Bhutan News Archive

Sophistication of ancient Bhutanese canvases

2011-01-07T08:09:00.000-08:00

There is so much gold and so much detail to them -- the paintings are extraordinarily fine with deep reds and yellows and gold. In the dim lights of the temples they really do glow like jewels.

Few British experts who recently completed a survey on Bhutanese paintings through ‘Original Materials and Techniques of the Wall Paintings of Bhutan’ project were stunned by the sophistication and exclusivity of ancient Bhutanese paintings.

These specialists from the Courtauld Institute in England have been amazed by the exquisite quality and technical sophistication of paintings that were largely unknown and unrecorded in the west.

"They have a rich glow to them. There is so much gold and so much detail to them -- the paintings are extraordinarily fine with deep reds and yellows and gold. In the dim lights of the temples they really do glow like jewels," Lisa Shekede, the leader of the project, told the CNN news.

"Unless you really understand how subtle these paintings are and how they're composed it's very easy to harm them when you clean them," she said.

She also said that one of the major problems has been Westerners coming into the region and doing inappropriate treatment of the works, which causes irreversible damage.

According to the Institute, the research is fundamental for the painting's future preservation, with similar artifacts in India and Tibet having been irreversibly damaged by modern cleaning methods.

It is stated that most Bhutanese wall paintings date back to around 17th century and are some of the best surviving works in the region.

Similarly, The Observer says that the wall paintings are among the earliest in Bhutan, and are intimately associated with one of the most revered figures in Bhutanese Buddhism, the saint Pema Lingpa. The paintings can be dated precisely to his time at Tamshing, between 1501 and 1506, and they include his portrait.

In an interview with The Observer Professor David Park, one of the experts from the Courtauld Institute, said that the Bhutanese wall paintings are absolutely stunning and some of the earlier examples are extraordinary.

The Observer says that the experts were astonished by the unexpected rich, jewel-like quality of some of the paintings in such remote settings.

Mr. Rickerby, one of the experts in the team, said that Bhutan's isolationist past protected its cultural heritage from such dangers, but the opening up of the country means that such risks cannot now be ignored.

Their significance and quality deserve far wider recognition, he said.

He and a colleague will publish a report next year as a benchmark for the future study and conservation of Bhutanese paintings.

The phase I and phase II reports of the project has it that "the technology of many Bhutanese wall paintings is immensely sophisticated, including materials such as gilding, fugitive organic colorants and selective coatings".

Until now, no one had a clear idea of how many paintings existed, let alone their condition, date or significance.

According to the director of department of culture, Dorji Tshering, the project was initiated to preserve the ancient wall paintings.

He said that the experts studied what kind of material, coating and how many times they were repainted to preserve the art.

This research project on the “Original Materials and Techniques of the Wall Paintings of Bhutan” which was done in collaboration with the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London for the period of three years between 2008-2011.

The experts from the Courtauld Institute of Arts visited Lhakhangs and Dzongs of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue, Trongsa and Bumthang were permitted to do the examining, photographing and sampling of the paintings which would help the conservators for future conservation efforts.

The team visited over 200 temples in Bhutan and documented around 50 paintings in detail.

The team of experts includes Mr. David Park, the Director of the Conservation of Wall Painting Department, and the painting conservators like Mr. Stephen John Rickerby and Ms. Lisa Shekede.

The spectacular paintings seen by the British experts include paintings from dzongs, the most important of which includes the Tamshing monastery.

“Their research will help us with the future conservation treatments of the wall paintings. There are talks on extending the project but it cannot be said for sure as of now,” said Utsha Gurung from the Department of Culture.

The last phase of the project ended between November and December last year. The team will submit the final report of their findings within this year.

Enduring, the Bhutanese way

2011-01-07T08:01:00.000-08:00

Bhutan has utilized to the brim the country’s unique cultural eminence, diplomacy and economic development to formulate and extend its foreign policy to maintaining its sovereignty.

Despite being a small landlocked realm hidden among the Himalayas, Bhutan has set itself apart from the rest of the world, outshining as an independent nation with its young democracy and unique policies.
Unlike other power nations, Bhutan has less resource and manpower to maintain a strong military position-- regardless of this, Bhutan has utilized to the brim the country’s unique cultural eminence, diplomacy and economic development to formulate and extend its foreign policy to maintaining its sovereignty.
The basic political objectives of Bhutan’s foreign policy are to enhance and maintain national security, to promote world peace and security by engaging in meaningful dialogue with the international community, and to promote and contribute towards international understanding and cooperation as well as international peace and security on the basis of peaceful co-existence.
The other objectives are to develop and expand mutually beneficial bilateral, regional and multilateral economic and trade co-operation, and to contribute towards the development of a dynamic and a sustainable economy through mobilization of external resources.
Bhutan’s overall foreign policy objectives have been fulfilled by keeping Bhutan’s friends and development partners regularly informed of the developments in the country through Bhutan’s diplomatic missions and embassies.
Royal Government of Bhutan has also been exchanging visits at various levels, organizing international seminars, conferences, cultural and religious exhibitions about Bhutan, and participation in bilateral and multilateral meetings including at the summit levels.
Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been engaging with the regional and international media to promote greater awareness of the country.

Gross National Happiness
Promoting the unique philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan gain global attention and admiration, Bhutan became a synonym for happiness.
Lyonchhen first visited Japan and spoke on GNH to a packed house of Japanese corporate executives at the 23rd national seminar of the Japanese Association of Corporate Executives (JACE) at the Kochi Culture Centre where about 900 people attended the seminar.
Later he visited Denmark acknowledging its substantive support in Bhutan’s development process mainly in the areas of education, health, environment, good governance and urban development.
The PM also delivered a lecture –“GNH, A concept relevant to Danes?” which was well received by a large number of people from Denmark who expressed their interest in Lyonchhen’s dream – the GNH centre.
Lyonchhen further made a three day long visit to Switzerland starting October 18, last year. Pursuit of sustainable development and transformation as the very basis of human survival was one of the key messages Lyonchhen conveyed in his address on sustainable development to over 4,000 registered participants of the 2010 PanIIT conclave in Delhi on Oct 31.
While Lyonchhen propounded GNH around the world, two international personalities came into the country and delivered high powered talks on the development philosophy.
Giving GNH a practical chapter, the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative has been initated with the goal to raise living standards in Samdrup Jongkhar and establish food security and self-sufficiency, while fully protecting and enhancing the natural environment, strengthening communities, promoting Bhutan's unique culture, stemming the rural-urban tide, and fostering a cooperative, productive, and self-reliant spirit.
Bhutan’s multilateral relations
Bhutan was admitted as a member of the United Nations in 1971, and this has been regarded as one of the most important foreign policy initiatives taken by the Royal Government of Bhutan. This has reaffirmed Bhutan’s status as a sovereign independent country and laid the foundations for cooperation with the UN and its specialized agencies.
The UN is extremely important for Bhutan both politically and economically. Politically, as an organization based on the principle of sovereign equality of its members, it provides a forum in which Bhutan can express its views and concerns on a wide range of issues on the international agenda.
Economically, the UN and its specialized agencies are an important source of financial and technical assistance to the process of socio-economic development in Bhutan.
So far the assistance from the UN and its specialized agencies has played a vital role in the process of modernization in Bhutan since 1973. Bhutan’s Permanent Missions to the UN in New York and Geneva are the channels through which Bhutan’s foreign policy objectives vis-à-vis the UN and it subsidiary bodies and specialized agencies are implemented.
Over the years, Bhutan’s status as an active and responsible member of the UN has gained prominence through its involvement in the numerous bodies of the UN. Bhutan has also served on many important posts.

Bhutan’s bilateral relations
Since the establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970, which was upgraded to a fully fledged Ministry in 1972, since then formal diplomatic relations have been established with about 25 countries already: Afghanistan
Austria, Austraila, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and European Union.
Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968 with the appointment of a resident representative of India in Thimphu. The basic framework of India – Bhutan bilateral relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 1949 between the two countries, which was updated and signed during His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s visit to India in February 2007.
The updated India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty not only reflects the contemporary nature of our relationship but also lays the foundation for the countries’ future development in the 21st century. The Treaty provides, amongst other things, for perpetual peace and friendship, free trade and commerce, and equal justice to each other's citizens.
India’s bilateral political relations with Bhutan have matured over the years and are characterized by close trust and understanding and extensive cooperation in the field of economic development, particularly in the mutually beneficial sector of hydroelectric power.
This bilateral cooperation in the hydropower sector has been carried forward with the formal inauguration of the 60 MW Kurichhu Hydroelectric project in April 2006, and commissioning of the 170 MW first unit of 1020 TALA Hydroelectric Project in July 2006. Government of India has agreed to provide assistance to Bhutan in developing the hydropower sector and to purchase at least 10,000 MW of power from Bhutan by 2020. For the purpose ten hydropower projects have been agreed during the first Empowered Joint Group Meeting held in Delhi in 2009. Of these 10 projects, the three projects – Punatsangchhu-I Hydro Electric Project, Punatsangchhu –II and Mangedechhu HEPs – are under construction.

Embassies, Missions and Honourary Consulates
Altogether Bhutan has five Royal Bhutan Embassy located in Bangkok, Brussels, Dhaka, Kuwait and New Delhi, with two Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the UN in Geneva and New York. While eight Honourary Consulates located in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and in the United States of America.
Bhutan has Friendship Associations with Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Within Bhutan, there are ten foreign missions: Embassy of India, Embassy of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Canadian Cooperation Office, Liaison Office of Denmark, JICA/JOCV Bhutan Office, SNV Bhutan, UNICEF, United Nations House, VSA Office, WWF Bhutan Program.
Bhutan will soon have a third embassy, Kuwait embassy, based in the Thimphu.

Child Adoption Bill

2011-01-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

After the removal of the clause that caused differences in the Child Adoption Bill as pinpointed by the National Council members, the Bill was finally approved on December 2, last year.
The argument was that the section 56 (c) of the Bill states that an adopted child ceases to be the child of the biological parent and the biological parent ceases to be the parent of the adopted child which contrasted with section 58.
The section 59, on the contrary, says that the adopted child shall have the right to visit and reside in Bhutan or be granted citizenship in accordance with the relevant laws in force if the child has to return to Bhutan under unavoidable circumstances.
“Section 59 stated that a Bhutanese child adopted by foreign parents will be allowed to travel and reside in Bhutan, which is a fundamental right granted to Bhutanese citizens,” said the Council deputy chairperson, Sonam Kinga.
He said it also stated that if the child is compelled to return to Bhutan owing to various circumstances, the child will have the right to citizenship.
“Now, once a Bhutanese child has been adopted by foreign parents, the Bill states that even the biological parents of the child ceases to be his/her parents since the parent adopting the child becomes the parent,” he said, if the section is retained, it implies that a child is still a Bhutanese citizen although he/she has been adopted by foreign parents and would have assumed foreign citizenship.
He added that dual citizenship is not foreseen by our Constitution and citizenship by naturalization is also not a right but a kidu, like land or other kidu that His Majesty the King may grant in the exercise of his royal prerogatives.
“However, the deletion of this section does not imply that the child cannot return to or travel in Bhutan. Like all other visitors and travelers, the child can visit albeit as a national of a foreign country. This issue however, need not be reflected in the Adoption Bill but were rather better addressed in rules of relevant agencies such as Department of Immigration and Foreign Ministry.”
If the child is returning due to unavoidable circumstances, he/she can apply for kidu of citizenship through naturalization, he said.
Therefore, in order to avoid the country from facing unnecessary crises with regard to child adoption in future, the NC removed section 58 of the adoption Bill.
Child Adoption Bill of Bhutan has it that a Bhutanese Citizen, at least 30 years of age, can apply for adoption if the person is married, is of good moral character, is financially secure and capable of support, and care for child and is not convicted of a felony crime.
Meanwhile a single Bhutanese person can adopt a child, if the person is found suitable and agreeable to the conditions specified by the Competent Authority.
The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) will be the Competent Authority who will provide adoption services of all nature with respect to a child, and may accredit Civil Society Organization to provide adoption services.
The Bill also states that a child born to Bhutanese mother or a child that the competent authority has taken cognizance of being in difficult circumstances can be adopted.
Regarding the inter-country adoption, the Bill says that a foreign national belonging to a country with whom Bhutan has diplomatic relation can adopt a child, if the person is at least 30 years of age at the time of filing an application for adoption and is married, and should not have more than 3 children biological or otherwise.
The person should also have the capacity to act and assume all rights and responsibilities of parental authority under ones national laws.
He/she should be capable of paying adoption and other fees, should be in a position to provide proper care and support and to give necessary moral values to the child adopted, and should undertake to provide inheritance to the adopted child, and should not be convicted of a felony crime.
If the non-national person is single and found suitable and agreeable to the conditions specified by the competent authority, the person can adopt Bhutanese child.
However, in case of a Bhutanese citizen adopting a foreign child, the child should be below 18 years of age and should be a citizen of a country with whom Bhutan has diplomatic relations.
All parties to the adoption whether domestic or inter-country should be present during the court hearing, and the hearing and the reading of a court order concerning adoption of children will be made in camera.
The Bill also has it that an adoption order made by the court gives sole parental care and responsibility for a child to the adoptive parent named in the order and the child becomes the child of the adoptive parent.
It says that the adopted child has the same rights in relation to the adoptive parent, as a child born to the adoptive parent, and the adoptive parent has the same parental care and responsibility as the parent of a child born to the adoptive parent.
In case of inter country adoption, citizenship of the country to which the child is adopted will be granted only upon successful completion of all the formalities that may be required by the national law of that country.
An inter-country adoption may be considered only as an alternative means for a child, for whom a suitable adoptive parent cannot be found in the country.
It will be the State policy to safeguard and prevent the child from unnecessary separation from biological parents.
Measures necessary for the protection of child’s interest including child’s ethnic, religion, cultural and linguistic background of every adoption will be ensured, says the Bill.
A person will be charged guilty of false statement, if the person whether orally or in writing gives a false statement knowingly for the purposes of, or in connection with a proposed adoption or any other matter under this Act.
Similarly, a person will be guilty of impersonation, if the person impersonates in the adoption process.

Recent pay raise is the highest raise so far

2011-01-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

The government has declared 20 percent pay raise for the country’s civil servants from January, this year.
The increase comes almost two years after the last 35 percent pay hike in January 2009 which altogether makes up a 55 percent pay increase over the period.
The proposed raise based on the pay commission’s recommendation is expected to cost the government about Nu 627 million a year in total.
It is observed that the members of the Parliament (MPS) are the bigger beneficiaries from the revision, as their raise jumped by about 35 percent. The MPs will draw Nu 55,490 a month with the recent increase.
The pay scale of secretaries to the government and the members of the Parliament have been fixed at par with the drangpons of High Court.
As the cabinet secretary is considered the highest ranking secretary, a separate scale is proposed for the post, at Nu 63,000 without any allowances while the current pay is Nu 45,860.
The pay scales of the deputy speaker of the National Assembly and the deputy chairperson of National Council will rise from Nu 42,000 to Nu 63,000.
The pay commission had recommended Nu 1,80,000 for Prime Minister and Nu 1,30,000 for ministers which was declined.
Therefore, the pay scale for the Prime Minister, Speaker of the NA, Chairperson of the National Council, Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leader and the Chief Justice of Bhutan remains unchanged.

During the session, works and human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said that although civil servants deserved more, that was all the government could arrive at with the country’s current financial constraints.
He also said that it was essential to raise pays since most civil servants are leaving for better offers abroad and for few private and corporate firms within the country.
He also talked about the potential people, who were interested to partake in politics, when the process began but were discouraged for lack of attractive incentives.
He said that it could repeat in future elections, also adding that the ministers today were all united under one oath of sending the roots of democracy deep and caring for the welfare of its people.
Similarly, the economic affairs minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk clarified such salary structure be proposed in 2013, so more people would participate in politics and take up ministerial posts as well.
According to the finance minister, Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu, the substantial rises in the cost of living in recent years and the hardships faced by the civil servants have made the government to revise their salaries.
He also added that the Pay Commission had completed its work and submitted its report to the government in August 2008, but the global financial crisis beginning and the impact of the crisis on the Bhutanese economy looming large, the government could not carry out the recommendations fully.
Accordingly, the pay was increased by an across-the-board 35% for the civil service with certain allowances for certain categories of employees, he said.
Presenting a case for an across the board salary raise by 20%, the finance minister informed the NA that Bhutan’s economy grew 6.7% in the financial year 2009-2010 and 6.2% in 2008-2009.
The growth forecast for 2010-11 and beyond was higher with the coming up of several hydro-power projects.
The finance minister added that the fiscal year 2008-2009 closed with a surplus equivalent to 1.8% of the GDP which is expected to be higher at 2.5% in 2009-2010.
A deficit of 6.28% of the GDP was estimated for the current financial year but the situation is expected to improve, he said, adding that the ratio of debt to GDP was 59.6% in 2008-2009 and 55% in 2009-2010.

Pilgrimage ends in tragedy

2010-12-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

Source: www.kuenselonline.com

Air disaster 17 December, 2010 - Low visibility and bad weather may have caused the aircraft that was carrying 22 passengers to crash, preliminary investigation reports and civil aviation officials in Nepal said.

The crash killed all 22 on board, including 18 Bhutanese, on Wednesday.

The Canadian-built Twin Otter aircraft, which belonged to domestic air service operator, Tara Air, went missing 13 minutes after take off. It was to be a 32-minute flight to Katmandu.

Tara Air chief executive officer Vijay Shrestha in an telephonic interview said the initial reports they received stated bad weather conditions.

“It showed poor visibility at different levels of the atmosphere,” he said. “Thick haze at lower levels and as thick a cloud higher up could have caused poor visibility.” An internal investigation team within the Tara Air, however, feels the tip of aircraft’s left wing could have hit the mountain and caused the crash.

“We’ll be able to give accurate information only after the investigations,” Vijay Shrestra said. “That usually takes about two months.”

Nepal civil aviation director general Ram Prasad Neopani said they had not ruled out weather conditions yet, although investigations had not confirmed it.

“It’s suspected that haze developed around the hillsides as soon as it was airborne, and that could have caused the aircraft to hit the hilltop area,” he said. “The hilltop area where bodies were found is at about 9,000 feet.”

The investigation team also found the cockpit voice recorder during recovery operations.

“By 2 pm, all the deceased were helicopter-lifted to Katmandu,” he said.

During a press conference last morning, Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley said around seven bodies were found in a cluster and the rest scattered at the crash site.

“Its very painful and so sudden,” the prime minister said. “I tried talking to some bereaved family members; they are just inconsolable,” the prime minster said, adding that the nation is shocked and saddened by the news.

Lyonchhoen had been in touch with the Nepalese prime minister ever since the report of the crash came in on Wednesday.

“However, after about two hours of attempt to locate and find the crash site, it grew dark,” he said. “The weather was extremely hostile, making search after nightfall difficult.”

Search and rescue operations by the police, military, local people and three helicopters began at dawn yesterday morning.

“They located the site around 6:20 am,” he said. “There were no survivors.”

The Nepalese government, Lyonchhoen said, was very responsive.

“They’re equally saddened and concerned as the government and the people of Bhutan,” he said. “It was a response representing the feelings of solidarity in a moment like this.”

Bhutanese officials, who are in Nepal, are identifying the 18 passengers. They had all used local Nepalese names to avail of the discounts on ticket usually accorded to locals. They were travelling to the Daphu Martika pilgrim site.

Meanwhile, civil aviation deputy chief of airworthiness Sangay Tenzin will leave for Nepal to find out the preliminary cause of the crash.

“It’s too premature to comment on what could have caused the crash,” civil aviation director Phala Dorji said.

Druk Air will leave for Katmandu tomorrow at 7 am to bring home the bodies and will reach Paro at 10 am.

Although investigations have just begun, Vijay Shrestra said they followed international civil aviation standards, even when flying is subject to weather conditions.

He denied any technical problem with the aircraft.

“We operate in challenging conditions, where weather in the mountains changes very fast; but we rule out any technical problem with the aircraft,” he said. “The aircraft is fully airworthy.”

Twin Otters, although sturdy, are not pressurised aircrafts, which means they fly within 8,000-10,000 feet and not beyond.

“They’re the most proven aircraft to be used in such terrain for the last four decades in Nepal, and there’s no substitute for this aircraft,” he said.

Tara Air has been operating domestic services for two years.

Enhancing Bhutan’s economic voyage

2010-11-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

Bhutan to benefit from Bangladesh seaports

With the agreement to avail Mongla and Chittagong sea ports facilities, Bhutan will have more alternatives for economic benefits, says Dr. Mashiur Rahman, the advisor for economic affairs to the prime minister of Bangladesh.
To held bilateral talks about Bhutan’s access to these ports, Dr. Rahman, leading seven member delegation visited Thimphu for a three day visit on November 23.
“Bhutan will be economically benefited since Bhutan will have access to three ports now, and with these alternatives Bhutan will be able to minimize its economic cost on shipping,” he said during a press conference.
He also said that if both the countries work together for economic benefit this will also strengthen the political bonds between the two countries, adding that the occasion to meet frequently for the two governments will be another benefit.
After the consultation with the India government, he said, India also agreed that if there is a co-operation between Bhutan and Bangladesh, India can also facilitate the utilization of that co-operation which is a win-win situation for the three countries.
Since Bhutan is a landlocked country it has a right to access to the sea across the borders that separates it from the sea, and thus, Bhutan will enjoy exemption from certain charges, he said.
Talking about the charges for using the port facilities, he said that they will follow the World Trade Organization (WTO) Principle which discourages any heavy charges for the countries that are landlocked and without any access to the sea.
He also said that this system allows collection of fees to cover the expenditure incurred and ensures that the fees are not collected to increase revenue of the countries availing the ports.
Therefore, Bhutan will be charged for only certain services, making sure that the Bangladesh government does not use it as revenue harness, he said, adding that all legally traded items will be allowed.
Though Bhutan and Bangladesh has a transit agreement signed back in 1980 along with the trade agreement, the agreement has not been operated somehow because of the limited volume of exports and imports and also because of the need to sort through the logistical aspects.
Therefore, there are no changes made to the basic protocol of the agreement.
The economic affairs minister, lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, said, “People to people interaction, economic co-operation and integration will ultimately contribute to the sustainability and enhancement of the relationship between the two countries.”
Bhutan is considering the possibility of exporting more power energy to Bangladesh in future, he said, adding that Bhutan will also continue to protect the catchment areas and make sure no undue major floods take place downstream in India and Bangladesh.
He also said that Bhutan will be developing tourism through joint collaboration, where tourist can visit the beaches and mango forest in Bangladesh and the Himalayan beauty of Bhutan.
For capacity building the Bhutan government has requested the Bangladesh government to increase seats for admission of students for higher education in medical, engineer and other science colleges in Bangladesh.
Similarly, to strengthen the capacity of vocational training institute, the possibilities of having exchange programs for instructors in vocational training institute level and hiring professionals to Bhutan to meet the shortages on vocational front was also discussed among the two countries.
According to the chief trade officer from the department of trade, Karma Wangchuk, with access to these ports Bhutan will be benefited greatly in terms of trade with the neighboring countries and others.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh government will be investing US $ 700 million in the project to upgrade the port technology which is expected to complete by 2013.
Chittagong and Mongla ports have the capacity to hold 7.5 and 1.93 million tons respectively. Chittagong port is the major seaport of Bangladesh which handles about 92% of import and export trade of the country.

