PATNA: Bihar ’s former education minister and RJD MLC Ram Chandra Purbey on Monday demanded creation of a separate ‘ Happiness department’ in the state on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh to promote ‘happiness’ among its people.

In July 2016, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to set up a ‘Happiness Department’. Andhra Pradesh formed a similar department in April 2017.

Raising the demand through a non-government resolution in the Bihar legislative council , Purbey said it was a unique proposal hence the state government should consider his demand and create a separate department to ensure well-being of common people.

Attacking the state government for its alleged “wrong policies”, Purbey said though Bihar currently has a government of ‘double engine’ and the state government leaves no stone unturned to trumpet its development works, happiness is still missing from the lives of common people.

Referring to data related to happiness index, Purbey, a fourth-term MLC, said Bihar government had no exclusive plan to ensure happiness in the lives of poor people and strongly argued for creation of a ‘happiness department’ citing examples of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh as well as of a country like Bhutan .

Responding on behalf of the cabinet secretariat department’s minister, the state’s water resources minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, however, rejected Purbey’s demand saying, “no such proposal is under consideration of the state government.”

“You always remain in mood of happiness. And even today, you are looking very happy. So, why are you asking for a ‘happiness department’?” the minister told Purbey and urged him to withdraw his non-government resolution.

To this, Purbey said he was demanding ‘happiness department’ not for himself, but in the interest of common people of Bihar. He also refused to withdraw his resolution on the minister’s request.

Later, Purbey’s resolution was rejected by the upper house through a voice-vote.

