Lack of sustainable development pushing India downwards in happiness index: Pranab Mukherjee
Kolkata : Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said lack of holistic approach and narrow-vision focus on economic development is pushing India downwards in the World Happiness Index in spite of its steady economic progress.
Hailing India for becoming the sixth largest economy in the world, Mukherjee said the country should strive for "sustainable development" by focusing on the concept of "Triple bottom line".
"Despite our country's economic progress, India is constantly going downwards in the happiness index. It has dropped down to 133rd place in 2018. This indicates a lack of holistic approach towards development.
"The quest of happiness is closely tied to the quest for sustainable development which is a combination of social inclusion and environmental sustainability," Mukherjee said while speaking at a seminar on People, Planet and Profit organised by the Indian Chamber Of Commerce.
"A narrow vision focus on economic development may have given us a better GDP and increase in per capita income but moved our focus from environmental sustainability, social welfare, emotional and mental wellbeing of our people. These are the primary reasons of our ranking in the world happiness index year after year."
The veteran politician said in scenarios as this the concept of 'triple bottom line' - an accounting framework that puts equal focus on social, environmental and financial development - becomes important.
Mukherjee pointed out while India has managed to bypass France with substantial figures in terms of its value of economy, it must be remembered that the current progress was not achieved in the last couple of years.
He said the country has shown steady improvement in GDP, national per capita income, life expectancy, literacy and food production while managing to bring down the poverty ratio significantly over the past 70 years.
"The recent World Bank report has placed India above France in terms of the value of economy in US dollar terms. But obviously it did not happen in the last couple of years or even in a couple of decades. IT has happened over seven decades," he added.
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Explosions rock Central Dubai, no injuries reported say authorities
Dubai: Buildings in central Dubai shook after loud explosions were heard and a thick cloud of smoke was seen rising over the city’s financial district on Friday. Authorities confirmed that that no injuries were reported.
An AFP correspondent reported hearing a loud double blast that rattled nearby structures and left a large plume of black smoke hanging over a central area. Sirens were later heard from the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road which is one of the city’s main thoroughfares.
In a statement posted on X, the Dubai Media Office said debris from a “successful interception” caused a minor incident on the facade of a building in central Dubai. “No injuries have been reported,” it said.
According to reports the incident occurred in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the building sustained damage. Police have cordoned off the area following the blasts.
A day earlier, authorities had reported a “minor drone incident” in the Al Bada’a area after explosions were heard in downtown Dubai. Officials had then stated that there were no injuries.
