Happiness and India in Happiness Index
- Mar 15, 2020
- 2 min read
Happiness has varying definitions for different people. Surprisingly, the happiest countries in the world are not the richest countries, but instead the countries with the most balanced set of social and institutional supports for better lives.
The United Nations’ World Happiness Report, which was influenced by Bhutan’s attempt to measure its Gross National Happiness states that Nordic countries like Finland and Denmark have cracked all the 6 Parameters of Life Satisfaction and turn out to top the table. These countries also have a high amount of taxes, but the citizens willingly pay them for their own betterment. The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness that ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. Mostly, the countries with a stable government, low levels of public corruption and a relatively homogeneous population (with an exception of countries like Canada) take up the top 10 Spots in the report.
There’s no doubt that on average, richer countries are happier, but once you get up to a certain level of income, it doesn’t matter how much more you earn. What influences happiness is how satisfied one is with his/her present way of life. It’s easier for the citizens of happier countries to shape their lives as the government supports most of their basic needs. The government protects the citizens and there is social equality in these countries.
In 2019, India ranked 140 among 156 countries, even below the neighbouring countries like Nepal (100), Pakistan (67) and Bangladesh (125).
India has consistently possessed quite a low rank in the happiness index. In 2018, the Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee quoted that a lack of holistic approach and narrow-vision focus on economic development is pushing India downwards in the World Happiness Index.
"The quest of happiness is closely tied to the quest for sustainable development which is a combination of social inclusion and environmental sustainability," ~ MUKHERJEE QUOTED WHILE SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON PEOPLE,PLANET & PROFIT ORGANIZED BY THE INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
For the country to initiate a much-needed step towards a happy population, the Government needs to use the taxes wisely to solve the problems of unemployment and poverty which would eventually lead to an educated and satisfied set of population. All citizens need to unite against social evils like Corruption. The initiatives like the Happiness Curriculum, which was recently introduced by the Delhi Government can also help to spread awareness about how important it is to stay happy and how it can seek to bring drastic changes in the prosperity of our Nation as a whole.
REFERENCES:
Why Finland And Denmark Are Happier Than The U.S.(CNBC MAKE IT) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pm0Mn0-jYU&list=LLYuLoGNETAT00pKF-n0PbmQ&index=17&t=210s
The 10 Happiest Countries To Live In The World - Seen as the World’s Safest Countries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGq2iAFrr2s&t=531s
Written by:
- AASIS KAUR SETHI (I-YEAR )
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