Health is now at the top of the national agenda of all
nations, because of force of circumstances post-Covid-19. Governments are
forced to first ensure the health of people (to prevent spread of virus) before
allowing all other activities. Resumption of economic activity (in other words,
human activity) is now required to be ‘health-oriented’, at least in the short
run.
We already see tangible benefits of slowdown in economic
activity in the form of reduced congestion, reduced pollution of air and water
and relief from a hectic pace of life. While people are enjoying this respite,
governments are keen to put the various activities back on track. The great
opportunity provided to humanity to sit back and ponder and to learn from the
benefits of slowing down, needs to be utilized. Instead, a thoughtless attempt
to reboot economic activity to its previous state will only invite those conditions
again that pushed the world to the brink.
Resumption of activity after several weeks of lockdown has
been proceeding in a stepwise manner, though out of compulsion, providing
understanding of what is essential and what is relatively non-essential for the
society as a whole. The supply of food, water and basic health services form
the core needs of any society. Gainful employment, transport and education form
the next important needs. Entertainment and sport give fullness to life.
Such an order of things from the most essential to the least,
is ‘health-oriented’, not just in the present circumstances but in all
circumstances. These needs, when addressed in the right order, give balance to economic
activity and are in tune with human nature. When the emphasis of economic
activity is on ever-increasing material growth, the basic needs like good food,
clean air and water are sidelined and imbalance sets in. Human health and the
environment become casualties.
This simple principle of ‘health-oriented economic
activity’, if applied during the process of rebooting of the economy, can to a
large extent put the world on the path of health and happiness. For example, while
allowing resumption of the food industry, those producing the healthiest food
can be given priority. This implies agriculture and related industries are
allowed to resume, ahead of foods which are not so healthy like meat and meat
products. Giving equal importance to both under the category of food industry lacks
orientation to the basic concept of good health.
Similarly, an industry that is less polluting to the
environment needs to be prioritized over one that pollutes. An occupation that
is conducive to human happiness needs to be preferred over one that increases
the stress levels of the people. All activities that are deleterious to the simple
principles of health, need to be reconsidered and recast in a suitable manner.
There is now an opportunity to shift development, centered
on material growth (GDP), to development that is centered on health and
happiness. The concept of GNH (gross national happiness), which is successfully
practiced in the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan, shows the ideal way to move
forwards for national economies trying to recover from the ravages of Covid-19.
The first step would be to give priority to tackling the
humanitarian crisis due to displacement and loss of jobs rather than providing
stimulus to the economy by infusion of funds to the ailing industries. The
returns from investment in human capital may be delayed unlike investment for
revival of industries. But such an approach is the essence of GNH, which will
energize people to overcome the bad times and contribute their best to revive
the economy.