as “A person who has lots of money and
fame”, but in reality a successful person is the one “who is content and happy” it does not mean that we should stop earning and sit, but not to run
after money. It is important to challenge corporate power and inequality if we
are to create happy societies.
We worked with 30 men
and women aged 22-35 in an organization where whole and sole purpose was to
complete the task on time. There was lot of pressure, less resources, more work
which resulted in generating hard policies.
There was a continuous surveillance set up, each and everything was recorded weather they are talking to clients or among themselves on the floor,even their breaks were monitored. They were not even allowed to socialize and play music. All this setup was done to enhance the productivity of the organization. Management was trying hard to increase the productivity by putting more and more policies day by day but it eventually reduced the productivity thereby creating dissatisfaction among members.
Due to above policies, whole organization went into very bad condition. Everyone wanted to move away from there, so the management tried to lure them by incrementing their salary, but it also didn't improve anything. There was a meeting called to figure out reason behind the decline and all the members agreed on one and only one point that is the rules that are being enforced on them to increase productivity. Everybody expressed their anguish against those rules which severely affected their personal liberty. Major steps were taken to increase the productivity again but this time they were games in the organization, socializing activities so that they can cooperate and work to improve the condition.
There was a continuous surveillance set up, each and everything was recorded weather they are talking to clients or among themselves on the floor,even their breaks were monitored. They were not even allowed to socialize and play music. All this setup was done to enhance the productivity of the organization. Management was trying hard to increase the productivity by putting more and more policies day by day but it eventually reduced the productivity thereby creating dissatisfaction among members.
Due to above policies, whole organization went into very bad condition. Everyone wanted to move away from there, so the management tried to lure them by incrementing their salary, but it also didn't improve anything. There was a meeting called to figure out reason behind the decline and all the members agreed on one and only one point that is the rules that are being enforced on them to increase productivity. Everybody expressed their anguish against those rules which severely affected their personal liberty. Major steps were taken to increase the productivity again but this time they were games in the organization, socializing activities so that they can cooperate and work to improve the condition.
Results
As expected, within a
month conditions improved. There was a balance
in the organization, not
too much work,
not too much policies, enough for fun, and
socialization. The desire for happiness is universal, and sustainable happiness
is multi-dimensional, not just dependent on money. The ultimate outcome of
policies should be to increase the welfare of the people, not just organizational
growth. And that’s what we have to measure. Countries-organizations are now
replacing human development with GDP when it was never developed for that
reason, so that’s a big mistake. GNH
means different things
for different people.
It is a kind
of well-being, happiness with
what we have, contentment with what we
are, not craving, and being able to sleep peacefully, knowing we have done the
right thing.
Conclusion
The paper
concludes that all societies-every
individual want well being. It must be about a society that is really evolved, a
holistic development of the individual, including material and other needs.
It‟s about people finding meaningful work and a purpose in life. This is what
GNH seeks to achieve, an enlightened society.
Acknowledgements
and References
Interview with Tshoki Zangmo, Researcher, The Center for Bhutan Studies (CBS),
Thimphu, Bhutan, 24 July 2009.
Focus Group Discussion
all over Bhutan by CBS
Research Papers by
Thakur S Powdyel(Researcher), Karma Ura(President) and Karma Galay (CBS),
Sabina Alkire, Tshoki Zangmo, Karma Wangdi, Alejandro Adler Braun (University
of Pennsylvania)
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