In a novel initiative, the Madhya Pradesh Government’s Happiness Department is on course to establish a TimeBank. This ingenious model bases its principal on a reciprocal service exchange using units of time as currency. It implies that, in exchange for an hour of service, individuals earn an hour worth of currency. This earned credit is then redeemable for learning a new skill, eliminating the need for monetary investment.
Concept and Working of TimeBank
What fuels this phenomenon? The idea central to TimeBank hinges upon viewing every individual as an asset propelled by reciprocity. By paying heed to each voice, it aims at promoting labour equality and dignity. It positions itself as a refreshing perspective to link untapped social potential with unmet social needs.
Whenever a member associated with the bank requires a service or desires to acquire a skill – say, for instance, gardening or playing guitar – they can exchange a credit equivalent to one hour with another member possessing the said skill.
In the initial phase, approximately 50,000 volunteers registered with the department will form community-level banks through local networks. They will list the skills they could teach or services they could provide. This procedure plays a vital role in establishing trust as interaction occurs among known individuals. Later, an experienced volunteer will usher in new members while maintaining a record of all transactions, thereby functioning akin to a modern-day barter system.
Historical Background of Timebank
While the concept of Timebank was initially conceived in 1827, it garnered widespread popularity with the establishment of the first Time Bank in Japan in 1973. Further, the CEO of TimeBanks U.S.A played a pivotal role in popularizing the notion of Time Dollars. Today, more than 500 communities across 32 countries are home to such TimeBanks.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1827 | Idea of TimeBank conceived |
| 1973 | First TimeBank set up in Japan |
| 2016 | Madhya Pradesh establishes the Happiness Department |
TimeBank’s Impact on Social Welfare
In the recent past, a panel from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommended the “time bank” scheme as an effective solution for senior citizens living alone without family support. Thereby, acknowledging its potential as a tool for social welfare.
Madhya Pradesh took the lead in this direction by being the first state in India to create the Happiness Department in 2016. Alongside, the state government has rolled out a happiness calendar to aid its citizens in remaining happy and committed to noble causes.
