Sunday, November 18, 2012
Picture story:
215 receive kidu
In addition to 200 citizenships, 15 scholarships were received
Samtse College of Education: “I faced a lot of difficulty when I did not have a citizenship identity card, but now I feel secure,” Pema Wangmo, a second year trainee at the Samtse College of Education, said.
Separating the wheat from the chaff
Political Parties: In reviewing the documents aspiring political parties have filed in for registration, election commission officials are ensuring “they fulfill all the legal requirements”.
What we measure is what we get: PM
While it has to be given credit for the good it has brought to mankind, Gross Domestic Product has been blindly and wrongly accepted as a measure of societal wellbeing, Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley said in his keynote address on Gross National Happiness at the 80th Anniversary of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangkok, Thailand on November 17.
Picture story:
A statue of Sangay Manla (medicinal Buddha) was consecrated at the Trashiyangtse hospital yesterday for the well being of the people and to mark the royal wedding anniversary.
No developments in astrologer kidnap case
It’s been three days and there has neither clues nor news of the missing man
Gakiling, Sarpang: As of last evening, police and security personnel on both sides of the border were still looking for clues, in connection with the abduction of a village astrologer from Sarpang dzongkhag’s Gakiling gewog, around 7:30pm on November 16.
Lets talk toilets
Editorial: It is not as exciting and appealing as climate change, environment and of course, its sexy sister, water, this toilet.
They probably appear trivial and somewhere lower down on our list of priorities of listed developments.
New choekhang to house dzongkhag administration
«His Holiness consecrates the choekhang
His Holiness the Je Khenpo, yesterday consecrated Wangduephodrang’s newly built choekhang (ritual hall), located above Bajo town, which will be temporarily used to house the dzongkhag administration.
Picture story:
Two in Thimphu, just after campaign to prevent one
«The forest fire in Yangchenphug raged for almost two hours yesterday
Some children, who were playing with firecrackers, could have sparked off the forest fire in Depsi, Thimphu, around 1:30pm on November 17.
Communites take over forest management
«Visit to bamboo model house, Pakpey
A total of 152 households in Samtse will now take care of 582.11 acres of forest land with the dzongkhag administration handing over four community forest ownership certificates and 15 private forest certificates to the beneficiaries on November 15.
The Making of the Constitution
Article 9
Principles of State Policy
Perspective:This Article comprises guidelines for government policy-making. It received mixed reactions during the consultation process. Some felt that it invaded into the executive and legislative jurisdictions.
Rupee a Plenty
Perspective:Agriculture (excluding forestry and logging) contributed only 13.3 percent to the GDP in 2010. Yet more than 60 percent of the population depends on it for livelihood.
Friday, November 16, 2012
HM assures teachers of more importance, recognition
<<His Majesty the King addresses trainee teachers at the Samtse College of Education yesterday.
Educating young Bhutanese, His Majesty the King yesterday said to a packed hall of National Institute for Education trainees in Samtse, was the single most important thing for the country.
Trainee teachers, he said, were entrusted with great power to do just that.
How the voters stack up …
Resource-strapped parties may need to prioritise their politicking by population
Political parties should look towards the country’s east if they want to get past the primary round — that is if there is one — during next year’s parliamentary elections.
I’m just two hours away
Ambassador Pavan K Varma of India leaves Bhutan in January to enter public life. The representative of the world’s largest democracy spoke to Kuensel’s Sonam Pelden about his stay in the world’s youngest democracy.
Excerpts
Four years on and now you are leaving Bhutan. What comes to your mind?
I believed my stint as ambassador to Bhutan will remain perhaps as one of my most cherished diplomatic assignments.
Another man kidnapped, wife injured
A village astrologer of Hilley village in Sarpang went missing last night, after armed militants kidnapped him around 7:30 pm. His wife, who went after the militants was injured.
Marginal decrease in petrol price
Price of petrol went down by 95 paise a litre in India on Thursday night following a drop in international crude oil prices.
