Gelephu Mindfulness City

Prime Minister Modi expressed support for Bhutan’s project (Gelephu 'Mindfulness City'), calling it a significant global initiative. This mega project has the potential to redefine not just how sustainable living can be achieved, but become a global model unlike any other in the world today.

What is Gelephu Mindfulness City?

• The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is a major international co-operative project backed by India and aimed at promoting sustainable urban development.
• The Gelephu city is designed to blend technology, finance, and knowledge with mindfulness and sustainability.
• It aims to be a hub where every citizen of Bhutan participates as a shareholder and stakeholder in the project, embodying the co-operative spirit.
• The city, covering an area of 2,500 square kilometers, is designed to be a “Zero Carbon” city, promoting sustainability, mindfulness, and cooperation.
• Gelephu Mindfulness City is Bhutan’s biggest “co-operative project.”
  • India has over 8 lakh co-operatives, and India has plans to expand co-operatives to every village in India, with a focus on modernizing and making Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) tech-enabled.
• It is a Special Administratve Region (SAR).
• The Gelephu 'Mindfulness City' will have two protected areas - a national park and a wildlife sanctuary.
• It will have rivers that will have the potential to generate 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity through renewable energy. It has forests, biological corridors and is teeming with wildlife. It has its own agricultural hubs and small towns.
• Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is going to be the first of its kind special administrative region (SAR) in Bhutan based on a “two systems, one country” policy.
• This transformation aims to turn Gelephu into an economic and a strategic corridor bringing India and Bhutan closer, without disturbing Thimphu’s comfortable relationship with its other neighbour, China.
• Once built, Bhutan's 'Mindfulness City' will cover nearly 5% of the entire country's landmass and will be bigger than all of Singapore. 
• The city will be entirely based on Bhutan's Gross National Happiness philosophy which has been praised the world over
• Vision: The 'Mindfulness City' project has been envisioned by the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The idea is to build a “Silicon Valley of the East,” where technological progress aligns with nature and spirituality.

Significance for India

• The 'Gelephu mindfulness city' would "directly benefit India" in many ways since this city has been "purposely placed along the border with India in Assam."
• The town is strategically situated on the Assam border. It offers convenient access to other districts within Bhutan as well.
• It has long been a passage between Bhutan and India, serving as an important trading post and transit point for monks and traders moving between the Indian plains and Bhutanese highlands.
• Its serves as a lifeline and strategic location on the fertile plains, in contrast to the mountainous terrain that dominates much of the Himalayan kingdom.
• Bridge connecting India and Southeast Asia: The GMC is seen as a bridge connecting Bhutan to India and Southeast Asia, promoting economic growth while maintaining Bhutan’s neutrality and peaceful relations with both India and China.
• Economic development: The project is expected to boost the economy of both Bhutan and India, especially in the border region, with increasing land prices and new business opportunities.
• Strong ties: The GMC will also promote cross-border cultural ties, as the region has historically had strong familial and cultural connections between Bhutanese and Indians, especially in towns like Gelephu.