Vanishing songs of yore

2010-11-25T20:27:00.000-08:00

Are Bhutanese traditional songs becoming a dying art?

With western music and modern Bhutanese songs dominating every radio stations and television channels today, the survival of traditional Bhutanese music has become uncertain.
Thus, the biggest concern among the master musicians of Bhutan is that the traditional Bhutanese songs are losing its ground to the modern Bhutanese songs which are but the replica of foreign songs.
“Most of today’s generation doesn’t even know the existence of Bhutanese traditional music, and sadly some of our greatest arts have died with their artistes,” said Kheng Sonam Dorji, the director of the music of Bhutan research center (MBRC) in Thimphu.
He said that the basic reasons for unpopularity of traditional Bhutanese music is that most traditional Bhutanese songs are written in choekey (Sanskrit), thus making it difficult for the common folks to understand and appreciate the aesthetic beauty of traditional songs.
He added that most lyrics for traditional songs were written by high scholars, humming tributes for leaders and the country and they involved deep spiritual significance.
He also said that music is innovative and one cannot impose any rules on the types of music being composed but a musician or a composer fails ethically if his songs are a replica of others’ songs and not original.
One of the renowned musicians, Ap Tsheten Dorji, said that the difference between a modern Bhutanese song and a classic Bhutanese song is that the former is totally focused on direct language and love songs, while the latter is has a deep spiritual meaning in it.
Music genre like Drukdra, Zhungdra, Yuedra and Boedra are the original Bhutanese traditional music.
While Boedra was inspired by Tibetan music, Zhungdra and Drukdra or Yudra, has its origin in the heart of Bhutan.
The difference between Boedra and other Bhutanese traditional songs is that Boedra has a faster tempo and is more rhythmic whereas the other traditional songs has a slowed-down pace and longer note, resulting in a smoother melodic line.
Most traditional songs were composed by Bhutanese composers (mainly lyricists) and singers, who were also highly accomplished Buddhist masters.
Most of the musicians interviewed agreed that the traditional songs are more significant since they praise our great leaders, enlighten and spread Buddhist teachings; while the modern songs are more like a conversation.
According to Am Thinlem, one of the traditional singers, most modern songs are vague and disheartening since they are all about love and desire.
She said that the traditional songs need to be promoted to ensure that the original songs don’t not get lost with the phase of time.
However, according to Dechen Pem, one of the modern singers, only few modern Bhutanese songs are copied from Bollywood.
She said that though most modern Bhutanese music are digitalized and use foreign musical instruments yet most song tunes and lyrics are original.
Jigme Drukpa, a musicologist, said that like all traditions, Bhutanese music must evolve with time, adding that Bhutan is at advantage compared to many other economically developing countries because most of them have lost their traditional music.
Some could work to promote traditional music, while others could help evolve and develop a new musical identity for Bhutan, apart from the popular film music and songs, he said.
Recognizing the need to document, preserve and promote the traditional music of Bhutan, the music of Bhutan research center (MBRC) was founded in 2008 by musician Kheng Sonam Dorji.
The MBCR aims to break new ground by researching, recording and archiving the many musical traditions of Bhutan’s diverse regional, linguistic and ethical groups, and by documenting the finest living master musicians in performance and interviews.
The latest publication by MBCR is ‘Masters of Bhutanese Traditional Music volume one’ with an audio CD attached to the last page of the book. The CD contains the songs from the ten masters of Bhutanese traditional songs.
The ten masters are Ap Dawpey, Am Tshewang Lham from Paro, Ap Gankar Wangdi, Ap Tsheten Dorji, Am Thinlem, Am Sedy, Am Tshewang Lham of Trongsa, Am Lhachem, Ap Dengo and Am Nimchu Pem.

Brighter bottling future

2010-11-25T20:23:00.001-08:00

India’s leading PepsiCo's bottler in Delhi, RJ Corp, will acquire the global beverage major's bottling operations in Bhutan as a part of its USD 100-million expansion plan.
The company is expecting to acquire Pepsico's bottling operations in Bhutan by next year, said the R J Corp Chairman, Mr Ravi Jaipuria.
He said that the company is currently holding talks with several private equity investors to fund the plan, adding that in a couple of months the name of the investor will be finalized.
However, the company would need USD 100 million investments to fund acquisitions and expansion in India and overseas, says the updates from The Economic Times of India.

It also has it that the Blackstone is one of the private equity firms which might be investing in the company, however, Mr. Jaipuria, declined to comment on the same.
According to The Hindustan Times, the company is expanding in Africa and setting up Greenfield bottling plants in Mozambique this year, followed by Zimbabwe next year.
It also says that the RJ Corp already has dairy businesses in Uganda and Kenya for products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and butter.

Earlier this year, RJ Corp had bought franchisee bottling rights of PepsiCo from Ole Springs Bottlers in Sri Lanka. RJ Corp is the cola maker's top franchisee bottler in India and also owns the franchisee rights in Nepal and Africa. RJ Corp already has dairy businesses in Uganda and Kenya for products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and butter.

RJ Corp's group company Devyani International also holds franchisee rights for KFC and Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee restaurants in India.

The woos and woes of tax revision

2010-11-25T20:22:00.001-08:00

While the government woes the recent taxation verdict justification passed by the High Court, on the other hand, most citizens are rejoicing the outcome.
Most people interviewed said that the court verdict doesnot handicap the government as much as the tax revision has handicapped the common people.
“There is no way that the government will be handicapped in any ways though few policies might be affected, since till now our government has mostly dependent of foreign aids and funds for most of the developmental activities or policies,” said Sangay Dorji, a civil servant.
Earlier the acting Prime Minister Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba has told a local newspaper that if certain clauses in the verdict are not resolved, the government would not be able to function and so the government would have no business governing.
He also said that if the budget is also treated as a money bill then there is no point in having a separate government as then you can’t hold the government accountable and responsible to ensure sustainable development in the country, and the government is handicapped.
A shopkeeper, Namkha Dorji, said that the justification is fair because the revision came out suddenly and no one ready for it.
“It is about justice triumphing at the end,” he said, adding that nobody is against the indirect tax but the procedure was wrong.
A fresh graduate, Karma Wangchuk, said that the amount has to be refunded since most car purchasers are fresh graduates with limited savings.
He said that government has failed to consider the fact that for most middle class buyers, owning a car is necessity and taxing them with extra charges has definitely bankrupt their pockets; while for the rich lot, paying few extra bucks will not affect them much.
Durga Batcharya, a car dealer, said that they already sold 140 Ford vehicles though the car prices had gone up along with the sales tax, adding that the tax revision has not affected their business at all.
A private firm owner said that the court verdict was satisfactory though the justification was not strong enough and though there were some loopholes in Law.
An officer from the gross national happiness commission (GNHC) said that it is hard to say if the verdict justification was justified but the best part was releasing that democracy is actually being practiced and it also sets a good example that things cannot be taken for granted.
He added that as an educated lot, he is certain that the government has a good intention behind the tax revision.
According to an editor of a newspaper, it is a victory for democracy and a signal that institutions for horizontal accountability; especially the Judiciary is in place.
“The question is not about who won, but setting precedence. Moreover the verdict will now keep all legislators at their toes; people will be careful before taking a decision. If the government is really serious about setting precedence, it should uphold the High Court’s verdict rather than taking it to the Supreme Court,” he said.
“At present there is not much difference between the capacities of the two courts. It takes more guts to accept one’s mistakes and the PM definitely has the wisdom to realize this.”
If the government does not appeal to the supreme court, challenging the high court verdict, the government will have to reimburse not less than an estimated Nu 20 million in refunds.
The controversial revision came into effect on June 17 and stood until yesterday. Within that time Bhutan had imported 2,204 light vehicles. Records with the road safety and transport authority show that 625 Maruti brand vehicles were imported until now.

Back home after a whirlwind global success

2010-11-12T04:37:00.001-08:00

Coinciding with the 55th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and the second anniversary of the Constitution, the acclaimed Dragon’s Gift exhibition finally comes home

Festooned with sixty five multicolored thangkas and forty six historic statues and other religious objects, the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) opened the ‘Dragon’s Gift’ exhibition for the residents of Thimphu on November 11.
The exhibition will be held for three weeks in Thimphu, continuing its journey farther on to Trongsa, finally concluding in Trashigang. After that the scared relics that have enthralled people from the United States to Europe will be returned to their respective lhakhangs after what has been a whirlwind journey that has brought the country a lot of praise and appreciation.

“The exhibition offers a special opportunity for every visitor to view, admire and be blessed by so many sacred objects of antiquity within a single venue which is normally not possible,” said Tshewang Gyalpo, the Chief Cultural Property Officer and also the Coordinator of The Dragon’s Gift.
He said a lot of local visitors have been attending the event unfailingly and that the exhibition has had a lot of vocal admirers and received congratulations.
According to the Coordinator, during the five exhibitions abroad, Hawaii received 67,000 visitors, New York saw 26,000, San Francisco an overwhelming 73,000, Parisians numbered 56,000 and 46,000 Germans turned out on the exhibition’s journey back home.
Altogether 111 visually dynamic and appropriate works of art which included 65 thangkas, 39 images and seven ritual objects from 34 lhakhangs across Bhutan were identified and displayed for the exhibition.
However, 66 thangkas and 77 art objects were conserved specifically for the exhibition, after five conservative workshops were held in the country. Today there are a total of nine thangka and eight art-object conservators who are trained to keep the valuable artworks well preserved.
During the exhibitions abroad the condition of each item had been carefully studied and documented, and high quality packing materials were brought in all the way from the United States. An insurance coverage for the full value of the objects in the exhibition was also met before the objects left Bhutan with an insurance company in the United States.
Similarly, selected monks from the Central Monastic Body constantly accompanied the sacred art objects performing all the necessary daily rituals (Soelkha and Thriser).
Bhutanese curators well-versed in identifying sacred art objects were present at all exhibition venues for timely verification during the packing, unpacking, installation and de-installation of the exhibition objects.
The Dragon’s Gift exhibition was initiated by the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii, and the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs to mark the Centenary Celebration of the Monarchy abroad. Accordingly the project agreement for the Bhutan Exhibition in the USA was signed on April 5, 2005.
The basic objectives of the exhibition were to showcase the richness of Bhutan’s rich culture and spiritual heritage to the western world and to enable the western audience not only to be blessed by the sacred objects but also to enable them to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the values and traditions that have inspired and steered the people of Bhutan.
The essence of the exhibition was also to share and to showcase the country’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, to the western world.
The opening ceremony of the ‘Dragon’s Gift’ exhibition started from Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii on February 23, 2008, and continued to New York Rubin Museum on September 18, 2008, and then on to the San Francisco Asian Art Museum on January 13, 2009, with a continental hop to Europe at the Museum Guimet in Paris on September 21, 2009, culminating in the Cologne Museum in Germany on February 19, 2010.
The exhibition has come home and will conclude in Trashigang.

Bhutan to use Bangladesh Seaports

2010-11-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

Dr. Mashiur Rahman, the advisor for economic affairs to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, will visit Bhutan on November 22 to discuss the aspects of Bhutan using Mongla and Chittagong seaport of Bangladesh in near future.
Dr. Rahman will also discuss about transit and water and power sharing issues during his visit to Bhutan, and leave the country on November 25.
According to nepalnews.com, the Bangladeshi government will finalize its strategies by this month on how to provide Bhutan and Nepal with transit and port facilities.
Financial Express report has it that the strategies will also outline methodologies for closer cooperation in the areas of power and water with the two sub-regional countries.

It also states that in a recent inter-ministerial meeting held at the Bangladesh prime minister’s office decided to quicken the process of sub-regional cooperation in the areas of transit, transshipment, ports, water and power. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Rahman.

To implement the decisions taken at the meeting, recently the Bangladesh prime minister’s office directed different ministries and agencies of the government to carry out their tasks, specified in the directives, by this month and to strike a number of deals with Nepal and Bhutan within the shortest possible time.

According to the directives, the communication ministry has been asked to prepare the latest updates on transit agreements with Nepal and Bhutan on both road and waterways.

Nepalnews.com also says that the ministry will outline every aspect of existing capacities of ports and possible pressure due to exporting and importing activities of goods to and from the countries concerned.
It further mentioned that the directives of Bangladesh prime minister’s office had asked the shipping ministry to formulate modalities on using Chittagong and Mongla ports by Bhutan and Nepal.

Poverty index could be flawed

2010-11-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Experts question if Bhutan is using the right methods to measure poverty index

While Bhutan’s poverty analysis reports show that the poverty rate in Bhutan has decreased from 31.7 percent to 23.2 percent between 2004 to 2007, there is a general concern among the experts if Bhutan has been adopting the right methods and indicators.
Experts questioned if the researchers are capturing the right dimensions of poverty, and if depending on secondary data for mapping poverty are reliable.
According to Tashi Dorjee, a demographer from National Statistics Bureau (NSB), the NSB has been using the methods adopted by the World Bank so far, calculating the cost of basic needs like consumption in a household, framing comprehensive questions on consumption expenditure.
The basic concern is, he said, “It is difficult to frame poverty index based on income since the people from the rural community do not give honest answers when it comes to income, that’s why we have to use consumption as a proxy for income.”
However, Claire Van der Vaeren, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), told Bhutan TODAY that consumption is a good proxy indicator for income but it doesn’t tell the whole story about the reality or what makes people poor in Bhutan today.
She added that there is a great need for Bhutan to invest in doing its own primary date collection and looking at the survey methodology to come up with more specific and more precise measurement of poverty across the country.
According to Dasho Karma Ura, the surveyors measure poverty on the basis of consumption in Bhutan, whereas, the fact that there might exist disparity in consumption even within a family is over looked.
Similarly, an economist from Royal Thimphu College, Sanjeev Mehta, said that the biggest flaw in Bhutan’s poverty measurement methods is the way how the food kilo-calorie index is read out which is borrowed from Nepal, and is not realistic or applicable to Bhutan.
He also added that the researchers should differentiate between the urban and rural consumptions since their daily required calories differ depending on their physical activities.
This means the surveyors are underestimating the rural poverty, he said, which will definitely be much higher.
The national poverty line, which the NSB determined is Nu 1096.94 a person a month, of which Nu 867 is for food and the balance considered as non-food expenditure. Food poverty concerns not only the sufficiency in quantity but also the nutritional intake of food.
Poverty reduction has been articulated as the main objective and the theme of the 10 FYP to be realized through synergizing integrated rural urban development, investing in human capital and enhancing enabling environment, among other strategies.
The government aims to bring down the number of people living under the poverty line to 15 percent by the end of the 10th FYP.
Recently the NSB produced a poverty mapping tool for sub-district level to help identify pockets of poverty, as well as more affluent areas, as the gewog level using a small area estimate method. According to this method, Zhemgang and Samtse have the highest poverty concentration in Bhutan.

Bhutan’s prompt progress

2010-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Bhutan is making prompt progress in income, life expectancy and years of schooling, reviews say

Bhutan’s income, health and expected years of schooling indicators show that Bhutan has made a progress on all three indicators, says the latest findings from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bhutan.
While Bhutan’s Bhutan’s gross national income (GNI) per capita increased by nearly 450 percent, life expectancy at birth increased by nearly 20 years and expected years of schooling increased by eight years between 1980 and 2010.
Compared with the regional aggregate for South Asia, Bhutan’s life expectancy at birth and expected years of schooling are higher. Income, measured by GNI per capita is also higher than the average for South Asia.
Bhutan’s life expectancy at birth has risen from 46.3 to 66.8 years from 1980 till this year. While the expected years of schooling was 3.6 in 1980, today it has risen to 11.3 (years).
Similarly, Bhutan’s GNI per capita was 1,005 in 1985, today it has risen to 5,607 per purchasing power (US$).
According to a recent comparison between Bhutan, Iran and South Asia made by the UNDP Bhutan, while Bhutan’s latest life expectancy at birth is 66.8, Iran’s is 71.9, and South Asia’s is at 65.1.
Similarly, Bhutan’s expected years of schooling is 11.3, while Iran’s is 14 and South Asia’s is 10.
Altogether, Bhutan’s GNI per capita (per purchasing power US$) is 5,607, while Iran’s GNI is 11,764 and South Asia’s GNI is 3,414.
Iran stands at 70th rank as per the latest Human Development Index (HDI 2010) which was released recently by the UNDP. The HDI 2010 is based on the three new indices: Inequality-adjusted human development index, gender inequality index and multidimensional poverty index.
The HDI 2010 were calculated for 169 countries, however, Bhutan along with few other countries could not be included since some data were missing.
Bhutan has data on three of the four indicators making up the HDI but lacks mean date on mean years of schooling from the report’s primary source.
According to the UNDP Bhutan programme analyst, Fumie Arimizu, this year Bhutan has been excluded from the HDI report because of the lack of data for calculating the new indices, the inequality-adjusted HDI, Gender Inequality Index and Multidimensional Poverty Index has made it difficult to calculate the HDI for Bhutan.
However, she added that Bhutan’s HDI will be completed probably by next year in the next Human Development Report.

UNDP Bhutan launched the ‘Global Human Development Report 2010: The Real Wealth of Nations, Pathways to Human Development’ (HDI 2010) at a seminar on ‘Poverty Measurement in Bhutan’ at Tashi Taj on 9 November.

Most Bhutanese women die of childbirth

2010-11-06T03:13:00.000-07:00

Bhutanese women are increasingly dying as a result of a preventable cause like childbirth.
For every hundred thousand live births there are 255 maternal deaths, all of which are preventable, states ‘A situation analysis of children and women in Bhutan’ 2006 report by UNICEF.
“The best solution would be for all mothers to give birth in basic health units (BHUs) or in a hospital – linked to emergency obstetric care centres,” says the report.
However, at present about 80% of deliveries happen at home.
According to the report, moving to institutional delivery will mean spelling out to families the risks associated with childbirth, explaining the medical interventions that can save mothers, and encouraging them to come to the facility early.
“At the same time, the government will also need to ensure that the BHUs and hospitals are indeed fully prepared to receive women- and can offer them a safe, warm and comfortable environment,” it says.
Improving ante-natal care will also be important to improve the health of the mothers and the unborn children and also to familiarize the mothers with the available services so that they are more likely to give birth at the BHUs or a hospital, says the report.
According to the maternal mortality, casual analysis by UNICEF, the immediate causes high maternal mortality ratio in Bhutan are birth complications like haemorrhage, eclampsia, obstructed labour, and unsafe abortion, and also non-institutional or home delivery.
The underlying causes are maternal anaemia, limited access to adequate emergency obstetric care and also inadequate capacity and unattractive facilities.
The root causes, however, are low literacy among most women and lack of knowledge about health facilities, and also the cultural and religious beliefs that prevents most women from visiting hospitals.
The other root causes are poor antenatal clinic in Bhutan, and also lack of funds in health ministry.
Currently about 50% of health workers are women, but the proportion still needs to be higher especially for improving standards of maternal health, says the report.
According to the Annual Health Bulletin of Bhutan 2007, there were eight maternal deaths reported in 2006. All maternal death reviews since 2001 found that postpartum haemorrhage was the leading cause of registere maternal deaths, constituting 53% of the 29 deaths reviewed between 2004 and 2005.
It was also found that 41% of these deaths occurred at home; 50 % of the deliveries were not attended by the health workers; 72% of the women were younger than 30; and 38% did not have adequate antenatal care clinic (ANC) attendance.
In 2005, about 70% of pregnant women visited ANC clinics four or five times during pregnancy, which indicates the high service use by pregnant women, and as a result, zero maternal or neonatal tetanus status was recorded between 2002 and 2005. In 2006, only one neonatal tetanus was reported.
Despite the high ANC attendance rate, 45% of pregnant of women in Bhutan still deliver at home, without trained health professional.
However, it is noted that between 2000 to 2005 the institutional delivery rate has doubled from 19.8% to 42%. Deliveries attended by a trained health professional (home and institutional) has also increased to 55% in 2005.

Number of black-necked cranes visiting Bhutan on rise

2010-11-06T02:54:00.000-07:00

While the black-necked cranes, locally known as Thrung Thrung Karmo, are believed to symbolize blessing and prosperity, the number of cranes visiting Bhutan has been increasing simultaneously as the country prospers.

From two hundred eighty five cranes visiting Bhutan in 1990, the number has doubled to four hundred sixty two lately.

“We have always considered them auspicious and accordingly treated them with much love and respect, and perhaps, that is why the number of cranes visiting Bhutan had always been increasing,” said Ap Yangka, a resident of Phobjikha, Wangdue.

From 111 cranes in 1990, Phobjikha valley has seen the largest number of crane visiting Bhutan, which is, 326 cranes lately.

Out of the gewogs in Bhutan, Khotokha, Bumdeling, Phobjikha and Bumthang, about 80% of cranes are from Phobjikha valley.

According to the latest RSPN report on blacknecked crane population trend in Bhutan, out of 462 cranes visited Bhutan last year, 326 cranes were from Phobjikha, 123 from Bumdeling, nine cranes from Khotokha, and about four from Bumthang.

Phobjikha has seen 353 cranes, the highest number so far, between 2005-2006. Bumdeling has seen about 203 cranes between 1993-1994. However, Bhutan has altogether seen 517 cranes in 2004-2005, the highest number recorded so far.

The black-necked cranes arrive in Bhutan towards the last week of October during their breeding season, which also signals the end of harvesting season in Phobjikha valley and the time for the local farmers to move towards lower altitude where it is warmer.

The cranes fly back towards the end of March when the valley becomes warmer. Sometimes, some cranes are left behind.

Referring to a crane that was left behind this year, the RSPN conservation and development coordinator, Rinchen Wangmo, said that the cranes get left behind mainly because they are either injured or too weak to make the long journey back to their summer breeding habitat.

She added that the cranes that get stranded behind are most often juveniles, like the one that got left behind this year.

Similarly, the two adult cranes that got left behind last year had suffered from wounded wing.

The major threats faced by the cranes are the modern development that endangers their habitats. Many developmental activities were held in Phobjikha to conserve the black-necked cranes there.

Even the recent electrification was done with the underground wiring so that it did not disturb the black-necked cranes and their habitats.

With Phobjikha valley becoming accessible by roads, increasing number of tourists are visiting Bhutan, which has becoming a concern for the RSPN, as it might intensify disturbance to the cranes and its habitats, threatening the survival of the cranes in long run.

Therefore, the RSPN has been working with the relevant stakeholders like the Forest and Park Services department and dzongkhag administration to strengthen the conservation regulations in the area.

A management plan for Phobjikha has also been developed to guide long term management of the area focusing on conservation of Black-necked Crane habitat and general biodiversity of the area and promoting sustainable livelihood in the area.

The annual maintenance of the crane roosting area is done before the arrival of the cranes, said a spokesperson from the RSPN, adding that every year the ponds are cleaned, depth of ponds maintained and new ponds are also created to create a safe roosting ground for the cranes.

The local communities including school and non-formal education centers are also regularly educated on the importance of conserving cranes and its habitat. One of such efforts is the annual Black-necked Crane festival held every year in Phobjikha during November.

