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Politics does not make them happy

Thimphu: With less than a year to go for the first general elections in Bhutan, politics and governance appeal less to the people than financial security and good health, a survey has found.

According to the first Gross National Happiness pilot survey conducted by the Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS), less than 14 per cent of Bhutanese considered good governance, politics and peace and security as some of the requisites for happiness.

About 231 of the 350 respondents cited financial security as their main requisite for happiness, while between 100 and 150 people felt good family life and health were needed to remain happy. While 50 to 100 people felt education, personal development, employment and job satisfaction were necessary for happiness, only 10 to 50 considered governance and politics to be so.

The kingdom recently held two rounds of mock polls as a dummy run to the general elections in 2008, but participation was lukewarm.

The random survey involved people from various backgrounds and different age groups (eight-88 years) in nine districts. A CBS spokesperson said the main purpose of the project was "to understand the perception of people's well being, level of happiness and satisfaction with life." — PTI

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