India should strive to achieve Gross National Happiness

Kolkata, Apr 28 (UNI) India should strive to achieve "Gross National Happiness" rather than harping only on growth of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) for overall development of the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said today.

Addressing members of Indian Chamber of Commerce at its 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) here, Mr Chatterjee said India should look for an "inclusive" growth through development of all sections of the society for attaining a place in the global arena.

"A concerted national effort by the Centre, state governments and the corporates should be taken to ensure that the billion-odd Indians participate in the production process and enjoy the fruits of development," Mr Chatterjee said.

Efforts should be taken to ensure that fruits of development reaches the masses and their quality of life improves, otherwise it would not bear results, he said.

Later, on a specific query of his name being dragged in the office of profit issue, he told newspersons that the Election Commission is doing a "clerical job" and acting on "frivolous complaints".

Mr Chatterjee's name was put on a list by the Election Commission on its website as part of 43 Members of Parliament, whose disqualification has been sought for allegedly holding an office of profit. The list also includes names of 200 MLAs.

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