Globally the black-necked cranes are recorded as ‘vulnerable’ since they are limited in number and with small distribution range. The global population of cranes is estimated to be 11,000 of which about 500 of them winter in Bhutan every year.

Linking women and development

2010-11-02T23:27:00.001-07:00

Where there is less female labor participation, there is more poverty

Women’s engagement in economic activities can bring more income and other resources to households and elevate their living standard, says the latest report, ‘Small area estimation of poverty in rural Bhutan’ released recently.

While comparing the poverty and female labor force participation in rural areas graphs, it is observed that wherever there is less female labor participation, there is more degree of poverty in the region.

In dzongkhags like Zhemgang, Lhuntse and Samdrup Jongkhar where there are extreme poverty, there are less female labor participations.

Similarly, in the dzongkhags like Punakha and Wangdue where women labor participation is high, there is less poverty.

Since there is no clear spatial pattern between rural poverty and female labor force participation, Bhutan has not yet examined the benefits of women labor participation in economic activities.

However, the United Nations’ report, ‘Investing in rural women contributes to food security’ published on October 15, states that women in agriculture play a vital role as agents of food security and rural economic growth, but often endure poor working conditions and receive limited recognition for their contributions.

It also states that rural women form the backbone of the agricultural labor force across much of the developing world.

It is said that providing women with better opportunities to grow their own crops for sale, undertake paid work in an agro-industry, or take on other economic activities in the rural sector is critical to increasing their bargaining power within their homes, and can legitimize their control over key material resources, such as land and credit.

“This is important because it elevates their status within families and communities, but also because women are more likely than men to invest their income on food and other basic needs for the household,” it says.

The report also has it that women generally work as subsistence farmers, small-scale entrepreneurs, unpaid workers on family farms or casual wage laborers – but they may take on all or a number of these activities at different times.

Since in many developing countries women carry out a range of vital household and caring tasks, their overall working hours tend to be longer than men’s, it says.

Generally more than a third of the female workforce is engaged in agriculture, while in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, more than 60 per cent of all female employment is in this sector.

To afford food and other basic expenses, men and women in rural areas often diversify their income by combining multiple forms of employment, it states.

According to the principal advisor in the Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Eve Crowley, “Recognizing women’s contribution and taking into account their needs at all levels – in countries, in institutions and in policy – is therefore essential to increasing their productive capacities and to unleashing the greater contribution they can provide.”

Bhutan pressing on with press freedom

2010-11-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

Bhutan’s press freedom index continues to climb since past four years, says the latest world index

Bhutan ranks 64^th out of 178 countries in the latest ‘World Press Freedom Index’ report released by the Reporters Without Borders on October 20.

Bhutan’s position is up from 70th position in 2009, 74th in 2008, and 116th in 2007.

The report has it that much of this improvement in press freedom can be attributed to the continued growth in media in Bhutan.

“The population of 675,000 today has a choice of seven newspapers, six radio stations, and an increasing number of magazines,” it says.

It stresses that in the ‘Meet the Press’ meetings, the cabinet ministers answer all the queries from the local media.

“While there is a commitment at the highest levels of leadership to provide media with the information they need, media professionals continue to find it hard to get access to information from bureaucrats and public officials,” it states.

However, the Right to Information Act, although drafted, has not been put through parliament for discussion and endorsement.

Bhutan’s increasing press freedom is also confirmed by the US based Freedom House, that has moved Bhutan’s ranking from the “not free” category to “Partly free “ category in 2010.

According to the Freedom House, which is a watchdog organization monitoring freedom of the press and freedom around the world, Bhutan’s score moved from 61 to 57, where the lowest scores reflect more positive pictures.

Freedom House affirms that Bhutan’s situation reflects increased media diversity, the expression of more critical opinions by both print and online outlets, and official attempts to support press freedom provisions in the 2008 constitution.

Within South Asia, Maldives is ranked 52nd position, followed by Bhutan (64th), Nepal (119th), India (122nd), Bangladesh (126th), Afghanistan (147th), Pakistan (151st), and Sri Lanka (158th).

Asia’s four Communist regimes, North Korea (177th place), China (171st), Vietnam (165th) Laos (168th), are among the fifteen lowest-ranked countries of the 2010 World Press Freedom Index.

While globally, Finland is noted as the number one country when it comes to press freedom, Iceland, Netherlands and Norway holds second, third and fourth positions, followed by Sweden and Switzerland.

“Our latest world press freedom index contains welcome surprises, highlights sombre realities and confirms certain trends,” said the secretary general of the Reporters Without Borders’, Jean-François Julliard, commending on latest annual index.

In the report, he also said that it is disturbing to see several European Union member countries continuing to fall in the index, and if it does not pull itself together, the European Union risks losing its position as world leader in respect for human rights.

Achieving GNH through ICT

2010-11-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

ICT is expected to promote four pillars of GNH

By 2020 Bhutan expects to achieve gross national happiness (GNH) through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by nurturing an information society bonded by shared national consciousness promoting the four pillars of GNH.

ICT is projected to cement the four pillars of GNH, which is, good governance, conservation of environment, Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development and preservation and promotion of culture.

The statement on ‘Achieving Gross National Happiness through ICT’ released earlier this year, states that by increasing transparency, accessibility and reduce turn-around time of government services to citizens, businesses and inter government bodies, ICT will ensure good governance.

Besides, it will also promote and protect environment using green technology by reducing e-waste.

It also has it that it will develop a viable IT sector in Bhutan leveraging both domestic and export demand, with a significant equitable contribution to GDP and local employment.

ICT will also promote and protect Bhutan’s vibrant culture by encouraging local media industry and citizen.

According to the report, through ICT, the Ministry of Information and Communication (MoIC) will provide IT policy, regulation and technical guidance by developing IT architectural standards and protocols for the country, and introduce security, intellectual property protection and anti-piracy laws in line with global norms.

MoIC will also introduce any policies related to tax incentives, FDI and other fiscal incentives related to the IT sector in collaboration with Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA).

The report states that the ICT industry has a potential to create 2500 jobs and contribute 1% to GDP annually by 2013.

Bhutan’s value proposition is that power in Bhutan is 70% cheaper than India, and it is generated from green hydroelectric sources. Bhutan has 12-15% price advantage to customers over their Indian counterparts.

ICT targets three main customer sectors, that is, captive data centres of Indian government and hosted data centres of Indian telecom and IT firms.

With this, the impact expected is an annual contribution of Nu 450 million to GDP, with 150 direct and 175 indirect employment potential by 2013, and it will put Bhutan on the global ICT map as an outsourcing destination.

With the exception of winter months of December to February, Bhutan has 200 percent excess electricity during other season.

Besides, Bhutan also has the advantage over telecom costs which is expected to be at par with India, and the reliable broadband availability of 99.5%, with up to 99.99% availability on additional negotiated payment are the advantage.

The absence of political or civil unrest in the country, and the favourable fiscal laws like 100% FDI allowance and up to 15 years’ tax holiday for investment in data centres are very favourable.

Moreover, since all energy generated in Bhutan is from green hydroelectric sources, it leaves behind minimal carbon footprint.

All these will avail 12-18% price advantage to customers over Indian counterparts.

MoIC has already undertaken some initiatives to create demand for Bhutan as an outsourcing destination. The Private Sector Development team from MoIC has already conducted 5 road shows to Dubai, Singapore and India and also participated in various events (NASSCOM Leadership summit, Call Centre demo and conference and sponsored BPO summits) in India to showcase Bhutan.

Basic infrastructure in the areas of Telecom, Real Estate and Transport has already been established.

Phobjikha valley’s first glitters

2010-10-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

Ten houses in Phobjikha valley enjoy electricity supply from yesterday

Phobjikha: The pitch dark nights of Phobjikha valley will soon become a tale of yore, as hundred of households are already equipped with electrification materials, while ten houses in Phobjikha are already enjoying electrification from yesterday.
Until lately the green valley of Phobjikha, being the winter habitat of the black necked cranes, was deprived of any developmental infrastructures due the restrictions for nature conservation from Royal Society of Protection of Nature (RSPN).
“People of Phobjikha valley have been blaming the cranes for the delay of electrification-- but now, they are thanking the cranes for the everything,” said Ap Yangka, 54, a resident of Gangtay, who already bought two rice cookers and a boiler.
He added that now he doesn’t have to waste time cooking, but invest his time in productive activities like farming and while his children can do their homework sitting under bright light.
Another resident said that the existing solar energy is good enough but having electricity connection is better as this will reduce their time and labour for collecting firewood and also prevent environmental degradation.
According to Tshering Choki, the field coordinator with the RSPN, it is made sure that the environment is least affected by the electrification works, as most of the electricity cables run through underground, and also making sure that there are no infrastructures that stand out or look unnatural which might scare away the cranes.
She added that if RSPN keeps focusing on conservation issues, then the valley will be deprived of any economic development activities.
Bharat Tamang, the managing director of Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC), in the inauguration function in Phobjikha yesterday said “Rural electrification of Phobjikha has been quite a challenging task to BPC from technical considerations. We had to adopt special and very expensive engineering designs like underground cabling and extraordinary protective devices because of this place being the habitat of black necked cranes.”
According to Kinley Dorjee, the general manager of distribution and customer service from BPC, the underground cable connection is very expensive but very safe.
“In case of any leakage, automatically the system trips or puts off the system,” he said, adding that the BPC has made sure that the underground lines does not pass via cultivation land or fields, and that the people have already been warned not to dig the area where the underground cables have been installed.
Rural Electrification (RE) VI will help to meet some of the goals of the 10th Five Year Plan and finance the electrification of more than 800 rural households including institutions in Gangtey and Phobjikha in Wangdiphodrang.
The RSPN is the environmental monitor of the project and it was involved from the beginning in the planning and designing phases of the project.
Accordingly the project has been planned and designed in the most environmentally friendly way using underground power distribution systems in the vicinity of the roosting areas of the endangered species.
Altogether there are 13.5 km high voltage and 46.5 km low voltage underground network which runs about one meter underground and are not visible, and 33 km of overhead network which runs among the trees, unnoticed.
While there are 18 platform mounted substations which are built like houses so that it bind with the visual natural setting of the place, there are 21 pole mounted substations which are painted green and are located among the trees.
BPC has so far spent Nu 75 million for the ongoing electrification works. The total estimated cost of the project is Nu 145 million— while Austrian Development Agency (ADA) provided Nu 103.312 million(Euro 1.6 million), Bhutan Power Corporation provided about Nu 42 million.
The first phase of the project which will provide electricity to 100 households was inaugurated yesterday by the Ambassador Mrs. Brigitte Oeppinger-Walchshofer, Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Another 400 rural households will be connected to electricity by end of December 2010. The remaining 300 households will receive electricity by mid 2011.

Bhutan seeking UN Security Council non-permanent seat

2010-10-16T04:31:00.001-07:00

Bhutanese foreign secretary Daw Penjo, addressing the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on September 29, said that Bhutan seeks the membership for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2013-2014.
Emphasizing that even small states should be given equal opportunity to participate and contribute to the work of the UN, he said:
“The principal of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter establishes that all states, regardless of size, wealth, relative power, population, level of development, are accorded equal opportunity to participate and contribute to the work of the UN, its principal organs, and its high level posts.’’
After 39 years of membership, Bhutan continues to believe that the UN still has room and role for smaller states, as equal partners in global affairs, including the maintenance of international peace and security, he added.
In line with the theme of the general debate on “Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance”, the foreign secretary highlighted the centrality of the UN in global affairs, especially at the present times when the world is facing multiple crises.
On reform of the United Nations, Bhutan conveyed its full support to the revitalization and strengthening of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.
He stressed that success would be essential at COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico, for small and vulnerable countries like Bhutan and stressed its urgent need for necessary resources for mitigation and adaptation measures.
One of the important outcomes of the Thimphu Summit is the formulation of a common SAARC Statement on Climate Change, which Bhutan as the current SAARC Chair will present at the forthcoming COP 16 this December in Cancun, he said.
The foreign secretary also sought the support of the UN membership for the proposal made by Lyonchhen Jigme Y. Thinley last week at the high level plenary meeting at the UN on the inclusion of happiness as the ninth millennium development goal (MDG).
“Bhutan’s prime minister had highlighted to this august gathering the need to move beyond conventional development practices. He, therefore, proposed the inclusion of happiness as the ninth MDG,” he said, “My delegation is hopeful that this proposal of my Prime Minister will receive the broad support of the UN membership.”
He added that Bhutan has long been convinced that no society can be a happy one if it is not inclusive; stressing that Bhutan’s moral obligation is, thus, promoting the conditions that will enable the pursuit of GNH by all Bhutanese citizens may enjoy a good quality of life.
This spirit, he said, is further reaffirmed by Bhutan’s Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental rights of all Bhutanese, demonstrating that Bhutan is committed to building an inclusive society, one that enables all Bhutanese, including those with disabilities, to lead fulfilling lives, to contribute, and to participate as full members of society.
“My government was, therefore, particularly pleased to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on September 21,” he said.
He also welcomed the establishment of UN Women, the newest agency of the UN established by a resolution in July 2010, which would consolidate all existing mandates and functions relating to women in the UN.
He expressed confidence that this agency would address global issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment with greater vigor.
The general debate of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly started on September 23; it was preceded by the high level plenary meeting on the MDGs from September 20 – 22.
On the sidelines of the general debate, the Bhutanese delegation held bilateral meetings with the delegations of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile, Bulgaria, Spain, Colombia, Bahrain, Oman, Indonesia and the UAE. Bhutan also hosted the informal meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on September 28 chaired by foreign minister.

Why women journalists are better?

2010-10-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

Being one of the India’s oldest serving woman journalist

Serving more than 30 years in Indian print media, Neerja Chowdhury, 65, is one of the oldest serving Indian woman journalists, working as a journalist since 1970s when the time was such that most Indian women of her generation were accustomed to living indoors.
Leading a group of ten Indian women journalists from the Indian Press Women’s Corps (IPWC) of which she is the president, Neerja Chowdhury, is in Bhutan for a week’s visit upon requests from the Embassy of India in Bhutan.
In her interview with Bhutan TODAY, she said that she was lucky to be invited by a magazine editor who insisted that they were encouraging more women participation in media since it was proved that the then existing women journalist were more conventional and hardworking than men journalists.
She added that she started her career as a civil rights correspondent, and as a woman initially it was difficult to getting around since it involved lots of travelling.
The advantage being s women journalist is, she said, “When you walk into an office, the officials find it hard to say no to a woman journalist—that is the beauty of being a woman journalist.”
She said that she wanted to become a journalist because she wanted to bring about a social change, and expose politicians and the high and mighty in the country. She added that she was once threatened over a call for writing on civil rights but she felt protected since her editor was very supportive about her works and issues she raised.
She added that women have to work doubly hard to prove themselves, but they are proving themselves now even in India and worldwide.
She said that in her profession as a woman journalist, she has covered news on Kashmir and on Punjab Golden Temple issues. After serving as a political journalist for almost five years, she is today the editor of political affairs of the New Indian Express group.
The IPWC, the only women journalist body in India, is a non-profit organization which now has a membership of around 600 women journalists drawn from the national and regional newspapers, magazines, news agencies, TV channels and online media.
Since its inception in 1994, the IWPC has regularly organized professional events for the benefit of its members, and their objective is to extend support to women journalists to pursue professional excellence and enable them to take up issues that confront society today with skill and sensitivity.
Every year the member of IWPC organize a trip abroad for the members to try and expose them to wider issues and so far have undertaken trips to Iran, People’s Republic of China, Sri Lanka, and Syria. This year they are visiting Bhutan and Egypt.
The group will be leaving Bhutan on October 11.

Of two kingdoms wrapped in tradition

2010-10-16T04:28:00.001-07:00

Photographing the sacred clothes of Thailand and Bhutan

Using a Vintage Polaroid camera in Bhutan and Thailand, Sandy Shum, the photographer from Thailand, creates images infused with movement and light, and vibrant hues reflecting the timeless traditions of the two kingdoms which she has known intimately for more than 20 years.
Her photographs capturing the saffron robes shimmer amongst rice fields and Thai temples, and the weathered fluttering prayer flags amid Bhutanese landscape, are on exhibition in Neilson Hays Library and Gallery (Chong Nongsi) in Bangkok till 13 October.
Talking about her exhibition, ‘Two kingdoms, wrapped in tradition,’ Two kingdoms, wrapped in tradition, she said since both kingdoms are Buddhist and have beautiful cultures and traditions that still endure in modern times, and the friendly relationship between the people of Thailand and Bhutan further bonds the two countries together, “Thus, it is appropriate to bond two countries together in a photographic union.”
She added that she loves photographing cloth, be it prayer flags or monks robes since it is like watching waves on the ocean to see the motion of the prayer flags blowing in the breeze, or the monks' robes hanging to dry in the sun.
She co-authored with Karma Singye Dorji, for the book "Dreaming of Prayer Flags" where she contributed her photographs of Bhutan.
“For years I've admired and enjoyed Karma's writing since his writings are an important contribution to Bhutanese literature. We talked about collaborating for years, and when the opportunity to publish ‘Dreaming of Prayer Flags’ came, we knew the time was ripe and our dreams had come to fruition. I provided the impressionistic photography as atmosphere and illustration to his lyrical and heartwarming stories,” she told Bhutan TODAY.
Talking about the spectacular landscape of Bhutan, she said that it is impossible for anyone to capture its beauty in a photograph.
All one can hope for is to reflect the awesome wonder and ruggedness of the vast mountains and sky, and the beauty of daily life and culture of the people who live within the landscape, she said, “The magic of Bhutan cannot be captured in a photograph, you have to be there, and feel blessed by its beauty.”
“I like to photograph the beauty of everyday life, the things we might overlook because they seem so common and ordinary. Yet if we pause a moment to look, we find such beauty surrounding us every day,” she said.
In the exhibition there are rainbow waves of prayer flags in the breeze; rice grains falling like a golden waterfall as women winnow; swirling Tshechu dancers with undulating silk brocade costumes; landscapes, the mountains like waves of the ocean; the clear blue Himalayan sky; a man spinning a large prayer wheel, dispersing the blessings into the atmosphere for the benefit of all.
Her first photo exhibition was in 2001 in Thailand, Bhutan, Hong Kong, USA , Cambodia and Nepal, and this year in November she will be holding an exhibition in Kathmandu, Nepal entitled, "Mantra On The Wind".
She lived in Bhutan for four years with her husband, from 1994 till 1998. She spent three years in Zhemgang and a year in Thimphu. She revisited Bhutan in 2006 and 2007 for further photography, and in 2009 for the book launch.
Sandy Shum was born in California and has lived in Asia for two decades, including Bhutan from 1994 until 1998. Using a vintage Polaroid sx-70 camera, she has created impressionistic photography for over ten years now. Sandy exhibits her work internationally, and her photographs are held in private collections all over the world. Sandy currently lives in Thailand with her husband Greg.

Goma gewog blessed with a new lhakhang

2010-10-16T04:26:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by the breath-taking sights of the three valleys of Toebesa, Punakha and Wangdue, the Sangchhen Dorji Lhendrup Lhakhang in Goma gewog in Punakha was consecrated by his holiness the Je Khenpo yesterday.
The occasion was graced by His Majesty the king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the fourth Druk Gyalpo and the royal family. The other guests were the acting Prime Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, the speaker of National Assembly, the chairman of the National Council and the Opposition Leader. Hundreds of people from Punakha also joined the ceremony.
Offering the temple to His Majesty the king and the people of Bhutan, Yab Ugyen Dorji said that it was with his prayers and wishes that he offered the temple, and that he was fortunate to have lived under the benevolent rule of the three kings including the golden reign of the fourth Druk Gyalpo.
He further said that he is confident that the future generation of Bhutan would enjoy an even greater peace and prosperity under His Majesty, the people’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
He also said that it is his vision to see the establishment of a nunnery, unparallel in excellence where women- both young and old- can benefit themselves and all sentient beings through the pursuit of spiritual learning and practice. An institution where nuns can equip themselves with life skills, such as traditional and religious painting, embroidery, calligraphy and from an intellectual approach-understanding the meaning of the Buddhist scriptures.
The double storied temple and the complex was initiated in the year of the Coronation by Yab Ugyen Dorji in 2008 and was offered to His Majesty the king and the people of Bhutan upon completion yesterday.
The main statue in the lhakhang, Avoloketeshwara or Chenrizig Chagtong Chentong, is 14 feet high and a masterpiece which was built entirely by the Bhutanese artisans working for Dharma Industries and Bhutanese experts.
“The difference between Sangchhen Dorji Lhendrup lhakhang and other lhakhangs is that all the bronze statues including the main piece was made wholly by the local Bhutanese artisans,” said the royal media director Dorji Wangchuk, adding that the main statue is one of the biggest bronze statue of its kind in the country.
According to Tshering Nidup, the project coordinator of the Dharma Industries, it took about six months to complete the statue employing about 10 local artisans and this is one of the largest projects completed by the Dharma Industries so far.
The complex also houses a permanent higher learning and meditation centre for nuns where apart from religious training, the central also provides life skills training such as tailoring, embroidery, statue making and thanka paitnint. The nunnery also includes computer centre and library.
The temple is double-storied traditional Bhutanese building. The temple on the top floor is dedicated to Tsela Namsum and 21 Taras. The main temple is on the ground floor where the main statue is of Avoloketeshvara (chenrigzig chagtong chentong in Dzongkha). To the right of the main statues are Guru Padmasambawa and Gauthama Buddha while on the left are Zhabdrung Nawang Namgyel and Tsepamay (Buddha of longevity).
In front of the main lhakhang stands a large choeten similar to the Boudhanath stupa in Nepal. The original plan for the stupa was to be surrounded by hand prayer wheels (lag khor) which are the usual design. However, His Majesty the King suggested and subsequently provided the specially craved black marble blocks depicting the 84 Mahasiddhis, the 16 Arhats, as well as the great lamas of the dukpa Kagyu lineage. No other stupa in Bhutan or the world carries this unique feature.
While a Goenkang housing, the nation’s guardian deities, is on the left of the lhakhang facing the main courtyard. In the same premises, a nunnery with 70 rooms has also been built accommodating 41 nuns presently. The complex and the nunnery will be administered by a resident lam.
According to the press release, once Je Geyduen Rinchhen, while travelling from Punakha to Thimphu, while stopping for refreshments in Misina, Lobeysa looked up and prophesied that there would one day be a monastery on that hilltop where Sangchhen Dorji Lhendrup Lhakhang stands today.
Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang is located at a site popularly known as Amo Latsekha under Guma Gewog in Punakha Dzongkhag.