Picture Story:
Her Majesty Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and Ozone Ambassador called upon the countries to protect the environment and the ozone layer in her video message at the 24th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer on November 15 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The tangled web …
The house owner and local authorities continue to blame each other over the unfinished building
Frozen Lekithang Construction: With six months gone, since the Gelephu dungkhag stopped the construction of a three-storied building in Lekithang, after the land commission declared it illegal, the house-owner says the government should either let the family complete the construction, or compensate for the loss being incurred.
A calling
Editorial: The students and faculty of the Samtse College of Education should have a lot on their minds.
In separate audiences at the college campus yesterday, His Majesty the King laid down some basic truths. Trainees should be teachers only if their true passion is teaching. “If you don’t feel that way, you must find another way to serve the country, because, as teachers, you owe your students your best.”
Opposition takes exception to PM’s remark
They say there should be room in a democracy for constructive criticism
UNSC Non Permanent Seat: The prime minister seems to have no respect and regard for the institution or duty of the opposition party, as enshrined in the Constitution, according to the two opposition members.
USD 6.9M to improve domestic airports
A significant chunk of the ADB grant will go into developing the Yonphula runway
In what should provide some relief to the aviation sector’s perpetual budget shortcomings, civil aviation department has received USD 6.9M Asian Development Bank (ADB) grant to improve all three domestic airports.
China makes second goodwill contribution
SAARC Development Fund: The SAARC development fund in Thimphu received USD 300,000 (Nu 16.2M) from China as a voluntary contribution to support social activities carried out by the fund.
The cheque was handed over by the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Yang Houlan, to the chief executive of SDF, Karma, yesterday at the Fund’s secretariat office in Thimphu.
Thimphu, Phuentsholing joins the party
The border town commercial units have until November 25 to make the switch
Commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Distribution of the 19kg commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) began in the border town of Phuentsholing yesterday, almost three weeks after Thimphu.
Ten years later … landslide hotspots stabilise
Rehabilitation Work: Landslide hotspots in northern Trashigang are stabilising about a decade after rehabilitation works were carried out.
In 2003, over 350,000 native tree seedlings like that of walnut were planted in the affected areas, which include Chongthiri under Radhi gewog. The rehabilitation works were carried out by sustainable land management project (SLMP) in 2003.
A fallout of uncertain status
Election promise goes unfulfilled as the place seems to be neither here (township) nor there (gewog)
Conference Hall: The people of Rangjung, which today is unsure of its status as a satellite town, have not forgotten election promises made by leaders elected to Parliament.
An MBA graduate for Tsirang
The NC aspirant, who lives in Wangduephodrang is frequenting his constituency
National Council: Reading books on politics, voting rights and studying legal and economic systems is how National Council aspirant from Tsirang is preparing himself, besides frequently visiting people of his constituency.
Farmroad promises future prosperity
Chimong Gewog: Seventy-year-old Sangay Dorji’s mandarin will no longer rot on trees, and his land will not remain fallow. His cash income generation, he said, should double by next year.
These are the expectations Sangay Dorji, who earns about Nu 30,000 to 40,000 from mandarin annually, has, as a result of the 70km farm road connecting his village in Chimong in less than four months.
“How it all Began”
The story of the education system in Bhutan as recorded by Father Mackey
"Education is practically non-existent.” In 1906, a British Military Intelligence Report recorded the state of literary in Bhutan. “Even amongst the ruling classes it is exceptional for one to find a man who can read and write.” The report states that the local rulers had to rely on court scribes to do their correspondence.
Rupee aplenty
Perspective:Having highlighted the importance of selecting the right mixture of broad based development strategy that Bhutan needs to implement to offset the present challenge, the immediate concern is how to mitigate the problem now at a sectorial level. In the following sections an attempt is made to recommend a few approaches to alleviate the Rupee shortages. It is hoped this effort will be taken positively.
