Andhra becomes second state to get happiness dept
HYDERABAD:The We chose five parameters to assess the happiness index: freedom to make life choices, social support to one’s activities, generosity, perceptions of corruption in government and business.
SANJAY GUPTA, vice-chairman of the Happiness Commission
Andhra Pradesh government will soon constitute a Happiness Commission that will take up a series of programmes to promote “happiness” in the state, senior officials said on Monday.
The commission, which will work under the department of planning, will be headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
“The proposal is in the final stages and very soon, we shall issue an order constituting the commission,” said Sanjay Gupta, chief executive officer of the AP state development planning society (APSDPS) and vice-chairman of the proposed commission.
Andhra Pradesh became the second state in the country to introduce an exclusive ministry for happiness in April 2017. Madhya Pradesh is the first.
According to Gupta, the objective of the commission is to ensure all-round development of people, including their psychological well-being, health, usage of their time, education etc, besides gauging their satisfaction over implementation of the government programmes.
“Our ultimate objective is to make Andhra Pradesh a happy state,” he said. The commission is expected to take up a series of activities grouped into different thematic areas. They include: development of infrastructure to promote healthy living, creation of a lively work environment in public and private offices, creation of facilities to improve the lifestyle of people, promotion of adventure and outdoor activities and introduction of programmes that would promote behaviour changes among people.
“For example, the department has proposed to create walking spaces for citizens in all the municipalities, development of parks with sitting and jogging spaces, introduce electric buses and CNG auto rickshaws in place of petrol or diesel vehicles and creation of cycling zone in the municipal areas to promote a health living style,” Gupta said.
The department proposes to ensure sufficient ventilation and start recreational zones in offices. “We are starting child-care centres and gymnasiums in all government offices. In fact, our secretariat in Amaravati already has a gym for the employees ...” the official said.
Another proposal to promote happiness among the people is to introduce family days at the workplace wherein employees can bring their families to the workplaces on a particular day.
Another concept proposed is that of ‘Happy Sundays’ at the municipal level. This would involve activities such as Yoga day, trekking etc.“We also plan to encourage philanthropy and Shram Dan (Voluntary labour) among people,” Gupta said.
The government has conducted a sample survey to assess the happiness quotient in all the 13 districts, Gupta said.
“We chose five parameters to assess the happiness index: freedom to make life choices, social support to one’s activities, generosity, perceptions of corruption in government and business. On the scale of 1-10, Srikakulam was on top with a score of 6.4, and Prakasam at the bottom with 4.6,” the official said.
In a bid to project upcoming state capital of Amaravati as one of the happiest cities in the world, the state government is also organising a Happy Cities Summit.
“The summit will focus the fundamental principles of happy cities, such as citizen-centric governance, liveable communities, clean and green, healthy environment and vibrant economies,” a spokesperson of the AP capital regional development authority said.