Disgrace in local culture industry

2010-10-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

Unveiling the biggest flaws in Bhutanese culture industry

Bhutanese crafts are perceived by tourists to be highly priced and lacking in authenticity and quality.
Most tourists express disappointment over the fake Bhutanese products sold in local market which are in fact, imported from Nepal, Tibet and India.
“We don’t like other countries’ products being passed off as Bhutanese goods,” said a tourist from Holland-- adding that majority of handicrafts in local shops are either Tibetan and Nepali products.
While Bhutanese scarves cost between Nu 1000-2400, the imported ones cost between Nu 450-700 only; while local made kiras cost between Nu 1200-5000, the imported ones cost between Nu 700-1000; and Bhutanese local incense cost Nu100-200 and imported between Nu 50-100.
A tourist from Australia said that he doesn’t see too much of a value add in buying the more expensive Bhutanese goods.
According to McKinsey’s report on ‘Accelerating Bhutan’s socio-economic development’, a significant contribution to the crafts sector is lost to imports of raw materials and finished goods from India, Nepal and Tibet.
The status of Bhutanese cultural industry is such that only wood is locally available while gold, silver and yarn is imported from India and Nepal and sold directly or through dealers, leading to high cost of raw materials.
Even the designs are with little or no design innovation— therefore, there is a lack of mindset for design innovation based on customer demand.
There are no large manufacturing units in the country and most of the sectors are highly unorganized. Out of 14000 artisans employed, only 3517 registered artisans.
High labour costs, retail mark-ups and guide commissions result in low competitive prices of Bhutanese crafts, says the report.
The report also has it that there is an urgent need to organize the rural craft manufacturing.
The unstructured and scattered production systems make it difficult to reach out with support programmes and inputs and due to high distance from urban centres, it says.
“Handicraft is primarily treated as a pass-time activity, resulting in low supply volumes,” says the report.
Similarly, an artisan from Thimphu said that people think that craft is only for school dropouts and not a feasible business opportunity.
Moreover, it is argued that most Bhutanese producers are ignorant to the market demand requirements. Also the lack of technical know-how results in poor design skills, inconsistent product standardization and poor finishing.
According to a weaver from Bumthang, there is no special design team and thus, the designs are based on age old traditional designs.
Unavailability of credit (micro-finance) for such sectors also prevents bulk and voluminous production by the artisans.
Records show that there has been a 50% decrease in the investment in small business and artisan schemes from 2005 to 2008 from Nu 3.2 million to Nu 1.6 million.
Considering the high price of the items, the key reasons that emerge for lower contribution to country’s gross domestic product are: low mechanization and crafts considered as an alternate or supplementary means of income.
Bhutanese culture industry earns 9 million USD from local market with items like textiles, thangka painting, wood and bamboo work, traditional construction and painting.
While from tourists, it earns about 5 million USD from weaving, thangka painting, gold and silver jewelleries, and small gift items.
On the other hand, Bhutan earns only about USD 80,000 from exports of gold and silver work, textiles and handmade paper.
McKinsey’s report states that the volume of Bhutanese exports is very low and restricted to few key markets.
It also states that Bhutan has limited international designs, inability to meet specific delivery time, and inability to meet international quality standards.
The report also affirms that crafts generated a gross domestic product of $10-12 million in 2009, contributing to about 0.8% of total GDP.
The industry employed 25,278 people in 2005, of which only 3517 are registered. Crafts employed 13000 people in 2005 which accounted for 5% of the total employment.
Thimphu, Trashigang, Mongar and Sarpang contribute to 45% of the total culturally skilled population in Bhutan.
In Bhutan 65% of the population is engaged in agriculture and most of them also engage in manufacturing handicrafts during the non-cultivation season as a means of sustenance.

A Man with twenty passports visits Bhutan

2010-09-11T06:38:00.001-07:00

Dr. Orhan Kural, a Turkish scientist, a man with 20 passports, and one of the writers of the book ‘Coal’ which is recorded in Guinness Book of Record, is in Bhutan on a personal visit for the second time.
He visited Bhutan formerly six years back and wrote various articles on Bhutan for international publications.
“Bhutan is like a ‘Cinderella’ country and Bhutanese people are very nice and kind,” he said, adding that the natural environment, the culture and the tradition are the unique natural bounties that attract international tourists to Bhutan.
Bhutan, being the birthplace of the unique philosophy of gross national happiness (GNH) and the only country in the world trying to preserve the culture, outshines as one of the best countries in the world, he said.
He also told Bhutan TODAY that he is revisiting Bhutan to observe how it might have changed over the six years’ period and to write an article on Bhutan.
He said that he has noticed that in Bhutan everyone likes animals but never feed them; animals cannot speak and need to be loved and feed, he added.
He also wrote 12 travel books, some of which are best-sellers in Turkey. He has also written hundreds of article about his trips around the world.
He has travelled to 226 countries already. He started travelling since 1964 when he was only 14 year old boy.
The main objective of his travels is to promote environmental protection and development of ecological tourism.
Bhutan sets the perfect example for perfect eco-tourism, he said.
His book ‘Coal’, published in 1994, took six years to complete, and the book contains introductory comments by 22 presidents of different states of the world, while 52 authors and 157 scientists from 61 countries contributed in the book. The book is currently being studied at mining faculties in universities in 20 countries.
Being a president of ‘The Virgin Nature Club’, he has visited many national parks of the world.
He has arranged 45 exhibitions of photos taken during his trips in and outside Turkey.
He has been lecturing in courses on mining and environment, coal technology and statistics in various conferences around the world.
Currently, he is the mining professor at Istanbul technological University in Turkey.
Dr. Kural is also the head of mining engineering department in Turkey, honorary consul of Benin, the president of Turkish travelers club, head of underground mining division and the president of fighting smoking found in Turkey.
He is a bachelor, and lives in Turkey with two adopted children. He sleeps three hours and he is a vegetarian.

Italian journalist and writer visits Thimphu

2010-09-09T06:09:00.001-07:00

Federico Fubini, an Italian journalist and the author of the book "Border Destinies" (translated from "Destini di Frontiera"), is in Bhutan on a personal visit till September 15.
He will also be reporting about gross national happiness for the renounced Italian daily ‘Corriere della Sera’, and will carry out a research for his forthcoming book.
Talking about changing newspaper era, he said that while the print press in west has drastically gone down; on the contrary, it is growing in the emerging markets and developing countries.
This, he said, is because of the increase in the literacy rate in the emerging markets like India and China.
He said that as the economies becoming more complex, people need more information to make decisions.
However, currently, Bhutan does not have a big market, and might not require more information on business; but as the investments from abroad grow and the economy becomes complex in future, there will be, definitely, more demand for information, he said.
“When people say that newspaper era is coming to an end, I don’t agree,” he said, adding that in country like India, there are more than 59,000 newspapers and they are even hiring people from abroad to assist them.
To sustain, he said, newspapers should not entirely depend on advertisements; they should have multiple sources of income because the newspaper becomes much more vulnerable while depending on one income source.
He also said that if newspapers in Bhutan do not sell well, there is certainly, some problem in newspaper circulation or distribution in those areas.
The solution, he said, is to find out a broader business model, and try to make website profitable like the international papers, like the Wallstreet Journals and the Financial Times, has been doing so far.
Likewise, the newspapers can sell specific and value-added news, beside the general news and online advertisements.
Talking about the latest media technology in the western countries, he said that in West, i-pad has dominated the entire market since one can read the actually newspaper without buying really buying it.
Similarly, to sustain the newspapers in Italy, the newspaper companies are now availing the newspaper subscriptions on i-pad.
The basic advantage of using i-pad for reading newspapers is that it is easily accessible, and so, the newspaper companies are able to excess the readers who are not reachable otherwise, he said.
In print media, he said, the cost of the printing press and circulation charges are very expensive; besides, it is a rigid cost.
He added that in Europe, once the price of papers rose so high that the newspapers became very expensive.
Discussing about the value of journalism, he said that the quality of news and technology of distribution is essential for selling news; adding that the superficial news should be always supported by serious news.
“News is like air-- you cannot retain it… not for a long time,” he said.

Mr Fubini has worked for numerous papers and magazines including the ‘Foreign Policy’ in United States. He is presently working for a renowned Italian daily paper called ‘Corriere della Sera’ in Milano.
He also authored an Italian book, translated as ‘Frontier Destinites’ based on stories about the impact of globalization on emerging countries.

JDWNRH runs out of essential drugs

2010-08-27T01:30:00.001-07:00

The work load of pharmacists at the JDWNR hospital has been decreasing and the number of patients asked to buy medicines has been increasing; because the hospital has run out of some essential drugs (EDs), while the numbers of others are reducing every day.
According to the world health organization’s (WHO) definition, EDs are medicines that have to be available in all health centers at all times. However, the latest record of ED at the JDWNR hospital shows that almost 20% of the drugs are not available; and the percentage is increasing as the stock of others are decreasing. Out of 342 medical items listed, about 62 items are already out of stock.
For instance, the hospital has no stock of atenol and frusemide, which are very vital for patients with hypertension.
Patients that Bhutan TODAY interviewed said that most of the time they have to purchase medicines which are at times not even available in the private pharmacies in the town.
“Sometimes we have to get the prescribed drugs all the way from Jaigoan, which are expensive at times,” said a patient, “however, it becomes inconvenient when certain drugs are not available even there. We are compelled to delay treatment due to shortage of medicines.”
While few ED were unavailable as early as January this year; about 10 drugs were unusable because the dates had expired.
The pharmacy head of JDWNRH, Sangay Wangmo, said that the latest essential drugs list (EDL 2009) contains a total of 380 drugs, which includes chemicals for extemporaneous compounding and syringes. “As the apex hospital in the country, JDWNRH is entitled to receive all the drugs on the EDL,” she said.
“However, it is difficult to maintain comfortable stock of all the drugs in the EDL,” she said adding that a system called VEN categorization whereby drugs are categorized into categories of Vital, Essential and Non-essential is followed. Life saving drugs comes under vital and the stocks of such drugs are to be maintained at all times,” she said.
She further mentioned that about 15 drugs are out of stock and that the drugs out of stock do not come under the vital or life saving categories. “Effort is being made to make such drugs available through use of buffer stocks and internal mobilization among health facilities,” she said.
A health personnel at the JDWNRH seeking anonymity said that the problems occurred because the “wrong people, without any technical knowledge go for quality inspection at places from where the drugs are procured.” “When these drugs and non drugs reach the medical supply depot (MSD) in Phuentsholing, they fail in the quality, which results in rejection of the supplied ED,” he said, adding that the number of rejected drugs sometimes runs to thousands.
He also said that internal mobilization should not be an alternative as “other health centers would require the same drugs.” Moreover he added that the situation may become severe as the “quotations have just been floated.” It will take some time before the bids are opened, which will affect the people,” he said.
Sources told Bhutan TODAY that the shortage is a result of “inefficiency in procurement, and mainly because technically qualified people do not go for quality inspection from places where drugs are procured.” “If the right people go, then cases of drugs failing in quality inspection at the MSD and subsequent actions like rejection will not occur,” a health worker from the JDWNRH said. Meanwhile pharmacists in Thimphu are having a field’s day. “Our sales have shot up,” an owner of a Pharmacy who did not want to be named told Bhutan TODAY.

Superstar and goodwill ambassador talks HIV/AIDS

2010-08-27T01:28:00.001-07:00

“HIV doesn’t spread by touching- you actually spread love by touching”

Bollywood superstar and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB), Shabana Azmi, is inspired by seeing Bhutan’s concern and measures taken against HIV/AIDS and TB awareness.

Speaking to the Bhutanese media, she said that it is heartening to see that Bhutan is taking the issue seriously.
“It sets a very good example in the SAARC region because it makes the other partner member states aware that Bhutan is really taking a leadership role in this, in a sense of knowing that even though the numbers are small it is taken very seriously,” she said.
She also said that she was impressed to learn about voluntary counseling and trainings (VCT) centers in Bhutan, which are available at all hospitals. However, she said that “it is sad to know that all women are not taking advantage of services provided.”
“Innocent women are the most vulnerable because they are not empowered enough to take decisions about their own lives and to negotiate about condom usage,” she said, adding that female commercial sex workers are, at times, unable to ask their clients to use condoms.
Shabana Azmi also expressed her appreciation that 90% of the people in Bhutan are aware about HIV/AIDS. “But the question is if the facilities available is being used or not,” she said.
She also spoke about the need to conduct robust awareness campaigns in schools through the introduction of sex education.
Talking about Bollywood, she said that despite the low impact of Indian movies on HIV/AIDS, Bollywood has acted as agents for advocacy in many meetings.
Speaking to Bhutan TODAY, Shabana Azmi said that she was a parliamentary from 1997 to 2003, and one of the issues she took up as a parliamentarian was health.
“I feel very deeply concerned about health because I do recognize that sickness and inability to address that actually is the fastest way of people becoming poor,” she said.
Recognizing her involvement in health issues, SAARC members decided to make her and the Sri Lankan star cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, the goodwill ambassadors of SAARC TB and HIV/AIDS centre (STAC), she said.
In a press conference yesterday, prime minster, Lyonchheon Jigme Y. Thinley said that he admired Shabana Azmi for her talent as an actor, and also as a social activist who is not only beautiful but has done so much for the society.
Shabana Azmi is one of the most admired movie actress and social activist, who have won many national awards. In 1988 she was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India. She is married to Indian poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar.

Buddha Air begins Bhutan flight today

2010-08-22T21:35:00.001-07:00

Buddha Air, a private Nepalese airline company, will operate its first commercial schedule direct flights from Kathmandu to Paro beginning today.

The airline will operate four flights a week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - using 18-seater Beech 1900D aircraft.

“Initially Buddha Air will fly four days a week from Kathmandu to Paro and back to Kathmandu,” said Kinley Tshering, the local spokesperson for Buddha Airline. “Later as talks progress, Buddha Air will fly daily.”

He said that the airline will be flying in delegates from Nepal for the formal inauguration of the flight on August 25.

Allaying concerns that Bhutanese travelers might have, the spokesperson said Buddha Air places “great emphasis” on safety, and that the airline operated on modern equipment with each aircraft fully equipped with navigational aid equipment. Flights are only operated in airports with asphalt runway measuring not less than 4,000 feet in length.

He also said that the maintenance and engineering department has a fully trained workforce including 45 cockpit crew, five flight operation officers, 18 qualified engineers, 31 technicians, and 31 cabin crew.

“We maintain an inventory of aircraft and engine spares replacing any part that doesn’t pass our tests regardless of whether it is new or old with absolutely new parts,” he said.

Starting with an authorized capital of NRS 70 million the company cleared its loan of NRS 71 million within six years of its establishment.

Buddha Air Pvt Ltd. owns five Beechcraft 1900D and three ATR 42. Its domestic service routes are Bharatpur, Simara, Biratnagar, Bhadrapur, Janakpur, Nepalganj, Bhairawa, Pokhara, Dhangadi in Nepal.

With a total asset of USD 13 million, Buddha Air Pvt. Ltd is a privately operated air travel company founded in 1996. It is the largest domestic air travel operator in Nepal, employing nearly 500 people.

MPI to peek inside Bhutan

2010-08-20T00:41:00.001-07:00

Poverty is not all about income poverty. It also includes deprivation, such as access to education and health services among others.
This was the message delivered by Dr. Sabina Alkeri, a researcher, writer and the director of the Oxford poverty and human development initiative (OPHI) in her talk about the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and its global implications at the Royal Institute of Management (RIM) yesterday.
MPI challenges the traditional notion that income alone indicates poverty level in a country or society and assesses the nature and intensity of poverty at the individual level. The extent of deprivations says how poor a person or a family is. This Dr. Alkeri said is an answer to the world, which has been debating for the last 15 years if income encompasses all the dimensions of poverty.
She also said that the increasing demand for better measures of poverty and well-being has made “MPI crucial” and that MPI can be used for official measures of poverty, monitoring and evaluation and for targeting public services.
Unlike gross national happiness (GNH), which has nine dimensions namely education, psychological well-being, health, time-use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, and ecological diversity and resilience; MPI is based on three dimensions, health, education and the standard of living.
Talking about the dimensions, she said that If a child dies of malnourishment, the whole family is affected; so, the family is considered as deprived and MPI poor. Concerning education, she said that if anyone in a family has not had five years of education, the whole family is considered deprived and MPI poor. Similarly families that do not have access to a good standard of living are MPI poor.
Dr. Sabina Alkeri said that MPI is affected by the lack of comparable data;
such as the standard indicators for health, quality of education, data for violence, empowerment, informal work and others.
The OPHI has concluded the first estimate and analysis of global multidimensional poverty in 104 developing countries across the world.
According to it, 51% of MPI poor people are from South Asia, 28% from sub-Saharan Africa, 15% from East Asia, 3% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 2% from Arab states and 0% from central and East Europe.
“As this is a new methodology, we tried to scrutinize the measure, and tune it to reflect multidimensional poverty with sufficient accuracy to add value for policy,” she said.
MPI is the first international tool measuring acute poverty and deprivations directly and was launched by OPHI and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) human development report on 14 July 2010.
The OPHI has done a preliminary and illustrative study of multidimensional poverty in Bhutan, which is forthcoming in social indicators research, by Maria Emma Santos and Dasho Karma Ura.
The MPI will be applied to Bhutan by the UNDP next year.

Superbug scare

2010-08-18T21:19:00.001-07:00

More than 60 Bhutanese are presently undergoing medical treatment in India even as the country has been declared unsafe for medical tourism in many countries after discovering an antibiotic resistant microorganism called Superbug.
Superbug, scientists say, has no known drugs to cure it, thus making it a global concern.
According to Dr. Pandup Tshering, the medical superintendent at the JDWNR hospital in Thimphu, as soon as superbug was in the news, the health authorities here had asked their Indian counterparts to conduct test on certain Bhutanese patients referred to India.
He also said that the laboratory in JDWNRH has been asked to do passive examination and report if any multi-drug resistant organism is detected.
“If any multi-drug resistance organism is detected in our referred patients then a decision will be taken based on the directives from the ministry of health and the technical committee in the hospital,” he said.
Dr. Pandup Tshering told Bhutan TODAY that, at this juncture, there is not much the health ministry or JDWNRH could do since the case is very recent, and there are no technical evidences to make any concrete decision.
The man in charge of the referral unit at JDWNRH, Kencho Dorji, said there are about 35 patients being treated in Kolkatta and about 25 patients in Vellore presently. On an average, JDNRH refers between 40 to 45 patients every month to India.
Global media reports say superbug could spread around the world after reaching Britain from India.
Researchers had found a gene called New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase, or NDM-1, in patients in South Asia and in Britain. The NDM-1 makes bacteria highly resistant to almost all antibiotics, including the most powerful class called Carbapenems.
There had been three cases so far in the United States, all from patients who received recent medical care in India.
It is also being reported that NDM-1 has been carried around the world in the last two years by persons who spent time in Indian hospitals - especially medical tourists who went for cheap kidney transplants and cosmetic surgery.
Some have predicted that NDM-1 could mean the end of antibiotics, making transplant surgery impossible, and pneumonia and tuberculosis fatal again.
With increasing international move in search for cheaper healthcare, especially for cosmetic surgery in India, it is feared that the new superbug could soon spread across the globe easily.

Bathpalathang airport disappointment

2010-08-18T01:35:00.001-07:00

Lately, a general disappointment engulfed everyone after learning that the Bathpalathang airport in Bumthang was being built on an unstable ground, as telecasted in BBS.
The news has it that the quality of soil where the runway was being built had more sands and river boulders which was said to be not advisable according to the standard and quality control authority (SQCA).
However, Phala Dorji, director general of the department civil aviation (DCA), told Bhutan TODAY that the people have been misinformed.
He said that the airport is being built on a very suitable ground; adding that since the airport is being built next to river bank, sands and boulders are bound to be found.
He said that though it is being built on a river bank, yet it is very safe and suitable since enough compaction, rolling and soiling are being carried out.
He added that even Paro airport was built on a river bank and there had been no problem till date.
“However, we cannot compromise with the quality,” he said, “time doesn’t matter, and it is the final outcome that matters.”
He said that if additional time is required because of rain and other additional works, DCA will have to extend time.
On the other hand, Phuntsho Namgey, the project manager, said, “The firm has been receiving full support from DCA,” he said, “If the work are to be carried out as per the initial work order, then, the project can and will be completed in time and before time.”
The works like river diversion and dismantling of bridge have been completed; terminal building also has been almost completed; while only 20% of the runway work has been completed.
The project is funded by Bhutan government with Nu 4.9 million funds.
The works were started on May 26, this year.

‘Bold Bhutan Beckons’ beckons Australians

2010-08-18T01:32:00.001-07:00

The Australian launch of the book ‘Bold Bhutan Beckons’ was held in Brisbane at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) last
Friday.
The governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley, the first Australian ambassador to India and Bhutan, joined one of the two authors Tim Fischer, to launch the book in Australia.
Ms Wensley praised the authors for the approach they took in uncovering some previously untold stories and the delightful manner in which they were told.
She also recounted many memorable experiences and her fond connection with Bhutan.
Mr. Fischer expressed deep gratitude to his co-author, Tshering Tashi,
for the work he did in uncovering the stories and the manner in which
they collaborated.
He also praised the large group of Bhutanese students who are studying at QUT and were attending the function in national dress to give the event a real Bhutanese flavor.
Other prominent guests in included the chancellor of QUT, major general Arnison AO and key representatives of the royal flying doctor service of Australia.
More than 100 people attended the launch.
In ‘Bold Bhutan Beckons’, Tshering Tashi, a veteran from the ULFA-BODO conflict, talks about his experiences about fighting armed militants in the jungles of southern Bhutan.
The book was published last year.

Not an ‘elevating’ experience

2010-08-08T05:21:00.001-07:00

An alleged failure to honor a business deal between a Bhutanese construction company and an Indian firm has grounded the 12 newly installed elevators at the country’s highest referral hospital in the capital.
The elevators at the JDWNR hospital started mal-functioning barely a month after they were made operational in September last year.
The cause, according to an official for the health infrastructure development division (HIDD), had to be a financial row between the two contracting companies, Druk Thundrel Lerig (DTL) from Bhutan and ThyssenKrupp company (TK) from India.
Sources said that DTL which had outsourced the elevator works to TK company, reneged on its payment and, all of a sudden, the elevators started to break down one by one quite mysteriously.
“The breakdown was strange but we feel that the people from TK company might have changed some settings to make them stop functioning,” said a health official. “Or else, why would all the 12 elevators breakdown?”
A source told Bhutan TODAY that TK company staff had taken out a certain chip from each elevator to make it dysfunctional.
DTL reportedly owes more than Nu 3.3 million in balance payment to TK company which supplied all the elevators for a total of Nu 17.28 million.
According to the deputy executive engineer of the HIDD, Sonam Tshering, all the 12 elevators were in excellent condition when it was taken over by the HIDD in September, 2009.
Under the terms of contract with the health ministry, TK company was supposed to inspect and maintain the elevators every month. But following the row between the two companies the works were abandoned.
Sonam Tshering said that TK company even expressed its willingness to continue the maintenance work if DTL paid at least Nu 1.00 million instantly.
“However, HIDD has already issued a warning letter to DTL and if they are unable to fulfill our demands before the deadline, we will use the 10% of their retention money to pay TK company and get the elevators rectified ourselves,” he said.
The HIDD gave DTL the deadline until August 8 to get the mess sorted out and the elevators running.
A spokesperson for DTL told Bhutan TODAY that the company has since yesterday employed workers to inspect the elevators and at least seven elevators will start functioning from today.
Of Nu 17.28 million paid for the 12 elevators, the four bed elevators are worth Nu 7.44 million, the six service elevators Nu 8.64 million, and the two dump waiters Nu 1.2 million.
The bed elevator can carry 26 people at a time and the service elevator 10 people. The dump elevator can take a total weight of 300 kilograms.

