Anand Dept to expand its activities in MP schools

Anand Department with cooperation of METIV Centre of Israel and Reiki Foundation of America will expand its activities in the schools of Madhya Pradesh. Expansion of Anand department activities will benefit school students.

Keeping in view their sentimental needs and with an objective to built meaningful life, focus will be laid for the overall development of their personality. Ten schools are being selected on the pilot basis to conduct happiness activities. These schools will include five each from Bhopal and Jabalpur. Work to train teachers will begin from July 2 after the selection of these schools.

This was said by the Additional Chief Secretary of Anand Department Iqbal Singh Bains on the concluding day of the International Happiness Index Workshop. He informed that Madhya Pradesh government has formed the Anand department to work on the various parameters of satisfaction of the citizens. It is an effort to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness for all. Since, the Anand department has been formed first in the state, hence concrete efforts are being made to enhance happiness in the life of the people by using elemental methods.

Country Director of United Nations Development Programme, Marina Walter interacted with various people during the session. She said that Madhya Pradesh has taken a historic step by forming a department on new and relevant subject like happiness and by conducting an International workshop. This workshop is important to determine the subjects for measuring happiness and to develop new methods. UNDP always support these kinds of activities, she added.

Subject Expert Prof SS Rekhi, who is involved in conducting activities in India as well as other countries in the field of happiness, praised the efforts of Madhya Pradesh and Anand department. He said that we all should have smile on our faces to ensure an atmosphere of happiness everywhere.

Light was shed on various aspects during the parallel sessions held during the two days of the workshop. Radhika Punshi gave presentation of the parallel session held under the chairmanship of State Election Commissioner R Parshuram. Similarly, presentations of sessions held under the chairmanship of Retired IAS Officer Vishwapati Trivedi, RS Pillai and Prof SS Rekhi were given by David Jones, Prateep Nayak and Hydie Caster and Lilavati Krishnan respectively.

Deliberations on various aspects of happiness were held during the sessions. Different points and questions were prepared including necessary suggestions of all the experts. The concluding session of the workshop was conducted by the officer of the State Anand Sansthan Lokendra Thakkar.