Bhutan’s story can be told almost like a fairy tale. It’s mountain as high as Gangkar Puesum with 7570 meters, enchanted forests with vibrant life, pristine rivers and streams flowing and cascading with gusto into the great plains of India.
Where kings are compassionate, abdicating the throne for the heir next with grace and dignity. Where kings do not demand power but want to empower their people to adapt democracy.
Where happiness is the epitome of it’s people and all development ; development of values based on the four pillars of Gross National Happiness:
- Good Governance
- Sustainable Socio-economic Development
- Preservation and Promotion of Culture
- Environmental Conservation
A mission that seems impossible for 765,087 people squashed between two economically powerful countries, India and China, Bhutan maintains a balance between Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Happiness. Bhutan continuous to strive for both economic development and national happiness.
This tiny country strives to be carbon neutral, to preserve 60% forest coverage at all times, to invest in green energy, and to be the inspiration and model of a happy nation. However, Bhutan and it’s initiatives have been impacted by climate change at no fault of its own. Bhutan now live with tremendous pressure from the rest of the world to live up to these expectations.
Currently, the highest revenue generated for the country’s GDP comes from hydro power and tourism. Therefore, water is the most precious resource; Social, economic and environment resource. While the rest of the worl struggles to revive their dying water, Bhutan prides itself on having the highest per capita availability of water per person (94,500 cubic meters per person per year- ADB). Efforts and initiatives have been taken by various organizations and stakeholders in the country to conserve and protect our water as a prestigious resource. Today out of 6625 water sources, 154 sources have dried up and 2331 sources are drying up.
As the youth population grows, Bhutan realizes the importance of youth involvement in maintaining these initiatives and carrying on the legacy.