Cabinet orders TCC to make incinerators work

2010-08-08T05:18:00.000-07:00

Established as a cheaper, environment-friendly and time-saving funeral option, the story of modern incinerators has become yet another million dollar curse on the government budget.
While most organizations involved, pierced fingers at each other, the question of accountability got lost amid the mist of time, until lately, it was raised in a cabinet meeting.
“It is a testimony of the state of affairs, of how planning, implementation, and public services are being executed by the government public officials,” stated an audited report, describing the extravagantly constructed crematorium as a waste of government resource.
The report also has it that, apart from not functioning, the installations were not protected well, some accessories were damaged; and structures were constructed against the directives of the finance ministry.
The finance ministry had deputed two representatives to study the feasibility of the project in 1997 and had opted for diesel-operated incinerators over electrical incinerators.
The four organizations held responsible for the project failure, according to the report, are the department of national properties (DNP), Thimphu city corporation (TCC), commission for cultural affairs, and Thimphu dzongkhag.
While the director general of the DNP told Bhutan TODAY that the DNP is not responsible and has nothing to do with the crematory incinerators, the TCC submitted to the clause, saying that all the agencies in charge should be answerable.
“The TCC should be also equally responsible as some of the records show that the incinerators were procured and installed by the DNP, after carrying out the joint feasibility studies with the department of power and handed over to the TCC after inauguration in 2000,” said the chief environment officer, Gyaltshen Dukpa.
He also told Bhutan TODAY that the installation and procurements of the machine has been done by DNP.
The failure of the operation of the incinerator could be due to the lack of technicians and not readily available of the spare parts, he added.
He said that the TCC is now trying to revive the existing incinerators and put them in use.
Reviving the existing incinerators will not only reduce the demand of the forest produce but also help the reduction of environment pollution, he said.
“In case, it doesn’t work, we will have to go for new electric incinerators which would burn the body within 2-3 hours,” he said, adding that this was the view of the cabinet ministers.
During the recent cabinet meeting, it was finalized that ministry of work and human settlements will work on the proposal and serve the demand for 10 years or beyond.
The financial support will be provided from the health trust fund, environment trust fund, small development programme and other resources.
The fund for lhakhang maintenance will be taken care by the ministry of home and cultural affairs
TCC is assigned to explore possibility for compensation of the land between the lhakhang and the crematorium. The TCC is also assigned to find the right kind of technology within a year.
The project was initiated in 1998 with a grant of Nu 9.050 million from the Danish government and Nu 3.950 million from the Bhutanese government for the improvement and up gradation of infrastructure and installation of oil furnaces at the cremation ground.

In the guise of culture

2010-08-04T23:49:00.001-07:00

Bhutanese culture of offering doma, tea or ara is considered a form of traditional greeting and gesture; however, there prevails a qualm between the gift-giving culture and corruption when gifts become expensive.
The thin line between gift-giving culture and bribery has made individuals wonder if such culture stands as a platform for corruption.
“A gift is prohibited from an individual or a firm to an official who has a business relationship with the firm or an individual. This is an attempt to address the inherent conflict of interest of gift giving,” said Kezang Jamtsho, the Anti-corruption spokesperson.
He also said that there is a very thin line between a genuine gift and a gift with return favors. A gift without any intention of return favors as well as no proven benefit subsequently, must be taken as a gift without intention and benefits.
“The moment it is proven that the gift had an intention and proven return benefits, it could become bribery,” he said.
The gift giving rule 2009 is intended to regulate the gift giving practice in Bhutan, he said adding that gift giving event without any benefits or favors in return is acceptable in principle.
He said that the salient feature of the gift rule 2009 is the conflict between the gift and the official function
Therefore, he said, there is the need to regulate gift giving- the gift rule 2009 is intended to regulate the gift giving practice in Bhutan.
Therefore, Anti-corruption commission of Bhutan (ACC) states that there is an urgent need to regulate gift-giving culture in Bhutanese society.
“But, can there be such a scenario- a gift giving event without any return loop?” he said, “A gift with a return loop becomes a problem- the degree of the problem would depend on the degree of offence caused by the gift.”
“It is difficult to say that we should stop this culture as long as it is done in the true spirit of culture without any stakes or interests. The difficult question is when people misuse this culture and give gifts to get benefits, favors in return, and then it leads to corrupt practices,”
Culture can be broadly defined as the way in which the minds of people are collectively programmed, leading to the development of conceptions within societies, communities and nations about what is morally right or wrong.
According to national anti-corruption strategy framework, 2009, bribery is an act of giving, taking or soliciting bribes. The act involves offering, taking or soliciting a benefit or a gratification that directly or indirectly affects the action of a public servant.
The latest ACC annual report showed bribery was highest in 2007 and has decreased subsequently by almost 50% by now.
It also has it that the corruption complaints were the highest in Thimphu, followed by Chhukha, Wangdue and Trashigang.

An economist’s take on GNH

2010-07-30T11:31:00.001-07:00

Jeffrey David Sachs, the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, USA, who is currently in Bhutan with his family, described Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a “work in progress” and not a “final concept”.
Speaking to the Bhutanese media yesterday in Thimphu, the world famous American economist said that he is fond of GNH values, and drew the parallel that while his book ‘The End of Poverty’ is a specific idea on ending extreme poverty by 2025, GNH is a broad concept.
GNH, he said, was about finding a proper balance between development and environment, between wealth accumulation and poverty reduction. In Buddhist parlance, it was about striking the balance between materialism and values.
“One part of GNH is addressing extreme poverty and so GNH is a concept very dear to my heart,” he said, pointing out that GNH applies equally to rich and poor countries. He called it a challenge encompassing the material side, the values and the ecological dimension.
While it was not easy to summarize, define or measure GNH, he actually liked the struggle.
“I view it as a challenge because we know that our society is very imbalanced right now, especially United States which is a very rich country with very unsettled social conditions like tremendous lack of trust, inequality of income, lack of attention to future, lack of saving,” he said. “So, I feel this concept applies as much as to United States as it does to a poor country.”
Asked where he sees the future of GNH, he said its emphasis on happiness, the proper balancing of society and individual, that having “just more and more is not really the greatest answer”, was needed in every society, including many rich countries to “regain the balance”.
“I want the concept to come to United States, be discussed, be debated, and though it doesn’t have a formula, it does provoke serious questions about balanced and sustainable development,” he said.
Mr. Sachs who met the Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, yesterday is the author of several bestsellers books like ‘Common Wealth’ and ‘The end of poverty’. He was also named among the 100 most influential leaders in the world by Time Magazine.

Does Bhutan have a leadership vacuum?

2010-07-28T08:34:00.001-07:00

Leaders are not born, leaders are made. They are made by effort and hard work.
If this be the truth, Bhutan has not cultivated sufficient leaders.
The 2008 elections proved the point. The country needed 94 candidates, two each for each constituency, one from each political party. The number and the quality needed were not forthcoming. Some of the incumbent ministers had to be literally begged to join.
In a few instances, the two parties deviously wrested candidates away from each other. Meanwhile, in some quarters concerns were expressed that politics was draining the civil service of the few good people it had. Any scope for a third party was out of the question.
Today, two years later, the situation is hardly any better. Many of the posts advertised at the executive level go begging, every now and then. The supply just does not match the demand.
Where does the fault lie?
Norbu Wangchuk, a trainer and consultant at the institute for management studies (IMS), says the Bhutanese society is so used to the leadership standards set by its monarchs that now those below are challenged to meet those high standards.
He asked: “Will our politicians be able to match those standards? And do we have conditions in civil service to encourage leaders, creating conditions or platforms for the leaders to emerge?”
Karma Y. Raydi, a National Council member, said capable people are needed at professional levels in various departments and organizations.
“While the serving officials are complaining that they are deprived of any promotions, we have noticed that there are no applicants for enviable posts most of the time, this undeniably indicates a certain kind of leadership vacuum in our society,” he said.
According to Dasho Kinzang Wangdi, the chief election commissioner, the existing procedures, practices and regulations are fraught with redundancies that stultify, restrict and constrain growth of genuine leadership.
“Though Bhutan is blessed with visionary, compassionate and extraordinary leaders in the government, there is a need for better enabling environment for growth, dynamism and initiative in our public services,” he said.
Health minister Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa sees things slightly in a different perspective. “I would like to say that there is no leadership vacuum but there is lack of space for leadership development.”
Asked why Bhutan has to go on recruiting retired Dashos and senior civil servants for top level vacancies, he explains that it takes a considerable time and effort to train, nurture and produce leaders.
Sangay Khandu, the Gasa National Council member, says there is so much talk of promoting meritocracy which would provide platforms for recognizing leadership but this is never really applied.
“I would attribute this ‘vacuum-like’ situation to some extent to the competition that has set in,” he says. “A few decades ago, a new inductee could have easily made the rounds of the boardrooms with one good paper. Today, it's quite different.”
Dasho Karma Ura believes there is absolutely no leadership vacuum. The governance system, he says, is directed by the cabinet which comprises of experienced incumbents who were ministers for over a decade. The retention of financial and administrative autonomy at the local level is also important for the creation of space for better local leadership.
According to the opposition leader, Tshering Tobgay, Bhutanese people love to lead, and there had never been a shortage of eligible candidates, even during the first democratic elections.
Agrees Lyonpo Om Pradhan, the chairmnan of Druk Holdings and Investment.
“From my experience I really don't think that Bhutan lacks persons who can provide leadership in most of the administrative and development tasks that the country has to undertake.”
He explained that Bhutan is completing half a century of development and one of the critical areas of concentration of the government was in human resources development. Thia has paid off. Bhutanese have proven themselves in international fora and elsewhere.
“I have found Bhutanese second to none in the UN and other international bodies,” he says.
“I think that the main problem has been to identify or trace the correct person with the capacity to take up the job at hand. With this has to be added that persons should also be given the opportunity to shoulder responsibilities by their superiors - otherwise, how can they prove themselves to be up to the mark?” he says.

Tariff revision woes

2010-07-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

As the local industrialists grief over the revised power tariff, and the rural folks rejoice over the proposed lifeline progress; in-between the urban middleclass users find themselves at their wits end.

The urban low voltage users claim themselves in the worst hit list.

“The biggest concern among the urban middleclass users is that we are unnecessarily victimized to pay the extra charges just to control the overuse of power by industrial users and to assist the affordability of rural consumers,” said a local resident in Thimphu.
In the tariff proposal the Bhutan power corporation (BPC) has stated that the tariff revision would bring about a ‘discipline’ to high voltage users (HV) and middle voltage users (MV); and benefit the low voltage users (LV) by improving rural electrification.
According to a civil servant, the tariff revision will adversely affect the LV block three consumers which include the urban middleclass users as there is a rapid increase in the purchase of electronic appliances like fridge, washing machine, air-conditioner and television by the urban users.
He said, “With the increased urbanization and improved life style, the LV block three consumers have highest potentiality to dominate the consumers’ market.”
He added that if the electricity becomes expensive, the middleclass users will definitely shift to other cheaper options like kerosene or LPG or even firewood, which will affect the environment in long run with environmental damage and usage of nonrenewable resources.
However, according to a BPC tariff officer, Dorji Tshering, the tariff raise will not hold back the LV block three users;
“If the urban middleclass users can afford buying hi-tech electronic appliances, then, they will definitely be in position to pay few extra hundred bucks for using electricity to utilize them.”
The average tariff rate is Nu 1.54 per unit for the low voltage users currently.
As per the revised tariff, the per unit tariff rate for the LV is 1.83 till July, 2010; Nu 2.41 and Nu 3.24 in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Generally there are three groups of LV users: block one includes the users who use the electricity unit from 0 till 80 units and is called ‘lifeline’ block; while those who use 81 units till 300 units fall under block two; and the third block falls beyond 300 units.
Users falling under block one are charged Nu 0.75 a unit; while block two users are charged Nu 1.40 a unit, and under block three, Nu 1.85 a unit.
Dorji Tshering, the tariff officer from BPC said, “Since most villagers cannot afford to pay higher electricity charges, BPC has proposed to extend the LV block one from 0 to 120 units.”
He said that BPC has proposed the extension of lifeline block based on the assumption that the average LV consumption might increase to 200 units in future under the assumption that every typical village households will use an average of four bulbs, along with a rice cooker and a boiler.
He said that the LV consumption has been increasing constantly in recent times with the villagers’ changing life styles and the rural economic development.
However, currently, on average, the villagers use about 95 units monthly and are charged about Nu 80 to Nu 100 per household monthly.

PM gaga over Kaka

2010-07-13T05:32:00.003-07:00

The solemn aura created by the ‘meet the press’ session, petered out into thin air of laughter and cheerfulness as the prime minister started talking about his football icons and the world cup.
The amusing fact that the prime minister is gaga over Kaka, the number 10 Brazilian footballer, brought a sense of whimsical admiration among the journalists.
“I have always been a Brazil fan, and although Kaka has not been able to perform well as we would have expected him; he is my favourite, and of course there is Robinho,” said the prime minister, Lyonchhen Jigme Y. Thinley.
He said that Christiano Ronaldo is also someone he always wanted to see in finals but unfortunately he is out.
Lyonchen also talked about his visit to Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup.
“I had a great delight in actually setting foot on the Maracana stadium, it was a very special request I made and they actually allowed me to walk on the green,” he said.
With a cheerful childlike laugh, the Lyonchen said, “It was a great achievement!”
Talking about Maracana stadium, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, the economic affairs minster, added that it is the same ground where, on the north side, Pele scored his thousand goal; and on the other side of the ground, where Brazil never could forget when it got defeated by just one goal at the last minute and they could never forget it.
“…and so, I just scored one more goal and said it was 3-1 now,” he said.
Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk doesn’t have any favourite player, and the two teams that should come up in finals, according to him, is Argentina and Brazil.
“Since Bhutan got no where in the world cup scene, I would not worry who wins; but I would have been very happy if an Asian or African team had reached even the quarter final. I just watch the game now and I really don’t care who win,” said Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba.
While agriculture and forest minister, Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho, like Argentine; Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa, the health minster, was disappointed after watching quarter final, and the finance minster Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu, said he watches football randomly only when he puts his television button during his free time.
Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi, labour and human resources minister, doesn’t have a favourite player, however, he wanted Mexico to win but unfortunately they have run out.
Meanwhile, Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel said that he is happy that world cup is first time held in South Africa
Information and communication minster, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai said, “I have always been a Brazil fan, I don’t care if they win or lose but I know they are going to win.”
Whether Brazil might will win or lose the world cup, it’s hard to predict; the definite fact, however, is that almost all the ministers are watching the world cup despite of their busy schedules.
Definitely everyone is tuned in to “waka waka” the world cup fervor!

Songs of arrow and archery

2010-07-13T05:32:00.001-07:00

A Khasi Poet and writer from Assam, Kynpham Sing, and the Bhutanese folk performer and musicologist, Jigme Drukpa, joined hands to create a melodious muse about archery among the listeners present in the ‘Mountain Echoes’ literary festival.
They talk of bows and arrows, and how music and poetry sprang from one weapon; thus, bonding both the Khasi culture with the Bhutanese culture with the resemblance of song and poetry archery.
“According to Khasi folklore, archery was considered to be a god given game and many unique traditions grew around it. One of such tradition is the unique and inimitable power of traditional form of the khasi poetry,” said Kynpham Sing, talking about the literature of archery in his work ‘Khasi archery, from god given gift to gambling, from folklore to poetry and dream psychology’.
He talked about the two kinds of Khasi archery: the ‘colourful festivity’ (Rong-bi-riya in Khasi) which is not merely an archery competition between two groups or two villages, but a huge community and cultural event; the other kind is ‘shooting by teams’ (Siat-teem in Khasi) which is a form of gambling and tickets are sold in counters in Shillong.
Amusingly in the latter kind of archery, Kynphan Sing said, Khasi people believed in unique numbers based on dream interpretation;
“A dream is analyzed and broken down and related to numbers,” he said, “If you dream of a woman bathing, that is 75, 57 because woman is 7 and water is 5. If you dream of a naked woman, its 50 since woman is 5 and 0 for the roundness and subtleness of a woman. This is the closer view of Khasi archery and the literature behind it.”
Talking about how abusive fervor in Khasi archery poerty, Kynphan Sing said that the archery verse has the use violence, brutal and even sexual images.
Jigme Drukpa, “In Bhutan, archery is done in more in a form of a ritual, rather than a sport. Archery involves almost all the family members and monks as well to recite prayers for the luck of the archers.”
He also said “The Bhutanese musical instrument, Dra-ngym (lute) is said to have sprung from the string of a bow belonging to a hunter. Thus, this musical association between archery and song goes back to antiquity.”
He also said that in Bhutan normally men play archery, while women usually partake in dancing and encourage the players.
According to a research, the history of archery in India can be traced back to the ancient civilization, when bows and arrows were used as a weapon to hunt wild animals and used at the warfare. The heroic efforts of the archers at the battlefield helped gain triumph over several kingdoms. Studies also imply that pines were used for making arrows in the ancient times since they consisted of a long fore shaft and a flint point.
Though there is not much account of Bhutanese archery, yet it is the national sport of Bhutan. It is completely a male sport although women are as much part of the whole affair for their participation in the rituals of dancing and verbal encouragements that come with the game. Sarcastic refrains are often made about the archers by the singing women in an attempt to distract the players from hitting a straight arrow.

Full Employment by 2020

2010-07-13T05:31:00.001-07:00

Ten years from now, DPT government promises full employment.
The key objective in the latest Economic Development Policy plan is to achieve full employment (97.5%) by 2020.
“This EDP is the much more intense and focused document, and we are putting much interest on service sectors which does not impact environment but provides much employment opportunities,” Wangdi Norbu, the finance minister.
He also said that the DPT government has been reviewing and revising existing policies and also adopting new economic measures to address emerging issues such as youth employment and challenges associated with the global integration.
The basic strategies for achieving this mission will be by expanding the economic base with the minimal ecological footprint, harnessing and adding value to natural resources in a sustainable manner, and increasing exports.
Promoting Bhutan as an organic brand and promoting industries that build the brand Bhutan image will also be one of the important strategies for creating employment opportunities.
The priority growth areas are high quality green services, agro and forest based production, energy, information and cultural industry, natural resources, transportation and related services, construction and other manufacturing industries in general.
Since the policy strives for the creation of employment opportunities, there will be financial supports for in-country training and employing skilled Bhutanese beyond what is required by law.
According to the strategy, the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) will provide stipend to the trainees, bearing up to 50% of the training fees. However, such subsidies are applicable only for cottage, small and medium scale businesses and are bound to certain conditions.
Vocational Training Institutes will also provide short term vocational skills improvement trainings programme for people working in private companies.
In a press conference the DPT government has promised to generate 93,000 jobs in the 10th five year plan by creating 18,600 jobs in a year. DPT government says that they have employed 1,200 people lately in the Punatshangchu project.
Currently there are 12,000 youth unemployment in the country according to the latest report.

TB: a threat skulking but forgotten

2010-07-13T05:30:00.003-07:00

Though tuberculosis is no more considered dangerous today, yet it is a global threat infecting about one third of the world’s population presently.
Even if Bhutan has experienced a drastic decline in TB infection rate, the basic concern is why TB is still widespread within the country.
“The notifications of all forms of TB cases in Bhutan have decreased dramatically from 4323 cases in 1991 to 985 cases in 2008,” said a report on Tuberculosis control SAARC region update 2009.
The report also has it that among the total cases notified in 2008, 41% were new extra pulmonary, 36% were smear positive and 15% smear negative.
The growing concern, however, is that maximum number of new smear positive cases occurred within the age group of 15 to 24 years, and surprisingly, the male’s proportion is higher than female’s in all age group except between 35 to 44 and 0 to14 years’ group.
According to the treatment outcome among new smear positive cases in 2007 group, 91% of the TB patients were cured, 2% completed their treatment while 3% died and 3% of treatment failed.
The recent trend of case detection and treatment success rate showed that both were marginally increasing; though the treatment success reached global target in 2005, yet the case detection rate reached global target in 2008.
The future plans to tackle the TB syndrome in Bhutan is by introducing an electronic reporting system for TB by all reporting centers, development of infection control plan, renovation of TB wards various health centers, and development of national policy guidelines for TB patients.
Meanwhile, the government of Bhutan continues to put great emphasis on public health and TB still remains one of the major public health problems in Bhutan. Since its inception in 1976, the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) has been fully integrated into the primary health care system.
According to the 2009 annual health bulletin, a total of 984 cases are registered, out of which Thimphu and Chukha has the highest number of TB patients, while Gasa and Haa have almost no TB patients so far.
Based on the inspection and survey data, World Health Organization, estimated that 9.27 million new cases of TB occurred in 2007 that is 139 per 100000 populations. Altogether there are currently about two billion people suffering from TB worldwide.

Media questions the SAARC Committee

2010-07-13T05:30:00.001-07:00

SAARC Secretary General and Chairperson of Standing Committee answers the Media queries

“This is very important historic event for Bhutan on hosting 16th SAARC summit. Bhutan is a founding member of the association but this is the first summit we are hosting. Hosting this summit demonstrates our strengthened national capacity, delivering the fulfillment of all the responsibilities and privileges of the members of the association,” said the chairperson of Standing Committee, Daw Penjo.
For the event of this magnitude, Bhutan has been working very hard so that Bhutan’s preparations were conducive to smooth and successful proceedings. Security arrangements have received the propriety attention for understandable reasons. Bhutan have also received great support from the public, communities and private individuals, making this truly a national undertaking, he said.
More than 50 journalists from various national and international media organizations questioned the SAARC Secretary General, Dr Sheel Kant Sharma and Ambassador Daw Penjo, on the issues concerning the SAARC submit at the press conference yesterday.
“What types of decisions you are going to take to remove this suspicion among the member states? After the silver jubilee of the SAARC, are you going to form any charter for democracy to strengthen the democratic institution in South East Asia since even Bhutan had entered democracy recently?”
Ambassador Daw Penjo said, “it is the endeavor of Bhutan to create a very conducive environment in receiving our distinguished and honored guests from all the member states, and despite the limitations, we hope that the visiting dignitaries would be able to exchange a free and frank interaction and for that purpose, not only during the period of the official meetings and interactions as have been structured so far, one specific model has been fantasized where the leaders will have an opportunity, free from the press and the officials, to interact in a very informal setting. So, in creating such an environment, we hope to enable our leaders from the SAARC member states to meet each other outside the glare of media and officials.
Regarding the democratization of all the South East Asian the member countries, we are very happy that now all the states have now democratically elected government, this is one issue which has received attention in the major global government meeting, this would be adequately or appropriately reflected in the important outcome of the summit that will be the declaration of the summit.
Has SAARC lived up to its dream and its ambition?
“It is fair to say we are a very young regional organization and in terms of achievements, the very fact that Bhutan is hosting this summit and being able to get the leaders get together, in itself, is a big achievement,” said Ambassador Daw Penjo.
Secretary General of SAARC, Dr Sheel Kant Sharma said, “In its 25 years, SAARC has accomplished quite a good compass of longitude and legal instrument. It started in 1987 to address the question of terrorism, with an instrument on suppression of terrorism, later they added an additional protocol on preventing the financing of terrorism in 2004. In 2008, the last summit in Kaula Lampur they also agreed on an instrument which is for mutual legal resistance on criminal matters. These are small things but now, the whole world has realized that terrorism can be addressed only with dedicated, meticulous and systematic work and not by high-predicting dramatic work. Therefore, SAARC has been addressing these matters in that very modest but meticulous manner.”
Why an important issue like the agreement on the disaster response mechanism was rejected by the SAARC committee?
“In SAARC everything works by concusses and it’s not an organization where majority rule prevails, since we had received the indications that more studies are required. It is not that this agreement was rejected by any particular party but it required at an expert level,” said Ambassador Daw Penjo.
Meanwhile, Bhutan is receiving almost 400 delegates from the member countries and 50 delegates from the nine observer states, and expecting about 300 journalists both from the region and the international agencies.

