'Unequal' happiness

India is not doing too well on the happiness quotient front. Its ranking has fallen to 118 among 157 tions on the global happiness index. It is lagging behind neighbors Bangladesh (ranking 110), Pakistan (92) and Chi (83). Even strife-torn Palestinian Territories (108) and poverty-ridden Somalia (76) are doing better, according to the World Happiness Report 2016. With the key parameters involving per capita GDP, healthy years of life expectancy, social support during troubled times, trust as measured by perceived absence of corruption in government and business, freedom to make life decisions and generosity in terms of dotions — it is hardly surprising that Scandivian countries Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway are the top four countries in the happiness list. This time around, a special weightage was reportedly given to the measurement and consequences of inequality in the feeling of well-being. Maybe this explains why India is sharing a gloomier outlook with the likes of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Venezuela and Botswa.