Even if individuals decide that such a materialistic development model has failed to provide wellness and are prepared to embrace a wiser model, it would be difficult to put it in practice since the national and global economies have to be restructured. Continuing to use the GDP as the chief index of economic development is misleading. It does not reflect the actual fulfillment that people get out of life. While society may need one thing, the government will be doing another thing based on the GDP, which is a deciding factor in framing policies and programs. A new economic index that is centered on wellness rather than material growth needs to be adopted by governments to reframe their policies and programs. GNW or GNH (Gross National Wellness/Happiness) is an index that would fit this requirement.
GNH has been studied systematically by Med Yones, who speaks of seven kinds of wellness: Economic, Environmental, Physical, Mental, Workplace, Social and Political wellness. In his own words: "While the proposed new GNW or GNH metric may not be all-inclusive or provide a perfect measure, the consideration of the above parameters is a good start when creating a new metric for the measurement of socioeconomic development and policy management". For example when the govt. assesses the worth of a new or existing scheme to generate employment opportunities, its real worth can be assessed in terms of its impact on the seven kinds of wellness mentioned above as opposed to the value merely in terms of its contribution to the GDP.
Compared to an indicator that measures only the economic aspect of wellness, an indicator that takes a comprehensive view of wellness is superior and closer to reality. While managing the economy of a family, the father and mother would be concerned with the education, health and overall development of their children and not merely with providing for their material needs.
Thus it would be in the fitness of things and conducive to humane growth and development that GNH or GNW, a new comprehensive index for socioeconomic growth and development is adopted at the national (and global levels). The Maoist problem in India and similar social tensions in other countries are symptomatic of an unsatisfactory economic system.
By opting for the new economic system based on an enlightened view of wellness, India (and the world) would be rescuing itself from an economic system that is built on false premises and ensure sound socio-economic development as well as peace and harmony.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
