In a first, Madhya Pradesh to sample happiness from next year

Chouhan said, his state was looking at spiritual happiness and happiness through knowledge in accordance with Indian philosophy

With a view to floating countrys first 'Gross Happiness Index' in any Indian state, Madhya Pradesh has started working on it. The state will be first in India to float the index.

Though the Happiness department created earlier this year has yet to take shape, it has floated its first plan before the state cabinet as to how gross happiness index will be readied.

"A set of questionnaire to gauge the happiness among people will be ready by March next year," IS Bains, additional chief secretary of Happiness Department told BS, "the questionnaire will be used to conduct sample survey among different geographical areas of the state to ascertain the Happiness Index of the state. However, it would take time."

Separate teams will conduct surveys across the state to estimate the gross happiness among the citizens of the state. It will evaluate the state's growth on certain parameters. While another team will be responsible for propagating happiness among the people.

Anand Vibhag will work out a 'Gross Happiness Index' that would cover parameters ranging from the state's gross domestic product to spirituality, health, meditation and yoga.

Chouhan had said, his state was looking at spiritual happiness and happiness through knowledge in accordance with Indian philosophy.

The state will observe Anand Utsave during 14 January to 21st January next year. "As many as 10,000 gram panchayat will organise traditional sports and cultural activities for all groups of people," Narottam Mishra, a cabinet colleague of Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. Similarly, schools will have Anand Sabhas that would organise various special programmes to inculcate a message of living life with happiness and a similar drive will also be run at various government, non-government, semi-government organisations so that they could work with positivity.

State has also planned to create a research wing Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal. The wing will conduct studies on scientific research on happiness at national and international level.

'Anand Dal' or Happiness Teams would also be constituted to encourage common citizens to volunteer for the department so that people could get motivation and live happily. Earlier in July this year, the state government had created the department headed by state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"We have started hiring experts for the department but our most work would depend upon volunteers,' Bains further said."

The department, Chouhan said, will coordinate with other departments and craft policies to increase the level of happiness among citizens.

The department will spend Rs 3.80 crore per annum on salaries and other related expenses. The budgetary allocation to the department will be decided later.

Chouhan, who has a master's degree in philosophy, borrowed the idea of the happiness department from Bhutan, known as the happiest country in the world. The Himalayan Kingdom introduced the concept of a Gross Happiness Index in 2010.

Chouhan had announced his intention of setting up the department in March this year. "Inclusive growth is possible only when the state's happiness index is high," Chouhan had said.