[Blog] Guardianship or Governance? II

Gross Happiness Index: Mauritius Charts a 25 Year Compass of Wellbeing

By Dharamraj Deenoo

Mauritius is at a turning point. As the Prime Minister calls for a 25 year vision of development, our nation must ask: how do we measure progress? For too long, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been the sole yardstick. Yet GDP alone cannot capture the dignity, culture, the happiness of our people and the non financial contribution of Mauritian householders, which must also be accounted. These invisible contributions -caregiving, community service, cultural stewardship - form the backbone of our society and deserve recognition in national planning.

It is time to embrace a new compass: the Gross National Happiness Index (GNHI). First envisioned in Bhutan, GNHI balances economic growth with human flourishing. It measures not only living standards, health, and education, but also psychological wellbeing, cultural resilience, ecological diversity, and community vitality. By doing so, it offers a holistic reflection of progress—one that values both material prosperity and the intangible bonds that hold a nation together.

A Mauritian Framework

In our context, GNHI takes on a uniquely Mauritian character. Places of worships stewardship, intergenerational rituals, and civic music reflect the cultural rainbow of our island. These practices nurture community vitality and strengthen the social fabric. Ecological resilience ties directly to our blue economy innovation, including the vision of Chagos as a solar powered island. Good governance is reinforced by workplace dignity, anti bullying campaigns, and civic guardianship. Living standards are uplifted through productivity pledges and service delivery reforms.

By embedding these elements into the GNHI framework, Mauritius can ensure that its 25 year vision is not only about infrastructure or GDP growth, but about the wellbeing of every citizen.

Integrity and Happiness: Twin Compasses

Alongside GNHI, we propose the Civil Service Integrity Award. This award will honor Ministries and Departments that achieve five measurable standards:

1. A clean audit report, demonstrating financial probity and accountability;

2. Compliance with transparency guidelines, earning a transparency certificate;

3. A zero-defect service delivery standard, ensuring citizens receive services without error, delay, or discrimination;

4. Fulfillment of a productivity pledge, committing to efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement;

5. Project implementation within budget and time, ensuring ministries deliver responsibly, respecting fiscal discipline and timelines.

Together, GNHI and the Integrity Award form twin compasses of national progress—ensuring that happiness in society is matched by integrity in service. This dual framework recognizes that wellbeing cannot flourish without trust in institutions, and that integrity in governance must translate into tangible results citizens can trust.

Resonating with the National Conversation

This proposal is not a stand alone focus. It resonates with a broader national conversation already unfolding in Mauritius. The Prime Minister’s 25 year vision has sparked debate across media and civic platforms, including the recent Au Cœur de l’Info analysis by Jane Lutchmaya, Lindsay Rivière, and Jérôme Boule. Their reflections on governance, transparency, and project discipline complement our call for happiness and integrity as twin compasses of progress. Together, these voices affirm that Mauritius must measure success not only in economic terms but in the wellbeing and trust of its people.

Learning from Global Models

This reflection also connects Mauritius to the global dialogue on happiness. The World Happiness Report 2025 once again ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world, for 8 consecutive years owing to strong social trust, equality, and balanced public services. The paradox, however, is striking: Bhutan, the very nation that first coined the concept of Gross National Happiness Index, now ranks far lower in global happiness tables. This contrast reminds us that vision alone is not enough—implementation, governance, and sustained cultural stewardship are essential if happiness is to be realized in practice. Mauritius must learn from both examples: Finland’s delivery and Bhutan’s pioneering spirit.

A Call to Action

We urge Government to integrate GNHI into the 25 year vision, with pilot surveys across ministries, schools, and workplaces, and annual reporting in Cabinet dashboards. By doing so, Mauritius will not only measure economic growth but also the wellbeing of its people. The Civil Service Integrity Award should be launched in tandem, creating incentives for ministries to uphold transparency, productivity, project discipline, and service excellence.

This is not merely a technical exercise. It is a ceremonial call to re imagine progress. It is an invitation to every Mauritian to see themselves reflected in the nation’s vision—not only as workers or consumers, but as guardians of dignity, culture, and happiness.

As we chart this new course, let us remember: “A nation is truly wealthy when its people live with dignity, sing in unity, and flourish in happiness.” Mauritius now rises with integrity in service and happiness in society -charting a 25 year vision that honors every citizen and every community.