The making of the Constitution
Article 8
Fundamental Duties
Perspective: His Majesty said that Bhutanese democracy must have rights, freedoms and duties based on our values, traditions and culture. Indeed, fundamental rights under Article 7 imply corresponding fundamental duties under this Article. When the Government grants rights, we have to assume duties in the interest of our country. Consequently, fundamental rights are neither solitary nor exclusive. Corresponding fundamental duties under Article 8 are necessary for peaceful co-existence. The French Declaration states that:
Rural Depopulation: A lesson from Japan
Perspective: After the visit of the King and the Queen of Bhutan, the people of Japan particularly in the rural areas have shown growing interest in Bhutan. The “Bhutan Boom” or the explosion of fascination towards Bhutan started with the visit of the royal couple. They brought GNH (Gross National Happiness) to Japan, the alternative development paradigm instead of “economic and materialistic development”.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Picture story:
Their Majesties with the members of Bhutan-India Friendship Association (BIFA) in Phuentsholing yesterday.
Expensive but essential
The recent Swiss tourist episode highlights the need for a reliable helicopter service
If the government had strictly followed the request for proposals (RFP) for domestic air services, and not done away with the requirement to commence domestic operations with helicopters, Bhutan would today probably have at least one helicopter based at Paro airport.
Lots of money, not much to invest in
Annual Report: While some banks have been grappling with a shortage of cash, for the pension fund making best use of the fund has been the biggest challenge in the past fiscal year.
His Majesty addresses engineering students
“As young people, what is the single most important advantage that you have?” His Majesty pitched the question to engineering students of college of science and technology at Kharbandi yesterday.
Picture story:
Bhutan and the Arab Republic of Egypt established diplomatic relations on November 4 making it the 43rd country to have diplomatic relations with Bhutan. The joint Communiqué was signed in New York between the ambassador and permanent representative of Bhutan to the UN, Lhatu Wangchuk and Arab Republic of Egypt’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, Mootaz A Khalil.
Owning homes, without housing loans
Real Estate Development: While construction of private buildings in the capital has slowed down, because of restrictions on housing loans, home ownership is still happening through real estate developers.
Truck veers off road, kills driver
A 24-year-old man died on the spot when the jumbo truck he was driving veered about 200ft off road around 11:30pm on November 14 at Jalakhu. Jalakhu is about 13km away from Punakha towards Gasa.
Prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure
EDITORIAL: The main focus towards preventing diabetes among the Bhutanese has been to create awareness and treat patients already afflicted by it.
While there is nothing wrong with that, there is a need to extend the initiative to younger sections of the Bhutanese population.
Learning to save more lives
Training For Emergencies: Unlike in the past, where they waited for the advice of senior doctors, junior physicians at the Thimphu referral hospital’s busiest unit, the emergency, can today immediately introduce treatment to a patient.
Getting serious about safety
OHS Focal Persons: Twenty employees from different manufacturing companies will leave for Delhi, India tomorrow to be trained as occupational health and safety (OHS) focal persons for their organisations look into the safety of their employees.
Picture story:
New mask dancers of Trongsa dzongkhag learn the dance moves near Trongsa dzong for the up coming annual Tshechu
Campaign underway to prevent forest fires
With most forest fires usually sparking off around this time of the year, forest and park services department yesterday conducted a two-day awareness campaign to prevent forest fire that has resulted in razing thousands of acres of forest land annually.
Rupee aplenty
Perspective: The next thing we have to concede is that the demand for the Ngultrum or rather the demand for the Rupee is reflective and a direct manifestation of what is actually happening in the economy which as already explained is a direct outcome of the government’s and RMA’s policies.
Not all 23 a day are new cases
All 23 diabetic cases that the Thimphu sees a day is not new but inclusive of old cases that come for follow up, medical specialist Dr Tashi Wangdi said.