Combating HIV, TB and Malaria

2010-07-13T05:29:00.003-07:00

HIV, tuberculosis and malaria being the deadliest diseases in the country, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is proposing for a ‘Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria’ to combat these syndromes.
Since this Global Fund requires broad participation of all the stakeholders in project development and implementation, the MoH held a meeting with the stakeholders to finalize the proposal theme.
“The basic focuses of the meeting were to create a theme for Round 10 Proposals, and to initiate an overall aims and objectives; to make work plans and the indicators to be achieved in future; to build up broad strategies, also to identify possible partnerships and to develop a road map for the proposal development,” said a spokesperson from the MoH.
Each year the Global Fund round consists of a round; in 2002 the round 2 took place; in 2003 round 3 and it this year it has reached up to round 10. The rough submission date for Global Fund round 10 proposal is on August 2010.
The existing global fund in Bhutan is $ 3.2 million in round 6 for HIV/AIDS; in round 6 $ 1.4 million for TB; in round 4 $ 0.94 million for TB; in round 4 $ 1.7 million for Malaria and in round 7 $ 2.6 million for malaria.
As per the prior schemes, the total number of cases tested for malaria using microscopy was 1800 in 2008 and 20,806 by 2010. The number of malaria cases treated as per national treatment guideline was 250 in 2008 and 400 by 2010.
The total number of people availed with HIV counseling and testing was 1,004 in 2008 and 21,843 by 2010, while the total percentage of patients cured from TB was 90% in 2008 and 88% by 2010.
The current Implementing partners in the scheme are ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Human Resources, Royal Institute of Health Sciences, Drug Regulatory Authority, Royal Bhutan Police, Royal Bhutan Army, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dratshang Lhentshog.
The ‘Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria’ is an independent partnership between Bhutan governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities.
It is dedicated to raising and investing large amounts of additional finance to support the rapid scale up of measures to prevent and treat AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Unlike conventional donors, the Global Fund gives money to country and not to government.
Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the main source of finance for programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US$ 19.3 billion for more than 572 programs in 144 countries.
The previous rounds of Global Fund failed because of low disease prevalence for HIV or AIDS, lack of broader participation of stakeholders, weak technical working committee, and absence of registered NGOs, CBOs and affected communities in the proposal development plans. Low grant performance and low fund absorption of previous grants were also basic reasons.

Echoing in the mountains of Thimphu

2010-07-13T05:29:00.001-07:00

Mountain Echoes, the first literary and cultural festival in Bhutan, will be echoing in Thimphu till May 20.
More than 50 well-known writers from India and Bhutan will be participating in this literary get-together for the first time in the history of Bhutan.
“The arts and humanity plays a crucial role in developing a precision and deeper understanding of different cultures, and I am confident that the participants and the audience will have a rewarding experience. It is indeed very timely that Bhutan is hosting its very first literary festival,” said Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, yesterday.
“Bhutan has a very rich tradition of all literature, some of which are only now being captured by the band. Regarding such literature, in the written form, is becoming increasingly important in today’s age, when the interest of our youth is leaning towards the visual world of television and other distractions,” said the Queen Mother, “Therefore, I am very happy that Mountain Echoes is happening in Bhutan and I hope this event will further infuse love of reading and inspire creative writing in our youth.”
Lyonchhen Jigme Y. Thinley, the Prime Minister said, “The writers make us think and reflect on the monotony of everyday life, to see meaning of futility in the things we do and how we live. They often cause us to be amused or even be embarrassed with our own idiosyncrasies, thankfully in the sobering and silent company of books.”
“Through reflection and contemplation, and via literature, we are provoked, inspired and persuaded to transform ourselves and sometimes, the very values that guide us. It is what makes us grow as human individuals and as intelligent, analytical and discerning people, mindful of others sense and sensibilities; that is why writers employ the power of language, our agent of transformation.” Said the Lyonchhen.
More than 38 renounced writers and poets, from India and Bhutan, like Bulbul Sharma, Chetan Bhagat, Gulzar, Jai Arjun Singh, and John Elliott will be participating as the speakers in the festival; and similarly, the well known writers from Bhutan, like Dasho Karma Ura, Dasho Kinley Dorji, Kunzang Choden, Tashi Pem will also partake as the speakers.
Dasho Karma Ura is well known in country for his work, ‘The Hero with a Thousand Eyes’ and others. Likewise, Kunzang Choden is popular for her writings on Bhutanese oral traditions, folklores and women. Dasho Kinley Dorji, is the author of ‘Within the Realms of Happiness’.
Bulbul Sharma is the author of ‘A Book of Indian Birds’, and her other published short stories are ‘My Sainted Aunts’, ‘The Perfect Women’, and ‘The Anger of Aubergines’.
Chaten Bhagat is the author of the novels, ‘Five Point Someone’ and ‘One Night @ the Call Center’ which had inspired major Bollywood movies.
Manang Dai is a poet, writer and a journalist, popular for her work ‘Anurachal Pradesh: the Hidden Land’; Kynpham Sing is also a poet and short fiction writer, know for his work, ‘Around the Hearth: Khasi legends’. Namita Gokhale is a novalist and a publisher, known for her books, ‘Paro: Dreams of Passion’, ‘A Himalayan Love Story’ and ‘In Search of Sita’.
Gulzar is an Indian celebrity poet, lyricist, filmmaker and writer, who had written well known Hindi films like ‘Anand’, ‘Guddi’, and ‘Namak Haram’. He also authored many books on poetry and shared the Oscar with A R Rahman for the best original song for the film ‘Slumdog Millionarie’.
Bollywood actors like Boman Irani and Rahul Bose will also be participating in the festival.
This three days’ festival is organized by the India-Bhutan Foundation in association with Siyahi, India’s leading literary consultancy based in Jaipur, India. The festival aims to provide a platform for authors to engage in a cultural dialogue and celebrate the tales of a shared landscape in the Himalayan region.

With Love from Bhutan

2010-07-13T05:28:00.003-07:00

“All the SAARC countries believe in the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Bhutan is going to seize the opportunity to share with the member countries the philosophy of GNH which Bhutan has been following in its development policy,” said Lyonchen Jigme Y. Thinley in the media press conference yesterday.
Bhutanese philosophy of Gross National Happiness will be promoted as the possible development model for the SAARC countries during the event.
In one of his speeches before, Lyonchen said, “First we have now clearly distinguished the ‘happiness’ component in GNH from the fleeting, pleasurable ‘feel good’ moods so often associated with that term. We know that true abiding happiness cannot exist while others suffer, and comes only from serving others, living in harmony with nature, and realizing our innate wisdom and the true and brilliant nature of our own minds.”
Similarly, in the ‘meet the press’ forum, Lyonchen had said that the GNH is about equity and in terms of equity it is about democracy. It is about having the capacity and the power to determine one’s own future, shaping one’s own future. It is about true empowerment.
While understanding, defining and wrapping in our minds the so-called GNH philosophy has been the basic motivation of the Bhutanese people, Bhutan has gained a worldwide admiration and recognition for this unique vision lately.
GNH had been defined as a development path that judiciously balances sustainable and equitable economic development with environmental conservation, good governance, and the dynamism and wisdom of our profound and ancient culture.

Wherever they go, they create news

2010-07-13T05:28:00.001-07:00

Introducing few media Icons who confirmed their visits yesterday

Wherever they go, they create news- such media icons are visiting Bhutan for the SAARC submit for the first time.
Popular journalists like Steven L Herman, Barkha Dutt, Christopher Morris, Suhasini S Haidar, Emily H Wax, Sharon Roobol, are among the few who have just confirmed their visit yesterday.
“More than 108 international journalists have confirmed their visits yesterday, and we have already accommodated 40 journalists who have arrived yesterday,” said Rigzin from the Ministry of Information and Communications.
He said that more than 110 rooms have already been booked in 10 hotels within Thimphu, while the ministry is still expecting more arrivals and preparing for additional accommodation at the same time.
He also said that the arrival of other individual media journalists will be looked upon by the ministry.
Yesterday, the ministry received confirmations from the journalists from various countries like America, France, Japan, China, India, Thailand and Bangladesh.
These reporters are from popular news organizations like the Washington Post and the Voice of America in USA, La Tribune and Pelerin in France, BBC and Aaj Tak in New Delhi, and Financial Times in France; Fuji Television in Thailand, Nikkei Inc in Japan; and People’s Daily and China Radio International in China.
Overall more than 300 journalists are expected to arrive for the submmit soon.
Among them, Steven L Herman is the South Asia bureau chief and a radio and TV correspondent for the Voice of America, who will be visiting Bhutan again. From 1996 to 2000, he was the senior executive in Japan for the parent company of Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. As a wanderlust journalist Steven has reported from dozens of Asian countries already.
Similary, Barkha Dutt is another popular TV journalist and columnist, currently NDTV group editor, who will be visiting Bhutan for the first time. She gained fame for her reportage of the Kargil War, winning many national and international awards, including the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour.
Another in list is Christopher Morris from the BBC news, he is also an English comedian, writer, director, actor and former radio DJ. He began his career in radio before moving into television. He found fame in the nineties fronting the spoof current affairs shows The Day Today and Brass Eye and became known for his intelligent yet often highly-controversial brand of comedy.
Likewise, Suhasini Haidar is the deputy foreign editor and prime-time anchor for CNN-IBN, regularly anchoring its award-winning show like India@9. She regularly covers the sub-continent, frequently reporting from Pakistan. Suhasini’s also been in the field covering elections in Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir for CNN-IBN.
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Emily Wax covers the conflict in the Sudan for the Washington Post. She has reported for the Trenton Times, freelanced for Newsday, and covered schools and immigrant communities for the Washington Post. She will be visiting Bhutan for the first time.
Sharon Roobol is a producer in a popular news channel Al Jazeera International news, headquartered in Doha. He is responsible for commissioning and acquiring documentaries from the Asia regions. Sharon previously produced news and long form current affairs programming for ABC Australia's Europe Bureau, as well as working for the ABC and the Nine Network at Parliament House in Canberra.
Meanwhile, the MoIC has established ‘Media Center’ with 15 computers and free WiFi internet facilities for media support, especially for foreign journalists, and also press conference room with a capacity to accommodate about 300 journalists.

Questioning the Council of Ministers

2010-07-13T05:27:00.003-07:00

SAARC Council of Ministers converse with the Journalists

“As our Lyonchhen already remarked that Thimphu is today not only the capital of Bhutan, but for the next few days until the conclusion of the sixteenth SAARC Summit, Thimphu will be capital of South East Asia,” Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers in a press conference yesterday.
Highlighting on some of the key outcomes of the discussions of the 32nd SAARC council of Ministers, Lyonpo said that Bhutan is pleased to welcome the participation of all our regions’ Foreign Ministers, and humbled by the privilege of serving as the chair of the session.
Lyonpo said, “We took stock of the implications of decisions of the dignitaries and our commitments of the 15th SAARC Summit held in Colombo in August 2008 and the 31st session of Council of Ministers also held in Colombo in February 2009. We considered the report of the 37th session of the Standing Committee, convened by our foreign secretaries over the past two days.”
“We also considered the reports and records of nine SAARC ministers’ meetings related to finance, children, environment, SAFTA, transport, education and SAARC awards among others. The session resulted in significant progress that will advance the objectives outline in the SAARC Charter, mainly to promote the welfare of the people of South Asia, to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region,” said Lyonpo.
He added that at 25 years of this Summit, the foreign ministers, now, recognized the importance of taking stock of the achievements of the associations through its quarter of decade of existence.
“For this purpose they considered the establishment of a mechanism to generate debate both within and beyond the governments of the region to exchange views on a vision statement for South Asian The vision statement will charter the future cause of SAARC in the medium and long run, and outline necessary improvements that maybe required to existing SAARC mechanisms,” Lyonpo said.
On being asked if SAARC has any vision to ease the visa restriction in the region since SAARC is initiating a huge connectivity in the region, the Lyonpo said that SAARC is a region where there inter regional connectivity in all its forms, be it infrastructure or transport or movement of people, it is not well-connected. So in order to have a meaningful development and cooperation between our government, countries and our people, it is necessary to improve the connectivity.
“Transport ministers in there last meeting, have agreed to devote the next decade to enhance inter-regional connectivity and in terms of the movement of people among member countries, we will; continue our discussion on finding means and ways to improve and facilitate the movement our people, and thus, improve the connectivity in that point of view,” Lyonpo said.
Stressing about the climate change theme, Lyonpo said that all the SAARC countries are united in meeting the challenges of the climate change, and that the council is proposing an inter-governmental meeting where all the experts from the regional countries will be invited to sit together and come to a common solution.
The Secretary General of SAARC Committee, Dr Sheel Kant Sharma said that in the 15th Summit in Colombo there was a discussion to get the SAARC Development Fund operational, that has been done, the SDF will be inaugurated today, and the CEO for SDF has been appointed yesterday by the Council of Ministers.
He added that for trade focalization, things like customs coordination, harmonization of standards, and para and non-tariff barriers, all these things were being worked through upon SAARC mechanism.
“The inter SAARC trade under SAFTA certificates of origin has gone up to 688 million dollars up to December 2009, which is a significant amount considering the fact that there was nothing when we first started,” he said.

Goshi Bazaar: at the Verge of disappearance

2010-07-13T05:27:00.001-07:00

Dagapela: The tiny rotting log cabins, painted in unusual blue, disappearing in the mist of rain and time, Goshi bazaar is a tiny settlement that is at the verge of disappearance.
Untouched by modernity, Goshi bazaar joyfully basks in the purity of the rustic ways of life, unaware of the fact that it has stopped growing.
“Goshi bazaar has seen very less changes ever since I can recollect,” said a resident, “there were about 10 to 12 shops a decade back and now we have around 20 shops altogether.”
Almost 50% of residents here are the residents who had migrated from the other villages near Gelephu and other border areas during the early 1990s Ngolops (Anti-nationals) problems.
Though there is no profit in running business in Goshi bazaar, yet these occupants have no other options or places to go but to continue their quiet lives there.
“We left all our land and houses, and came here with the hope to restart a new life but to our disappointment, we are still landless and houseless,” said a resident who has requested the local government for land several times but received no reply till date.
Nima Sherpeni, 55, is another bar owner who has been running a bar-cum-grocery for 10 years now despite of earning very less income. Her house rent is Nu 3000 per month and she earns about Nu 1500-2000 a day which is just enough to survive at the end of the month.
Saraswati Thini, 46, runs a small grocery shop and she earns only about Nu 500 a day. At the end of the month, she earns about Nu 10,000 excluding her other expenditures and house rents.
“Though it is unprofitable, yet we have no other options but to continue with the business,” she said, “most of us have no land to work on or other job options.”
Most shopkeepers bring their goods from Gelephu which is a day away from Dagapela gewog. The products become Nu 5 to 10 more when sold in Goshi Bazaar.
“Most of our products either get spoiled or eaten by rats before we make any money at all,” said a shopkeer, “business here, is very hopeless yet we are compelled to carry on for survival.”
According to the bazaar chimmi, Bishnu Lal, the new town planning has been proposed but not yet finalized.
“The present location is very congested and there is no space for further extension, therefore, a new town plan scheme is urgently needed,” he said.
He also added that there is extreme water shortage in the area since there is no proper water supply and the residents entirely depend on natural source like rain and seasonal pond.
“In dry seasons, which last for months, we are left with not a single drop of water at times,” he said, “we have requested the concerned authority to initiate new schemes for our town but to no avail.”
Goshi bazaar is more than 50 years old and it is presently known as Dagapela thorm. There are altogether 40 houses and about 500 people occupying the tiny location. The bazaar falls under Tshendagang gewog.

A brand called ‘Bhutan’

2010-07-13T05:26:00.002-07:00

The view that Bhutan introduced the unique concept of GNH by bringing about a paradigm shift in the nation development theory will serve as the basic foundation for the upcoming ‘Brand Bhutan’ theme.
Developing the Brand Bhutan in natural resources, tourism, culture, handicrafts, textiles and agro produce is one of the major priorities of the Economic Development Policy (EDP) released yesterday by the Royal Government of Bhutan.
“Bhutan is admired the world over for the unique socio-economic development in which the environment, culture and basic human values have not been compromised,” said Tengye Lyonpo Khandu Wangdi, “ It is imperative to build on this firm foundation and accelerate economic growth while staying faithful to the guiding philosophy of GNH.”
The fact that Bhutan is a nation where tradition and culture still plays a vital role on the daily lives of people, and it’s highest priority being environment conservation with at least 60% of land area reserved for forest cover, would also form the basis for Brand Bhutan, with an effort to maintain its uniqueness.
“Brand Bhutan will be sold through the story of Bhutan. This brand will be an umbrella brand under which there will be sector brands to assist exporters in a achieving the targets and getting due recognition,” the EDP report says.
It also said that the sector brands will be supported to consistently meet standards, marketing and sales promotion and all these will be linked to enhancement of the quality of human resources in the country.
Textile and handicrafts will be promoted through the Bhutan SEAL and agro based products through fair trade and organic certification, while industrial products will have to comply with the highest manufacturing standards, services with the best standards that exist for hospitality.
The key growth areas of economic opportunities focused in the Brand Bhutan are the high quality green services which include high end education, health services and traditional medicines, tourism and hospitality.
The other includes the agro and forest based production like organic farming, forest based products; and energy generation like hydro electricity, solar and wind energy and other renewable energy.
The information and cultural industry, comprising of film and media, handicrafts, textiles and fine arts will also be the main areas of focus.
The report has it that the promotion of Brand Bhutan shall address both the supply side and demand side and to do so will mean drawing on the resources that the country has to offer while incorporating the preferences and taste of the consumers overseas.
Since these areas are identified as the highest potential to generate wealth, employment and sustainable growth within the framework of GNH, these areas will receive encouragement and support from the RoGB.
“This for instance would mean that the brightness of our textiles get sublimed in the sober colours hat the affluent Western markets prefer or our paintings maintain the same details of the past but are subtle in colour,” says the report.
It also says that the success of the country’s environment conservation efforts shall be one of the main drivers for developing the Brand Bhutan theme.
The question, however, is that will the world buy the Brand Bhutan just because it knows Bhutan as a unique country; thus, it is argued that Brand Bhutan must create the demand for brands that consumers recognize and want to buy.
The question, also, is how far GNH will take Bhutan in terms of economic opportunities.

Kabney: a status symbol and anti-GNH?

2010-07-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

When an ordinary civilian in a white kabney (scarf) bows before a Dasho adorned in his coloured kabney, it is often asked, how is Bhutan reconciling its quest for an egalitarian society brimming with the values of Gross National Happiness (GNH)?
Outsiders have often wondered if kabney was a status symbol in Bhutanese society; while the natives doubted their own readiness to accept the hues that categorize the people.
“I think it has become a symbol in our society today; a symbol not of positions and prestige but of different cadre of profession. The legislature is given blue, the judiciary is given green, while the executive retains white and those with cabinet ranks wear orange,” said Trongsa MP Jagar Dorji.
“However, those who interpret kabney as a symbol of position are, perhaps, expressing their own views. Well, in my view, only red kabney is symbolic of the honour which they receive from the Druk Gyalpo. In an earlier National Assembly resolution it was required that all those kabneys worn while in a certain jobs had to go back to white kabney. Therefore, it is not a symbol of position but of professional cadre.”
He also said, “GNH and kabney are two different things. GNH is a philosophical guide to how we live as individuals in a society and how we view development. GNH draws its inspiration from the state of our mind. Kabney, on the other hand, is only a physical object that serves some social and spiritual purpose.”
In the olden days kabney was a multipurpose item. It was used to carry luggage, as a pillow while halting for a night, and also as a mark of respect while visiting temples, dzongs and dignitaries, and also as a shield if you happen to meet an unfriendly companion on the way.
Today, it is only used as a mark of respect while its other utilities have become a past tradition. However, this is how Bhutan is seen by the world and our kabney is a part and parcel of our formal attire, he added.

However, a civil servant said, “Now as we look around, all the coloured kabneys openly signifies status and rank as the common people wear white signifying his lowest rank in the society. There is nothing wrong in those coloured kabneys, and let the status holders wear it with pride exhibiting their rank and position. However, white kabney should be done away with since in a democratic society discrimination of any kind is inappropriate and intolerable.”
According to the Chief Justice, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgay, Kabney is not a status symbol. In fact, it has religious values and historical significances. It has played a significant role in promoting and protecting our culture. Status is an inherent nature of human being that deciphers not necessarily status but promotes and recognizes virtues and achievements.
He also said that without kabney and patang, Bhutan could have been totally westernized while Bhutan’s drive is to modernize, and not to westernize.
“The implication of status is anti-thesis to democracy. Rank structure in military and protocol civil life would have been abolished, conversely both of these progress symbiotically. Kabney is, therefore, not anti-democracy,” he said.
He also added that Gross National Happiness (GNH) is not in application of the past- one of the four pillars is culture and it is the constitutional provision under Article 4.
A retired civil servant said that in an egalitarian society, to maintain peace and harmony, a symbolic like kabney is required which replicates mutual understanding and respect for each other, be it a layman or a minister.
“Wearing a colourless Kabney or a coloured kabney does not matter unless a civilian and a dasho shares a mutual respect and bows before the one who is worthy of respect,” he said.

