Special Correspondent
NewsBits.in
Bhopal: In a first in India, Madhya Pradesh would have an earmarked department for ‘happiness’ that would try to assess happiness level of people and help them in achieving ‘inner happiness’.
Setting up of the department was formally approved during a cabinet meeting held on Saturday. A government release issued later said that the department will function as a knowledge resource centre on happiness. A State Happiness Institute will also be created.
Before this decision, the state government undertook in-depth study of measures taken to assess status of happiness among citizens by United Nations as well as government of Bhutan and America's International Management Institute.
FUNCTION
According to official statement of MP government, the new Happiness Department will map and define parameters of happiness and efficiency. It would chalk out directives/guidelines for coordination between departments in the direction of disseminating happiness in the state.
The department will also work towards implementation of concept of happiness, policy making and bringing implementation process in mainstream. It would also prescribe action plan and activities for experiencing happiness.
The department will also assess psychological/emotional status of people from time to time. It would compile and publish survey reports pertaining to status of happiness.
It would undertake constant researches on ways of increasing happiness and improve norms to assess them.
SET UP
Apart from an in-charge minister, the department would have a chairman, a chief executive officer, a director-research, director-coordination and other office staff. A budget of Rs 3.60 crore has been sanctioned for the department.
