ITS SMILES NOT NGULTRUM IN BHUTAN

Bhutan is a land locked Kingdom, a small mountainous country trapped between China and India. It was until this week, ranked as the worst footballing nation in the World coming in at 209^th. Following this week's first round of World Cup Preliminary Qualifiers, Bhutan is able to raise its rank and Happiness Index!

Bhutan judges its development through Happiness (GNH) not Gross Nation Product. Road signs on precarious mountain roads tell you “Life is a journey-complete it!” rather than “Beware sharp bends”. With its borders only opened to outsiders 44 years ago, this country relies on tourism to boost its coffers, since its 800,000 population relies on agriculture mainly and enjoys archery as the national sport. Its currency is the ngultrum, one of which is worth 0.001 of a British Pound.

There is one airline allowed into the country, so travellers have to rely on Druk to get to Thimphu, the capital. Michael Palin devotes a good chapter to Bhutan in a recent BBC documentary.

So while the rest of the world is being challenged by budgets and inflation, the Bhutanese have poverty but with life expectancy higher than most countries, 100% primary children in education and a revamped infrastructure, the nation is carbon neutral, with the land in 60% forest cover guaranteed.

GNH requires spiritual, physical, social and environmetal health, all contributing to the GNH. With residents given a day off to enjoy the World Cup tie in which Bhutan beat Sri Lanka 3-1 over two legs, hearts were lifted. Chencho Gyeltshen, the nation's Ronaldo, scored both goals in the home 2-1 win yesterday.

So the statement from the Government about this victory is that “the win helps the people come together and share the moment of happiness”. More points for the GNH!

On the other hand Bhutan is threatened with its people living on only $1.25 a day, 70% of the population has no electricity, there is a gang culture developing, a rapidly growing population and economic strangulation by global food prices, so all is not Shangri-la.

However, the King does insist on one day each month being “pedestrian only”. So keep smiling Bhutan!

Other winners were:- Chinese Taipei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, India and Pakistan and Yemen was postponed for security reasons.