Rendezvous with Chetan Baghat

2010-07-13T05:25:00.001-07:00

The writer who touched a cord with young readers in India and abroad, Chetan Baghat is the author of the books like ‘Five Point Someone’ and ‘One night @ the Call Center’ which inspired Bollywood movies, and also wrote ‘The 3 mistakes of my Life’ and ‘2 states’.
This much loved writer was an investment banker before he became a writer.
On being asked how an investment banker like him became an author and why he called himself ‘the poster boy of Indian middle class success’:
Chetan Baghat, at the Mountain Echoes literary fair, said, “When I first wrote the book, it wasn’t out of any great intention of affecting the young generation. Actually I was working in a Bank and I had a really bad boss. He was not really promoting me and not giving me a raise, just kept insulting me and all that. So I thought I have to take my revenge on him. I thought now how to take my revenge.”
“There is that LBDN (Look Busy Do Nothing) strategy and I thought I will write and that’s how I started writing my first book. My boss started thinking what has come to him, this boy has started working so hard, always on a computer. That is how the books got completed. Still I continued to work in the bank and I left only last year after three books.”
He said that when he first started writing he did not know that any of his books would be so popular. In fact the books were rejected many times and he started to feel, “Maybe it is not that good book but okay I should try to get it publish.”
“I am a non-traditional root guy, and I regretfully made that Indian middle class boy statement because now it has been reproduced too many times. I have come from the traditional root where you do your class X, class XII and then you prepare and get into engineering, then MBA. I am exactly what your parents will want you to do and also what kids want to do. I am that perfect family boy over there. Parents don’t hesitate to say that become like Chetan.”
Talking about his writing genre and style, he said that lots of the writers start by imitating accomplished writers, but he just wanted to write;
“I really wish it was like that…like I have to represent the youth but it was not. It was revenge against this horrible man!” he said.
He added that once he went to the publishing houses he realized that a certain style and other standards were needed, and also that there was a vast market within India and abroad, but they would like to hear a good story.
“A book is done well but still it lacks relevance. Youths don’t really see the point especially in fictions,” he said that youths ask him what they will gain from his books.
“They say, personality development hogay ki nai,” he said, “...and I say, Aray English seek lo yaar!”
The New York Times called Chetan the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history. He is seen more as a youth icon than just an author, this IIT D/ IIMA graduate is making India read like never before.
Chetan also writes columns for leading English and Hindi newspapers, focusing on youth and national development based issues. Many of the issues raised by Chetan’s columns have been discussed in Parliament and among the top leadership of the country.
“The columns gave me a separate outlet. Hindi was a choice and I started writing Hindi columns first before English columns,” he said, “It is a unique position to be in and I think it is better. More than just being a writer, I am interested in the influence part it involves in writing.”
Chetan quit his international investment banking career in 2009, to devote his entire time to writing and make change happen in the country. Today he lives in Mumbai with his wife and his twin boys.

Laws without teeth to bite

2010-07-13T05:24:00.003-07:00

Untold stories of the vulnerable employees abused by their powerful bosses

Penjor (name changed) unexpectedly received an office order one day, transferring him to a remote, two days’ walk away village, without any transfer benefits while his boss unreasonably charged him of neglecting his duties.
He appealed to the Dzongkhag authority for investigation of the allegation and restoration of his post but to no avail. He fought back for his rights but lost against the supremacy of his superior head.
“After sincerely serving my job for a year, I have been victimized by the administration of the Dagana Dzongkhag in several ways. I was forced to accept a punishment transfer for negligence of duty and transfer without benefit and the psychological harassment,” said Penjor.
Penjor appealed to the Anti-corruption Committee and the Royal Civil Service Commission for support and investigation but his request was rejected on the ground that it was an internal administrative problem.
“The ACC official said that they are helpless about such issues,” he said, “at such situations, we feel so unprotected and insecure; thus, there is a need for a committee for the protection of vulnerable employees like us.”
Similarly, Karma Dema (name changed), an employee in private company in Thimphu, was asked to resign from her job without a warrant after she accidently dropped office equipment which disappointed her boss.
“My boss made it compulsory for me to resign on unjustified ground while as per the official bond I was entitled to work for three years,” she said, “though it was an obvious wrongdoing, yet I could not justify my cause or fight back since I felt defenseless and unprotected.”
Another employee in a private sector told Bhutan Today that he was deprived of his allowances and salary when he proposed his resignation to his company head.
“I was disappointed since it was very unfair for my boss to react so irrationally and rob me of my payments just because I opted for better job else where,” he said.
In the same way, a teacher in a primary school in East was asked to quit his job without any benefits when he had some argument with the school heads.
“At the moment we don’t have any such civil rights committee or employee’s protection bills in our country,” said an official from RCSC, “however, we are instigating a similar civil servant bill that would protect the rights of the vulnerable employees in future.”

Housewives top latest HIV detection

2010-07-13T05:24:00.001-07:00

Lately 32 new HIV positive cases were detected in Bhutan within the 8 months survey done from December last year till date.
Surprisingly, housewives top the HIV infected persons’ list.
Out of 32, 10 are housewives, 10 corporate/private employees, eight from the business community, and one each from civil servant, farmers, minors and trainees, says the press release from the health ministry.
Five were diagnosed through medical checkup and screening, 15 through contact tracing, 11 voluntary testing, and one case was identified as mother to child transmission.
The total HIV positive cases detected in Bhutan till date amounts to 217 out of estimated 500 cases.
Out of this 110 are male patients and 107 are females; while 43 patients have died and 46 of them are on anti-retroviral drugs.
31 of the patients got infected through heterosexual route and one from mother to child transmission.
The general population survey (2006) has it that 99% of the people have heard about condoms and 84.4% are using condom during sex-workers.
However, the report says that by 2015 Bhutan has to half the spread of HIV and began to reverse the trend.
Therefore, the health ministry will carry out awareness campaigns on HIV to most at risk population, also improve HIV testing, counseling and treatment facilities; promote and make condom easily available.
These patients were infected 8-9 years ago; “It also shows that our awareness effort and service provision is encouraging more people to come forward for HIV test. We are encouraged that more people from risky behavior are seeking our counseling services and treatment facility,” says the health ministry spokesperson.

Endorsing ‘High Value Low Impact’ Tourism

2010-07-13T05:23:00.003-07:00

Tourism in Bhutan will be guided by the new standard of ‘high value low impact tourism’ by promoting Bhutan as a ‘Buddhist circuit destination’.
Both the rural and domestic tourism will be given chief attention to promote and expand the rural economy in the country.
“Sustainable tourism shall be promoted for socio-economic development by minimizing negative impacts and taking advantage of the country’s unique cultural and spiritual heritage as well as natural environment through high value tourism,” says the Economic Development Policy (EDP).
The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) has promised to develop institutional framework to promote tourism by creating conditions to allow more competition, improvement of services, greater choices for visitors and equitable spread of benefits.
“The Royal Government shall diversify tourism products having comparative advantage and with special emphasis on nature based activities including wellness tourism, spiritual and promotion of Bhutan as a Buddhist circuit destination,” the EDP says.
RGoB is planning to focus on product diversification activities that would contribute to the development of the country’s cultural and natural heritage products in line with the ‘high value, low impact’ policy, and also create more reasonable and balanced development focusing on tourism deficient areas.
“Promotion of rural tourism shall be a priority and avenues shall be explored including community based tourism,” the EDP says, “a Tourism Act shall be considered as priority legislation, and shall be in place by 2011 as a legal instrument to guide the overall tourism development in the country.”
Domestic tourism will be encouraged for sustainable tourism development. The construction of domestic airports and the opening of places like Merak and Sakten and local holy sites will also be an aspect of promoting domestic tourism.
This local tourism will see improvements like promoting parks, theme based attractions and accommodation facilities. Besides, the domestic tourism will also be promoted to cater to pilgrims within Bhutan.
According to the economics affairs minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, most Bhutanese pilgrims go outside the country but soon, our holy places will be promoted so that the local Bhutanese can visit them.
The EDP states that it will be the key focus of RGoB to spread the benefits to a larger proportion of the population through the creation of forward and backward linkages and diversification of livelihood opportunities especially for contribution to rural economy.
Similarly the areas that have tourism potential including protected areas shall be identified and developed nationwide to promote the tourist industry.
“Exit or entry points through Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar shall be developed and made customer friendly. Air connectivity shall also be extended and regional airstrips developed,” says the EDP.
Bhutan will also see many tourism and hospitality services training institution being availed in future to impart relevant courses of international standard through the development of appropriate curriculum.
The other priorities will be the establishment of new tourism clusters with appropriate services and activities, promotion of local cuisine, art and crafts and traditional medicine, and the promotion and conservation of natural and cultural heritage.
In order to improve the accommodation standards and services for foreign tourists in the country, a hotel classification system with emphasis on green features will be implemented by 2010.

BOB: still going strong

2010-07-13T05:23:00.001-07:00

While new banks are mushrooming and enjoying the limelight, Bhutan’s oldest bank, Bank of Bhutan, without qualms, declares it’s apex net profit so far and it’s assurance to thrive well in future.
BOB’s net profit in 2009 stands at Nu 472 million, higher than Nu 167 million in 2008, and it’s capital has increased from Nu 200 million to Nu 400 million lately.
“The dividend declared for the year 2009 is Nu 144 million and the earnings per share in 2009 is Nu 1179.01 which is much higher than Nu 838.10 in 2008,” said Kinga Tshering, the chief executive officer of BOB.
He added that, with its core banking network across the country, BOB is trying to not only increase the efficiency of the customer services but also expand its business through cross selling of other products those are provided currently by the other corporate clients
“Most of these corporate clients in the rural areas have the same customer base as that of the bank and so it makes perfect sense to synergize our services so that the customers can truly benefit the concept of the ‘One Stop Shop’,” he said.
Besides, BOB is the only bank that provides Sunday banking facilities in Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Gelephu which allows basic banking transactions and services for those people who have been extremely busy during the week days.
The CEO said that Sunday banking will be one of the main differentiating factors in the branches in the future because a lot of people from the rural areas visit the main urban centers in the Dzongkhags only on the weekends where most of the branches are located.
Internet banking has really allowed people the conveniences of banking from the comfort of their own homes, and today, BOB has about 5000 registered internet banking users and their transactions have been steadily increasing, he said.
“This allows customers to carry out various transactions through their personal computers and reduces the number of footfalls in the bank, thus reducing the crowds, and improving services for those visiting the branches,” he said.
In 2008, the Bank embarked on a massive technology drive with the implementation of its Core Banking Solutions (CBS) for its branches that has enabled the bank to provide modern delivery services like internet banking, sms alerts and nationwide ATM services.
Another success is the launch of teacher’s laptop scheme comprising of Nu 100 million for about 3000 laptops and desktops availed to most of the school teachers in every dzongkhags , thus enhancing the efficiency of the education system in lesson planning.
The CEO also said that being the oldest bank in the country has been a big advantage as the brand name has been well established.
“Despite the very aggressive competition that the bank will be facing from the new private and international players in the market, BOB is very confident about its success in the long term,” he said.
Bank of Bhutan is the oldest and the largest bank in the country established in 1968 by the Third King. Currently it has 200,000 accounts with 27 branches in the Dzongkhags .

On Balance with Leila Seth

2010-07-13T05:22:00.001-07:00

On Balance with Leila Seth, the first woman Chief Justice of a High Court in India, the first woman judge of the Delhi High Court and the first woman to top the Bar examination in London

Q. You mentioned that the book ‘On Balance’ was the 80th B’day gift for your husband, so can you tell us why did you think of writing an autobiography while you were almost 70 when you wrote this book?
Leila Seth: When the editor of Penguin came to spend a week with me in Simla since my son Vikram Seth was there as well, the editor said that I have such and interesting life and when I think of retire I should write a book and Vikram also endorsed that. Many people told me that readers will be interested in reading how I balanced my career and home as a woman judge, but still I didn’t write.
Eventually after the birth of my grand daughter, I thought maybe I won’t be alive to tell her the story of my own life, so I should write, and that is what actually pushed me to write.
Then I decided I must give myself a deadline otherwise it will never get done, and I gave myself a deadline with my husband’s 80th birthday.

Q. You, of course, are known as a judge but you almost never became one as your first career choice was to become a nun and your second career choice was a Montessori teacher, how did you get into the law?
Leila Seth: As a child I always wanted to study hard and go abroad. When my father died I was 11 years old and so I knew that there was no chance, so when I got married when I was 19 then I had Vikram, and later my husband was posted to England.
Then, having one child, I thought that I am in England now and I have to do something and start a course. I also realized that with a child, husband and a family to look after, it won’t be easy to go for any kind of regular course. Then I bought a book called ‘Careers Encyclopedia’ and I found in that book that you didn’t need official attendance, that’s was the only reason why I went for the Law though I had no particular interest in law.
Q. Did you face any discrimination as a woman lawyer since at that time there weren’t much woman in that profession?
Leila Seth: I didn’t face any discrimination when I was studying in England but certainly, when I came back to India, as a beginner you have to join a senior lawyer for one year, and then you are entitled to go and argue yourself.
Later I decided to join Sachin Chaudhary’s chamber (who became the finance minster later). When I met him, he asked me why I was there, and he told me that it is not a very good profession for young woman. He said for a young woman, its proper to get married first and I told him I am. Then, he said I should have a child, and I said I have. He then said it not fair to have only one child and I should have two children, so I said I have two children. So, he said to me, “well that is it, you are a persuasive young woman, come and join my chamber.”
You would have never asked a young man those questions; therefore, it was very difficult for a woman in such profession.

Leila Seth was the first woman Chief Justice in India and she graduated as an IAS officer in 1958, became chief justice of Himachal Pradesh in 1991, and served for 6 years.
She was the Chair of the Commonwealth Human Rights Institute for several years, and sees "the main aim of social action litigation as the provision of a decent standard of living to working people".
Born in 1930, she enrolled in the Calcutta High Court in 1959 and the Supreme Court of India in the same year. Three months after giving birth to her youngest child she topped the London bar exams, the first woman to do so, and went on to become India's first woman chief justice. She is currently a senior advocate of the Supreme Court. Her autobiography ‘On Balance’ was released in 2003, and is dedicated to her husband and her two year old granddaughter.

Sogyal Rinpoche shares his teachings

2010-07-13T05:21:00.003-07:00

The world-renowned Buddhist teacher from Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche and also the author of the highly acclaimed, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, talks about Buddhist teachings at YDF conference hall, Thimphu, yesterday and today.
He talked about three crucial points of body, speech and mind during meditation. In crucial point of body is sitting in a more what is called the seven post of Buddha Bharichand that is with back straight; the crucial point of speech is remaining silent and crucial point of mind has two aspects, generating the heart of enlightenment and the second is invocation or prayer.
“The three essence of Buddhism are, avoid evil, do good, and purify mind. Similarly, in Tibetan, commit not a single sin; cultivate a wealth of virtue; and to tame one’s mind,” he said, “ as much as possible avoid all the negative and harmful actions of body, speech and mind which are the causes of sufferings for yourself and others.”
He said that if one does not want sufferings one should remove all cause of sufferings which are ignorance, negative thoughts and negative actions.
“If you want happiness, then cultivate the wealth of virtue which means develop knowledge and wisdom which is the antidote to ignorance, and develop love and compassion which is antidote to negative thoughts, thereby gaining happiness,” he said.
He further added that when we harm others, the most affected is ourselves; and when we help someone, the most whole benefits is ourselves, and this is called Karma.
“When you realize that harming others harm us and helping others help us, then we realize that your happiness and sufferings is connected to happiness and sufferings of others- we are all interconnected ad inter-dependent,” he said.
Buddhist conduct is non-violence, and the essence of Buddhist philosophy is that everything is interdependent and interconnected.
Anger for example, he said, is interconnected to one’s actions since everything is interconnected and one might have a hand in provoking the other person he/she is angry with.
“Therefore, the best way to approach anger is through reasoning,” he said.
He further said that what distinguishes you as a Buddhist is that if you have taken a refuge or not.
“Taking refuge is the opening, the bridge and the link from an ordinary state of mind to the enlightened state of mind,” he said.
Explaining how we come to a refuge is firstly, when we realize the presence of dharma; and when we realize the ever-present impermanence and the meaning of death; and thirdly, we realize the cause and effect of past action and karma; and finally, the repeated endless circle frustrations and sufferings that is samsara, thst is when we take a refuge, he said.
Sogyal Rinpoche was born in Kham in Eastern Tibet and was recognized at an early age as the incarnation of a great master and visionary saint of the 19th century, Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa (1856-1926), a teacher to the thirteenth Dalai Lama.
He received the traditional training of a Tibetan lama under the close supervision of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the twentieth century, who raised Rinpoche like his own son.
He went on to study with many other great masters, of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, especially Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
In 1971, Rinpoche went to England, where he also studied Comparative Religion at Cambridge University.
First as a translator and adviser to his revered masters, and then teaching in his own right, Rinpoche traveled to many countries, observing the reality of people’s lives, and searching how to translate the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism so as to make them relevant to modern men and women of all faiths, by drawing out their universal message while losing none of their authenticity, purity and power.
Out of this was born his unique style of teaching, and his ability to attune these teachings to modern life, demonstrated so vividly in his ground-breaking book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. More than two million copies have been printed in fifty-six countries and in thirty-one languages.
Rinpoche is also the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa, an international network of over one hundred and thirty Buddhist centres and groups in forty countries around the world. He has been teaching for over thirty years and continues to travel widely in Europe, America, Australia and Asia.

Thimphu Statement on Climate Change

2010-07-13T05:21:00.001-07:00

Heads of state of the member countries are now determined that South Asia should become a world leader in low-carbon technologies and renewable resources.
With Thimphu statement on Climate Change, the SAARC countries are now highlighting the importance of socio-economic development and poverty eradication in the region, convinced that reducing dependence on carbon in economic growth and promoting climate resilience will promote both development and poverty eradication in a sustainable manner.
They are welcoming the adaptation of Climate Change as theme as an important imitative to stimulate and consolidate regional endeavors with the objective of making South Asia climate change resilient.
“South Asia is particularly prone to climate change and related disasters making the need for a regional response to meet the challenge of climate change more urgent and compelling,” said the Statement.
As per the Statement, the member countries also agreed to review the implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change and ensure its timely implementation.
The agreement to establish an Inter-government Export Group on Climate Change for developing clear policy direction and guidance for regional cooperation as pictured in the SAARC Plan of Action on Climate Change was also signed yesterday.
Secretary General of the SAARC Summit was also directed to commission a study for presentation to the 17th SAARC Summit on ‘Climate Risks in the Region: ways to comprehensively address the related social, economic and environmental challenges’.
The countries will also undertake advocacy and awareness programs on climate change to promote the use of green technology and best practices to low-carbon sustainable and inclusive development of the region.
A SAARC mechanism will be established to provide capital for projects that promote low-carbon technology and renewable energy, and an institute for a Low-carbon and Development in South Asian University will established.
Ten million trees will be planted over the next five years as part of a regional aforestation and reforestation campaign, in accordance with national priorities and programmes of Member States.
Also a SAARC Inter-governmental Marine Initiative to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies in the region will be established, and the critical roles they play in sustainable living to be supported by the SAARC Coastal Zone Management Center will be commissioned.
Similarly, a SAARC Inter-governmental Monsoon Initiative on the evolving pattern of monsoons to assess vulnerability due to climate change will be supported by SAARC Meteorological Research Center.
A SAARC Inter-governmental Climate-related Disasters Initiative on the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) will be supported by SAARC Disaster Management Center.
The Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change will meet at least twice a year to periodically monitor and review the implementation of this Statement and make recommendations to facilitate its implementation and submit its report through the Senior Officials of SAARC to the SAARC Environment Ministers.
The Statement says that the ratification process for the SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment will be completed at an early date to enable its entry into force.

SAARC Youth Awards

2010-07-13T05:20:00.001-07:00

The SAARC Youth Awards Scheme is open to nationals of SAARC Member Countries, who are within the age group of 20-35 years at the time of nomination.
Aimed at encouraging the South Asian youth to excel in various fields and to realize their full potential, the SAARC Youth Awards will be awarded this year too, though at a smaller level.
“The only SAARC award so far has been given to the late president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, for his contribution to SAARC and his leadership. So far we haven’t got another person of that stature; that is how the award has been sloped at the shortcoming,” said the secretary General of SAARC committee, Dr Sheel Kant Sharma.
“Now we are in the process of making the award at broad base, and so, we are focusing on individuals and organizations that have achieved a remarkable accomplishment. This year also we will have such SAARC youth awards for the younger people for the contribution they make. It is a smaller award,” he added.
The SAARC Youth Awards have been presented on the themes such as, outstanding social service in community welfare (1997), new inventions and discoveries, creative photography: south Asian diversity (1998), outstanding contribution to protect the environment (1999), invention in the field of traditional medicine(2001), outstanding contribution to raising awareness for TB and/or HIV/AIDS (2004), promotion of tourism in south Asia (2006), from Himalayan glaciers to verdant plains to coral reefs – protecting the environment in south Asia (2008), and the outstanding contribution to humanitarian works in the aftermath of natural disasters (2009).
The SAARC Youth Awards Scheme was instituted in 1996 to provide recognition to extraordinary young talents and encourage the overall development of the youth in the region.

Payment Complaints max out in Labour Disputes

2010-07-13T05:19:00.003-07:00

So far, the highest complaints the Department of Labour (DoL) receives everyday from the private and the corporate employees are on the payment issues.
Out of 53 formal complaints the DoL has received to date, 50% of the complaints are about the Payment issues, followed by unjustifiable termination of the employees from job.
“Most of the people are unaware about importance of the Labour Act and its benefits; that is why we have received negligible complaints until now. The most common argument is the nonpayment of wages by the employers and unlawful terminations,” said Suman Pradhan, the chief officer of the DoL.
According to him, the ministry has made it mandatory that every firm should have their own company rules and regulation based on the Labour Act for the protection of both the employer and the employee.
He also said that the ministry has tried to convey to the citizens that every employee’s and employer’s rights are fully protected under the Labour Act, however, people hesitate to speak out.
Unjustifiable termination from job without benefits is another serious issue that tops the complaint list received by the ministry. The Act has it that an employee cannot be terminated without a month’s notification.
Another scrutiny is on the working hours for corporate and private employee which as per the act is 48 hours a week.
“In other words, it is eight hours for six days with Sunday as holiday. Even with this right, most employees in corporate and private sector are still working 54 hours a week and some employee have to work even on Sundays. The overtime cash payment is out of question in most of cases or else they might risk their job for claiming it,” said a corporate employee.
Similarly, an employee complained that the probation period of all corporate and private employees as per the Act is generally six months, however, some corporations keep extending it up to one year or more at times, thus depriving the employee of full salary for longer time.
Sexual harassment is another issue which is not evident at the moment since most Bhutanese people are afraid of social stigma, said Ngawang Norbu, the labour relation officer from DoL.
“Both the man and woman can be the victims in this case, so far we have received only one or two formal complaints about sexual harassment,” he said.
He added that the retaining of the original certificates from an employee by the company is one of the complaints which have been removed after the ministry classified it as non-compulsory.
“There is a need for adequate and more robust efforts in place so that the rights of all the employees are protected as enshrined in our constitution and other related Acts,” said an employee.
He also said that the present way of addressing employees’ grievances via written complaints or phone call is not convenient since it is unsafe for the complainants if the dealing officials fail to maintain anonymity.
Perhaps, that is why people decides to remain silent than speaking out their objections, he added.
“Without the active involvement of lead agency like the Department of Labour and Employment, the rights of the innocent employee would just remain on the paper without any hope of realizing it,” said a civil servant.

Corruption: Anti-GNH

2010-07-13T05:19:00.001-07:00

While Bhutan preaches the philosophy of GNH worldwide, yet awkwardly Bhutan is losing its ground on corruption front.
Bhutan stood at 49th position out of 180 countries last year, while it was at 32nd position in 2006 and 45th in 2008, showed the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, 2009.
“Corruption can be the greatest impediment to achieving the national goal of Gross National Happiness. Corruption betrays public trust and confidence, the government and public officials; Corruption is anti-GNH,” states the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan (ACC).
Corruption can reduce government revenue through leakages and tax evasions and it can discourage foreign direct investments and international aid to the country, states the ACC.
It also says that corruption can discourage level playing fields in private sector and distort the market conditions. Corruption can also increase cost of doing business due to pay-offs and bribes which in turn can negatively impact employment and inflation.
Corruption can disrupt equity and harmony in a society by widening gap between the rich and the poor. This gap can create social tension. It can also be a threat to the national identity as it erodes social, cultural and moral fabric of the society.
It is also stated that corruption also allows indiscriminate exploitation of environment and natural resources, distorting ecological balance, causing disasters and poor health conditions of the citizens and implant poverty.
In a country like Bhutan, where parliamentary democracy has been just introduced, political corruption can threaten the emerging democracy.

