By Supriyo Chaudhuri, Trustee – Bridge India
On a rather gloomy day in Melbourne - a sad one when the city has lost its greatest cricketing son ever - I came across the latest idea of government innovation: A minister for loneliness!
Election season, so Victorian politicians are confronted with many catchy manifesto ideas. Emerging from one of the most stringent and longest lockdowns anywhere in the world, mental health is indeed at the top of the agenda here. Therefore, the ministry to tackle loneliness sounds right - and timely!
I am not a huge fan of governments looking to address social issues. A friend helpfully pointed to me to the Ministry of Silly Walks, which is indeed as innovative and perhaps as needed for our dour times. The effects of the lockdown were devastating, but a minister to solve the problem? I almost misread the proposed title as a minister OF loneliness!
To my surprise, though, it turned out not to be a new idea at all. That I did not know that the UK wa...
Already have an account?
Get to the end of the story
Subscribe today.
Cancel at any time
- More than 50 articles a week.
- Digital and print news.
- Global community.