Two-three storey cap still on
Lungtenphu Helipad: Despite works and human settlement minister Yeshey Zimba during the last “Meet the Press” session clarifying that plot owners between Changjalu road and hotel Migmar near Chagjiji helipad could build below six storeys, buildings continue to be restricted between two and three storeys.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Picture Story
World Diabetes Day: More than 500 Thimphu residents turned up at the clock tower square yesterday for a medical check up that was organised to raise awareness on diabetes. The 2007 survey found 8,000 diabetic adults in Thimphu
Picture Story
Prime minister Jigmi Y Thinley and cabinet ministers attended the Diwali celebrations at the YDF hall yesterday evening.
Multi-grade teaching in Lingzhi
Extended Classrooms: Despite being deprived of special training to equip them with the right skills, teachers of schools and extended classrooms in Lingzhi dungkhag have taken up “multi-grade” teaching. For now, they are doing just fine.
Led by its lone teacher, Tshering Dorji, Soe gewog’s extended classroom (ECR) comprises just one classroom with eight students.
High court sentences three youth to 12-13 years
Grand Larceny: The high court sentenced three youth, who were involved in attacking a taxi driver and robbing him off his money and car in February this year to a prison term ranging between 12 to 13 years.
Architect and Engineer win awards
They win a three-week course on green building solutions next year in Vienna, Austria
Energy-Efficient Building Design: Unlike many community centres in rural Bhutan that are constructed with limited budget to cut construction costs, an architect of a private company has come up with a design for a new community centre, using solar diagrams, thermal comfort rainwater management, sewage treatment plants and solar panels.
Criminal charges against three
ACC registers 75 cases with Mongar district court
Mongar district court registered 75 cases in relation to Gyalpoizhing land allotment between November 13 and November 14.
Of the total, Mongar drangpon Gembo Dorji said three were criminal cases against Speaker Jigme Tshultim, Home Minister Minjur Dorji, and a member of the then Mongar municipal committee, Dechen Singye.
Gyalpoizhing now sub judice
Editorial: The anti corruption commission has been tightlipped, even irritated by the persistent calls from media houses, wanting to know what’s next on the Gyalpoizhing land case saga.
Reforms do little to boost Rupee against Dollar
India’s currency woes will impact on Bhutan, with whose Ngultrum it shares parity
Foreign Exchange Rate: Market sentiments in India have failed to improve, with the Rupee continuing to weaken against the US dollar, despite a host of radical reforms introduced two months ago by the Indian government to address a growing deficit.
Three children treated for rabid dog-bite
Jumotsangkha BHU: Three children, aged one, two and five years, are undergoing treatment in Jumotsangkha basic health unit (BHU), after they were bitten by a rabid dog on three different days early this month.
What a difference a day makes
Victim has loan recalled over technicality: he’d applied 24 hours after the RMA deadline
Wamrong Fire 2009: Claiming an oversight, Bhutan development bank limited (BDBL) has recalled a loan amount of Nu 0.5M from a 2009 fire victim in Wamrong town, who had sought loans to reconstruct his house.
Wild boar attacks farmer
A 40-year-old farmer from Berti in Zhemgang was referred to the national referral hospital yesterday after a lone boar attacked him at noon.
The making of the Constitution
Article 7
Freedom
Perspectives:The Birth of Freedom can be traced to “the gray dawn of 21st September, 490 B.C., 9,000 citizen-soldiers of Athens formed ranks on a plain by the Bay of Marathon.” Initially, freedom was not universal and pervasive. The slaves were denied freedom.
It’s the economics, stupid!
The writer argues that most of the blame for the currency crisis may be laid at the door of the govt. and the RMA
The Rupee Crisis: The events that have unfolded during the last few months and the ongoing situation have put immense pressure on the economy, as well as on the parity of the Ngultrum with the Rupee. And the subsequent actions of the government and the RMA have not helped matters.
Happiness in Brazil
Perspectives: The boundless expanse of the Amazon, golden sands, salsa beat, warm people, the beautiful game and the world’s greatest football team of all time; these are attributes that best define Brazil. Of late though, this land of physical grace and indomitable spirit is also known for its pursuit of happiness. And not just happiness, but ‘Gross National Happiness’ at that. Yes, Bhutan’s own cherished development philosophy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)