‘Happiness Model of Bhutan’ discussed
SHILLONG: Meghalaya and Bhutan policy makers held an interactive session on Saturday stressing on the need to adopt “Happiness Model of Bhutan”.
The Asian Confluence, and the Royal Institute of Governance and Strategic Studies, Bhutan’s most prestigious think-tank, hosted a joint interaction between policy makers from Bhutan and Meghalaya.
A 35-member visiting delegation of senior policy makers from Bhutan, led by Chewang Rinzin, Dy Chamberlain to the King of Bhutan and Tashi Wangyal, Member of Parliament from Bhutan, interacted with a select crowd at the Asian Confluence Center, comprising senior policy makers, artists, activists, media and heads of various institutions.
Meghalaya Chief Secretary, K.S. Kropha, Principal Secretary, Planning and CEO of Meghalaya Institute of Governance, R.M. Mishra, former MP B.B.Dutta, Vice Chancellor of NEHU Prof. S.K. Srivastava, legislator James Sangma, former Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo Lanong, along with people from the arts including Lou Majaw interacted with the heads of many of the key departments of Bhutan, in a session moderated by The Shillong Times editor, Patricia Mukhim.
In his opening remarks, Kropha said that Meghalaya can emulate many of the models of development used in Bhutan based on the principles of Gross National Happiness.
NEHU Vice Chancellor urged for greater synergies in academia across the region and offered all possible help from the university. Earlier Sabyasachi Dutta, Director Asian Confluence made a presentation on the upcoming connectivity projects under the auspices of BBIN (Bhutan Bangladesh, India Nepal) and highlighted the importance of forging institutional linkages to forge a “Third Space” that can lead to increased people to people contacts.
Similar sentiments were shared throughout the discussions.
The Asian Confluence will lead a pan North East India delegation to Bhutan next month on a dialogue on tourism development with stakeholders and policy makers in Bhutan, being organized jointly with the Center for Bhutan Studies and the Tourism Board of Bhutan.
Earlier, the delegation also met the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and visited the Bangladesh border as part of their visit to the State.