“Public policy is an inherently ethical undertaking. It poses fundamental questions about how we ought to live”.
- Prof Jonathan Boston (The Quest for the Good Society: Economics, Ethics and Public Policy)
In the times where economic growth and rapid infrastructural development seem to be determining how smart a city is, it is easy for policymakers and citizens to lose sight of what development and corresponding well-being actually mean. The well-being approach to development recognizes that the true essence of development goes well beyond the constricted domain of economic growth and material possessions.
GDP counts profits, whereas well-being counts the overall impact a policy decision has on individuals and communities. An assessment of subjective experiences is essential in understanding the true impact of policy decisions and interventions. In that sense, the approach takes wider, non-economic factors and interconnected complex factors into consideration such as access to better health, education, ecology, and economy that together contribute to the quality of one’s life.
The concept of well-being, often discussed interchangeably with happiness, is not new. Numerous studies, reports, and social surveys have been published that have tried to assess life satisfaction, quality of life, and well-being among citizens.
Countries such as New Zealand have introduced their well-being budget as a means to uplift the inter-generational well-being of the country. Their unique approach stems from the Maori thought leaders who
emphasize the importance of the values of principles, social cohesion, and a sense of identity within the community for holistic development.
As far as the majestic Himalayas are concerned, the importance of well-being becomes even more striking. The trees, air, water and numerous natural resources of the Himalayas have nourished and nurtured generations and have been the source of livelihood and economic prosperity for numerous people. Apart from their resources, the Himalayas also hold immense importance for India, both geographically and strategically.
Over the years, the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has undergone extreme climatic, political, as well as social changes which has affected the people residing in the region as well as those dependent on it.
Uttarakhand, which once stood witness to the historical mass movement demanding self-identity and preservation in form of separate statehood, now faces the brunt of rapid development, construction activities and unplanned policies which have often come at the cost of the well-being of its people. They have been left with limited opportunities and forced to migrate to urban areas.
Once the genesis of the Chipko Movement, currently the state's fragile ecosystem is being threatened by the lack of coordinated efforts. Certain projects which require aggressive alteration and elimination in the state’s tree cover might reduce the sensitive region to a mere ‘service provider’ in the future.
The hill states in India experienced higher than usual temperatures this year. Even if we try to explain and attribute a part of this increase to geographical and meteorological conditions, the man-made aspect of
the problem can in no way be neglected.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has assessed that India has experienced an increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius per decade since 1950. The International Labour Organization (ILO) report, Working on a Warmer Planet: The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work (2019), estimated that an increase in global-warming related heat stress could lead to productivity losses globally which could be equivalent to 80 million full-time jobs in the year 2030. The economic losses of heat stress will, therefore, reinforce the already-existing economic disadvantage within the society, especially in the Global South.
The debate of present vs future generations and distant vs recent benefits is an ongoing one. However, the recent benefits of development seem neither promising nor provide sustainable respite to the citizens in any way. The state faced an ecological and health crisis as it grappled with the record-breaking heatwave in the summer. The heatwaves further increased the already pertinent forest fires in different parts of the state. As the weather transitioned, the state now finds itself witnessing rain induced landslides and other monsoon related public infrastructural failures. Amidst all this, axing green trees for multiple big and small developmental projects continues across the state.
If we assess such changes from a well-being approach, it would not be difficult to gauge the adverse impact these instances have on the overall well-being of the residents of Uttarakhand. Battling climate change, pollution, ecological depletion and to live under the constant threat of an insecure and unsustainable future in no way adds up to elevate one’s well-being.
When we assess development and climate change only based on GDP, it seems unwise to incur monetary costs at the present with the prospect of averting losses in the future. The policymakers seem to discount the future losses because the losses seem so distant and hopefully not for our generation to deal with.
Ample studies show that living near greener spaces have a positive impact on our physical and mental health which effectively increases our well-being. A study conducted in Germany shows that for each extra hectare of green space within one km of an area, the well-being goes up by 0.007 points out of 10. The monetary value addition is even more striking which adds up to approximately 4.2 million euros per year for a total population of 6000 residents. If one cares about well-being, it is natural to care about climate change and vice-versa.
Uttarakhand’s rank as number one, with a total score of 79, in the recently released SDG Index 2023-24 is rather promising and reassuring of the efforts being made towards sustainable development. The state has ascended to the top from an earlier rank of 10 back in 2018. Despite this, when we try to assess our overall well-being as residents of the state of Uttarakhand, it becomes important to assess it holistically, and at times on a personal and day by day basis. Amidst rankings and scores, what strikes as important is the quality of life and satisfaction which people experience as residents of Uttarakhand.
Community awareness and participation are essential tools to facilitate well-being and build trust and social cohesion for a consolidated effort towards a better future. A well-being approach requires a behavioural change on the part of the individual as much as it requires an institutional intervention. An informed society forms the basis of a strong democratic country. The residents of the state, through the recently conducted Paryavarn Bachao Andolan (June 2024) seem to have effectively taken the first step to sustain and reclaim their well-being.
Unplanned and excessive infrastructural activities along with mega development projects, which the state is not geographically capable to sustain, require further dialogue among various stakeholders. Repeated
protests by the citizens of the state are testimony to the unrest that lingers among them.
It also suggests that the current model of development has not been made inclusive of the demands and aspirations of the people and the policies that are in place are inadequate, short-sighted and unsustainable. We cannot fight the problems of the present with solutions that are bound to cause long-term impacts on the ecology of the state.
There is only as much mess that can be swept under the rug before it becomes apparent. Unless the well-being of the present and the future generations finds a standing ground in formulating and implementing policies, the whole exercise of living under the sham of development will one day prove futile.
Vidushi Dobhal Naithani is a Junior Research Fellow and Doctoral Candidate at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, focusing on development in Uttarakhand.