According to the Corruption Perception Survey 2007, based on people’s perception, wants, needs, and the discriminatory and non-uniform application of laws and rules are the main causes of corruption.
Another survey on “people’s Attitude towards Corruption and ACC Survey 2008” states that favoritism is the highest form of corruption, followed by bribery and embezzlement.
“Any person with a corrupt intention accepts or obtains or agrees to give or offers any gratification to any person or entity as an inducement or reward for doing or forbearing to do an act relating to the exercise or non-exercise of power in office or in the course of official duty, rendering the gratification an undue gratification,” states Anti-Corruption Act, 2006.
While the ruling government’s manifesto refers to corruption as ‘the bane of society,… an incurable cancer… a social evil that impedes economic growth, induces inequity, deepens poverty… and results in the exploitation of the poor, according to Druk Phuensun Tshogpa, 2008.
Various forms of corruption, as defined by Corruption Perception Survey 2007, are abuse of power, nepotism and favoritism, misuse of public funds, bribery, fraud, collusion, kickbacks, fronting and money laundering.
Main causes for abuse of power are weak recruitment system for leadership positions, discretionary power, and poor accountability, weak mechanism for detection and punishments, weak oversight, general failure in the implementation of Code Conducts and Ethics, weak media for exposure, tolerate culture and social obligations.
Embezzlement of public fund are caused by non-compliance with financial norms, general failure in the implementation of Code of Conduct and Ethics, poor moral values, lack of proper check and balance mechanisms, poor accountability and general weakness in administration, weak leadership without supervisory accountability.
Bribery occurs due to lengthy producers, unclear and multiplicity of rules with loopholes for manipulation, lack of information and transparency of rules and procedures, discriminatory application of laws and rules, general failure in the implementation of Code of Conduct and inefficient service delivery.
The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan (ACC) has a mechanism called the National Anti-corruption Strategy Framework (NACSF), with the main objectives to facilitate translation of the political will and policy statements into tangible activities mainstreamed sustainably by all sectors of society and to provide a dynamic common plat form for concerted and converging efforts of all stakeholders to combat corruption.
NACSF’s main strategic considerations are Promote leadership to ensure Sustained Political will, review of legal frameworks to make corruption a high risk offence, strengthen institutional capacity, review and Refine Systems, promote honesty and integrity through a long-term education policy and foster partnerships with stakeholders.

Accepting child labour

2010-07-13T05:18:00.003-07:00

During their budding innocence, instead of toys and candies they are handed spades and hammers thus suppressing their childhood by enforcing untimely adulthood.
Child labour had been a serious issue of concern in Bhutan before but lately after the implementation of various acts, it seems to have faded away like a momentary heartbreak.
The question however is, have all forms of child labour come to an end? If not, what forms are acceptable and why?
Till date the most important act addressing child labour in Bhutan is the labour and employment act of 2007 and the lately introduced ‘acceptable Forms of Child Labour, 2009’ which contains legal requirements that must be met by all workplaces within the coverage of the Labour and Employment Act, 2007. This regulation came into force with effect from November 10, 2009 onwards.
The principle of this regulation is to indicate the forms of acceptable child labour and the occupations in which children between the ages of 13 to 17 years can legally be employed.
The regulation also protects children as defined in the Labour and Employment Act, 2007, from employment that is considered dangerous to their safety, health and moral well-being, indicates the occupations and employment arrangements considered acceptable for children, and indicates the working conditions that will apply to acceptable occupations for children.
In addition to the work activities identified in section 9 of the Act, employment of children between the ages of 13 to 17 years in occupations like mining or quarrying, confined spaces, heavy laboring and lifting, manufacturing processes using toxic materials and, substances such as lead, mercury, manganese, chromium, cadmium, benzene, pesticides and asbestos, slaughterhouses, cement manufacturing, construction except minor and light construction works at non-risky and non-dangerous construction sites, logging, gas and electricity supply, sanitary services, transport,( except those who are 15 years and above) are prohibited.
Bars, discotheques, drayangs, scrap yards and carpet weaving are other areas prohibited for child labour.
On the other hand, the acceptable forms of work for children aged bwteen 13 and 17, are child minding an baby-sitting, sweeping and cleaning, food preparation, cooking, table service and waiting, dishwashing, messenger service, clerical, receptionist, weaving, papermaking, embroidery, domestic services, sewing machine operation, gardening, shoe repairing, golf caddying, acting, dancing and entertainment, car washing and minor auto repairing.
“Wages paid to employed children between the ages of 13 and 17 years shall be the same as those paid to adults doing the same work on the principle of equal pay for equal value of work,” says the act.

A twist in the Samtse tale

2010-07-13T05:18:00.001-07:00

The shocking episode when the Samtse dzongda, drangpoen and Superintendent Police, along with their guest and three drivers, trespassed into the Samtse College of Education (SCE) campus on May 2, loud and drunk, appears to have a new angle now.
Yesterday in the ‘Meet the Press’ conference, the Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Jigme Y. Thinley, said, “We have now received the report in writing and as well as verbally, and it is serious in what is not normally tolerated and considered an act of indiscipline for which students would be punished, the trainees would be punished if they were the acts committed very unknowing by some members of the group that entered the campus on confirmation, upon inquiry.”
Lyonchhen also said, “We discovered also that the entry into the campus was done with the permission of the director who was in Gedu at the time. One of the group members had called and asked the director if they could visit the campus, in particular the matron’s residence, and as the matron herself wasn’t there, the matron’s husband, who happens to be an employee of a private firm, was the person who invited the others to his house, he received that approval as well.”
While they were there, they played basketball and essentially that was the girl’s dormitory where male students are normally not allowed, Lyonchen added.
“I have now directed and requested the Ministry of Home Affairs’ concerning officials that are directly connected to the ministry, I have urged the royal university, as well as the judiciary to study the joint report, and also instructed the royal Bhutan Police to study the joint report and to take appropriate action and inform me of the action being taken so that such incident are never repeated in the future,” said Lyonchhen.

Lyonchhen also said that the royal government has at all time tried to be proactive, and in this case also, the government has tried to address the issue as soon as it came to its notice, in fact via the internet though no formal complaints were launched and though it was done via internet almost 10 days after the incident occurred.
“As soon as it came to light the government sent a higher level delegations comprising representatives from the home ministry, law and order department, from the judiciary, a senior drangpoen, from the Royal University of Bhutan, a senior official, and a very senior official from the Royal Bhutan Police, to investigate. They spent four days on the campus, and conducted a very thorough investigation during which they spoke with all the concerned people including all the student councilors as well,” said Lyonchhen. “It should also be noted that the director of the institute and the officer in charge of the section of the students hostel were not on campus. “
However, some of the SCE trainees BHUTAN TODAY interviewed said that the matter has been made complicated to in favor of the bureaucrats who were involved.
“At the first place, if they were not guilty, why would the Drangpoen come and apologize for their misbehavior on behalf of the whole team?” said a trainee, “and even if the matron is allowed to invite outsiders in girl’s hostel, who gave her husband the authority to invite guests since he is not the official-in-charge of the girl’s hostel and he is an outsider himself?”
One of the trainee said that the husband works for a private company and lives in Gomtu. He, only occasionally, visits his wife who is one of the matrons.
“Why would we unnecessarily get ourselves into trouble by cooking up stories and defaming our institute?” said another trainee.
Most students BHUTAN TODAY talked to said that the investigation was carried on very confidentially and most of the students are ignorant about final outcome of the investigation.
According to Penden Wangchuk, the home secretary, they investigation team who were investigating the Samtse case are back to the capital with their findings. However, the matter cannot be disclosed to the media or the public now since it has to be discussed with the home minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji who is on a tour now.
The matter will be unveiled probably by the next week, he said.

When bureaucrats misbehave

2010-07-13T05:17:00.001-07:00

It was the most shocking event for the students of Samtse College of Education (SCE), Samtse, when the Samtse dzongda, drangpoen and Superintendent Police, along with their guest and three drivers, trespassed into the SCE campus, loud and drunk.
The group entered the college campus on May 2, Sunday evening at around 4 pm while as per the college rule, no outsiders are allowed to trespass the campus at that time of the day.
“They were already drunk when they walked into the girl’s basketball court and started to play basketball, they started drinking wine at the court,” said Dorji Dawa (name withheld), a trainee in SCE who was present during the incident, “Initially we were not aware that they were high officials, and it was shocking see them misbehave like that.”
He added that they not only drank wine, but also smoked, and their drivers started playing cards near the court.
Few trainee girls were also forced to watch the match, he said.
Another witness told BHUTAN TODAY that when one of the girl’s prefects requested the group to leave the premise since it was late evening already, she was verbally abused.
On inquiring the concerned person, she refused to comment on the matter, stating that it was not a serious issue since nothing serious happened that evening.
According to another witness, the group also walked into boy’s basketball court while a class basket ball tournament was going on, and they were asked to stop the match right away.
“We were extremely disappointed with their behaviors. It is ruthless and barbaric to interfere like that,” he said, “We have lost respects for such bureaucrats who don’t behave like one.”
According to a trainee, some of the SCE students shared their comments on kuenselonline forum to raise the issue to the higher authorities but the next day, the forum access was blocked by the college authorities.
Later the case was reported to the college director by the college coordinating councilor and subsequently, on May 6, the drangpoen visited the institute and apologized to the directors along with the 24 students councilors for the happenings. Later, an apology letter was hung on the college notice board stating that the apology has been accepted by the SCE representatives, said Karma Drukpa (name withed), a trainee.
“Only the drangpoen came to apologize on behave of the whole group, which is not fair,” said Karma Yangki (name changed).
According to one of the accused, “It is true we were there; in a wrong place and at the wrong time. We cannot deny the fact; however, we didn’t cross our limits as soon as we realized we were wrong, we apologized to the concerned people.”
He also added the group had returned from the teacher’s day celebration that evening and entered SCE campus to spend some time upon the request of a friend who was in the group.
“Misbehaving or breaking rules was not on our minds- that would be the last thing we would do intentionally. Our intentions have been misinterpreted so far,” he said.
However, the Samtse dzongda told BHUTAN TODAY that he has no comments over the issue at the moment since the group feel they have been victimized.
“However, the investigation team arriving here will inspect and decide the case. Meanwhile we have no comments,” he said.

Four doctors in linguistic dilemma

2010-07-13T05:16:00.001-07:00

Four doctors who went for their studies in Thailand recently found themselves more hindered by language barrier rather than the political chaos there.
They attended every class but learned nothing not because they are dim-witted, because all the classes are in Thai.
“We have been here for last four months and have been attending the daily hospital activities and classes regularly and sincerely,” said one of the doctors, but to no avail.
Thus, frustrated and lost in Prince of Songkhla University, they appealed to the concerned authorities in the university but so far there was no initiative to direct their studies.
They are now requesting the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Bhutan to help them.
“Everything including the rounds, teachings, bedside discussions is in Thai in spite of our regular presence there,” said a doctor, “Before the acceptance of our admission the responsible professor had assured us and the MoH in the first letter that we did not need Thai lessons as everything will be taught in Engish.”
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of MoH, they wrote that they are the only international students in that department and even the professors are reluctant to accept their presence in the class, and unwilling to teach them.
“With our training here, we feel that the degree we get will be at the cost of our people’s lives since we will not be competent gynecologist which is our main concern,” wrote the doctors.
They also added that now they are in a situation which they don’t know how to handle; they have spoken to the concerned authority there who assured them but till now they are in the same situation and nothing has changed.

“There is little hope for further changes because we cannot expect them to change their system for the four of us. Therefore, we request your honorable minster and secretary to help us as you deem appropriate,” they wrote in their appeal to the MoH.
When BHUTAN TODAY inquired the MoH Secretary, Dr Gado Tshering, about the case, he said, “The ministry had already informed them that all the classes will in Thai and they it was their choice to continue with the admission in the university.”
However, he said these doctors have only two options either to continue their studies there or come back.
“They can either take additional Thai language courses for another six months or a year, or come back home and sit for another assessment for other scholarships within the regional countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or India,” he said.
Most medical students BHUTAN TODAY interviewed from Thailand said that they had faced similar situations, while few gave up their scholarships, most continued their studies by taking additional Thai language class.
“What better option would we have than to continue our studies despite of language barriers,” said a medical student from Naresuan University in Thailand, “It is enriching to learn Thai but of course, we are forgetting our English in the mean time.”

Minsters’ Say on Teacher’s Day

2010-07-13T05:15:00.003-07:00

“On Teachers’ Day, I offer my homage to all the teachers around the world for sharing your life and learning with the countless million children who have moved on to make their mark as trail-blazers, path-finders and leaders in their own countries and beyond. As you beam and beckon, you are the first home of hope and the last refuge of the child who yearns for life and learning. Guide and mentor, you are the ultimate legislator of the world,” said Lyonpo Thakur S Powdyel, the education minister, addressing teachers all over the country.

He said that May 2 is celebrated as ‘Teacher’s Day’ in Bhutan since on this day, the destiny gave to Bhutan and the Bhutanese a king who would be fondly remembered as the father of modern Bhutan, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who lifted the veil and guided our country from seclusion to prominence; It is in the fitness of things that we should celebrate Teachers’ Day coinciding with the birthday of the bringer of light.

Thus, the Ministry of education adopted May 2 as the Teachers Day in 2002, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the third Druk Gyalpo.

“On Teachers’ Day, I would like to pay my tribute to generations of our enlightened monarchs who have made education the cornerstone of our national development. On this special occasion, I would like to offer the deep appreciation of a grateful nation to the generations of teachers, from near and far, who have brought the light of learning to the lives of thousands of our children. You have educated a nation and brought her to the status she enjoys today,” Lyonpo said.

He also added that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is on a special mission to return to the true goal of education. With all the progress MoE have made in education so far, MoE have yet to discover the soul behind its role.

“Perhaps, this explains why some of us find our life as educators more as drudgery and less as celebration. Educating for Gross National Happiness is, therefore, a wonderful opportunity for all of us educators to return to the essential purpose of education - a process that gently draws the human mind to look for and to love what is true and good and useful,” he said.

MoE’s pledge to build ‘Green Schools for Green Bhutan’ is steadily translating into most inspiring actions by Bhutan’s school leaders, teachers and students.

He said, “We agreed, of course, that green is more than colour; that it is an attribute, a quality; that it stands for everything wholesome, healthy and positive. We look forward to our schools becoming green and welcoming through the efforts of our children and educators.”

Overall, he added, MoE looks upon the schools and institutions becoming morally and ethically green – that is developing an orientation of mind and heart that is positive in itself and that inspires positive thought and creative action in others.

Our children growing and developing in such an environment will certainly build a society that is happy and at peace with itself, he said.

“The stakes are high, but there is no other way to do our job. And you hold the key to the success of our mission. On Teachers’ Day, I would like to thank you all, my fellow-teachers, for being the light on our children’s path and wish you a most fulfilling life as you continue building our nation,” he said.

According to Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa, the Health Minister, teachers are largely responsible for character formation of their students through formal and informal teachings and interactions. Education process, which focuses on the spiritualization and civilization besides knowledge and skills, is value-laden or geared to shaping the minds of students. In this information age, there are other forces that have impact on the shaping of the minds of the future generation of Bhutan. Teaching and learning take place every where. Thus, all the members of the society, especially parents, also influence the formation of character.

He said, “Teachers, who are professionals, play key roles in the nation building process. They are guides, parents, philosophers, friends, etc, to their students. Thus, the Teachers' Day is significant. It is increasingly becoming important in the light of the fact that respect and appreciation by students and the society at large for our teachers is sadly waning and weathering, although the teachers are still respected and revered in rural areas.”

The government is doing what they can do for the teachers. Given the important roles played by teachers, the government has established colleges of education to produce good quality teachers. They are placed in higher grades in civil service than their counterparts. There are various mechanisms put in place to recognize teachers. Their challenge is to recruit good breed of teachers, he added.

He also said that the teachers are given teaching allowance, which may not be significant in terms of financial gains; the fact of the matter is that their service is recognized.

No financial incentive will be enough if measured in terms of the great responsibilities teachers shoulder since teaching is a daunting task, he said, adding that the sheer size of the teaching profession every where in the world serves as impediment for more financial incentives.

“Our teachers in Bhutan are doing wonderful job despite numerous constraints and challenges. I request them to keep on doing so. On this Teachers' Day, which is observed to commemoarte the Brith Anniversy of our great King Jigme Dorji Wangchhuck, who is fondly remembered as the Father of Modern Bhutan, I, as a fellow teacher, humbly offer my respect and reverence to all the teachers,” he said.

The initial concept of the Teachers Day was initiated by the National Central University of China in 1931. Teachers Day is celebrated to recognize the significant contributions made by teachers, the role of teachers and their importance in the classroom and the impact they had on society.

Teacher’s Day in Bhutan is fairly a new phenomenon and it was not known until the mid 1990s; somehow few students started sending cards and small gifts to their teachers on September 5 few years back and that is how the trend grew.

Sustainability to escort Quarrying

2010-07-13T05:15:00.001-07:00

The unlikely relationship between the environmental sustainability and the minerals quarry looks feasible as the royal government refers to the upcoming Mineral Development Policy.
The exploitations of the non-renewable resources will continue but in a sustainable manner to diversify the economy, yet ensuring due environmental considerations, declares the government of Bhutan.
“A Mineral Development Policy shall be in place by 2010 to allow a selective and cautious exploitation of minerals for industrial purpose and manage the non-renewable mineral resources with consideration for inter-generational equity, maximize returns, ensure transparent and equitable allocation and access to mineral wealth and prevent undue damage on the ecology and environment,” states the Economic Development Policy.
The government will provide priority allotment of captive mines for raw material to the manufacturing industries that add significant value to the resource on selective basis.
Besides, the government will emphasize and prioritize value addition of minerals before export, allowing the export of minerals in raw form for large-scale mines already auctioned within the time limits as per the existing agreements. This excludes materials such as boulders, stone chips and sand for construction use.
The government also assures to encourage and promote participation from broader sections of the society in mining and trading of any mineral products so as to enable fair distribution of income from mineral resource exploitation.
“Mineral based industries shall be permitted on evidence of substantial value addition and availability of raw materials,” says the EDP.
The government will charge lower royalty for in-country value addition and higher for raw material export where permitted and the Mineral Development Policy will specify the levels of value addition.
After the approval for the grant of a mining lease, a development period of a maximum of one year will be provided to a mine to carry out development and investment activities prior to the implementation of the lease agreement. The initial lease period for minerals shall differ from mineral to mineral subject to a maximum of 30 years.
It has been discovered that Bhutan is endowed with rocks, industrial minerals like limestone, dolomite, gypsum, quartzite, graphite, talc etc and metallic minerals like tungsten, lead-zinc and copper, and only about 33% of the country has been geologically mapped and prospected in 1:50,000 scale. There is potential for further discovery of minerals in the unexplored parts of the country.

Industrialists Dissatisfied over EDP

2010-07-13T05:14:00.001-07:00

Not everyone is happy with the new Economic Development Policy, chiefly the large and average Industrialists who felt sidelined.
While the government prioritized the cottage and small industries (SCI), the large and the medium industries are complaining that there is nothing for them in the EDP.
“The EDP is entirely at the favor of SCI, while the average and large manufacturing industries are deprived of such incentives,” said an industrialist in Phuentsholing.
He added that the EDP has highlighted about the custom duty and sales tax exemption for the larger industries which already existed.
“Of course, it is fair that the government is trying to encourage the SCI, but government should not overlook the fact that the bigger scale industries also contribute to the economic development of the country,” he said.
According to Lhatho, the spokesperson from the Association of Bhutanese Industries, since most industries in Phuentsholing suffered downturn on various scales after the 2008 global recession, the industries were expecting some backing from the government.
“We are very happy about the government’s initiatives to encourage those industries; however, we are disheartened that the government has neglected the larger industries and there are no concessions we have been looking forward to,” he said.
Similarly, another industrialist from Phuentsholing said that the government had forgotten the bigger industries while planning EDP.
“If they look at the performance of our industries and the amount of tax we pay, it is apparent that we contribute largely to the economic development of the country,” he said, “it doesn’t mean that availing some incentives would make us richer- we just feel ignored.”
Likewise, an industrialist told Bhutan Today that he employs about 5000 people in his firm and that a whole community dependent on his company, therefore, realizing how significant his company is, he felt disappointed that EDP has not even mentioned about concessions for companies like his.
“If the government has paid more attention to SCI and ignored the larger industries with the notion that the rich might become richer then, it is inappropriate since few incentives won’t make us any richer,” said the industrialist.
According to the EDP, the CSI will be availed with rent free incubation facilities for a maximum period of three years, and also a focused entrepreneurship training and extension support will be provided.
The policy also says that in order to promote balanced economic development, a 10 year tax holiday will be given to new CSI and co-operatives established between January 2010 to December 2015, and outside Thimphu and Phuentsholing municipal areas.
Also an additional ten years tax holiday will be given to cottage and small industries established in interior areas as notified by the Royal Government from time to time based on poverty levels.
Besides, individual artisans and craftsmen in the rural areas will be given sales tax and customs duty exemption on import of equipments and labour saving devices to promote mechanization or improvement of indigenous skills.
Similarly in the tourism sectors, exemption of customs duty and sales tax on import of vehicles by tour operators will be provided for all tourist vehicles with a seating capacity of ten and above.
While the other sectors enjoy various allowances, not much is mentioned about the larger industries in particular.

Call for more Medical Experts

2010-07-13T05:13:00.001-07:00

To address the shortage of medical experts and qualified human resources in the health sector, a program of two years’ Bachelors in Public Health (BPH) course will be launched at the Royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS).
This course aims to upgrade the qualifications and competencies of the existing health workers all over the country. The program plans to intake 25 students every two years.
“Shortage of appropriate qualified human resources continues to plague the health sector in its move towards universal coverage of quality health services,” said Kado Zangpo, from Health of Ministry, in a press release.
He said that in order to strengthen health leadership both at the central and Dzongkhag levels, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, Royal University of Bhutan and the Royal Civil Service Commission initiated this program to enhance the skills of existing health workers including DHOs, ADHOs, ACOs, and HAs.
According to him the program duration has been kept as two years considering the fact that the candidates are in-service, within minimum five years field experience and who have already completed a two to three years certificate or diploma course.
The course will be governed by the institute and University programme management policy and procedures and coordinated by programme coordinator leader from MoHS and RIHS.
Previously McKinsey’s diagnostic finding on Bhutan’s health care system has pointed out a probability of about 70% increase in health care cost in the next five years if the country’s health system standards remain the same.
Thus, such findings have caused the health ministry officials to reflect on financing options to sustain its health care system; while the Constitution states that “basic” health services be provided ‘free’.