Cutting down on poll day costs may create confusion at grass roots

If the Election Commission of Bhutan decides to club the poll day for the National Assembly (NA) and National Council (NC) together, it may not bode well for the conduct of free and fair elections, say some critics.

The commission had said that doing so would save Nu 184 mn from the government coffers but according to  a researcher,  with 80% of voters consisting of illiterate villagers, the idea seemed…

Budget constraints lead to farm road spill over

On 8 Feb the construction of a 175-km long farm road began in Ngedrupchu village under Chuba gewog, Punakha. It is expected to benefit 50 households of the village who otherwise had to walk two to three hours to the nearest road point. The village also does not have electricity. However, the Nu 1 mn budget which had been allocated for the road as part of the 10th five…

National Speaker talks on democracy

On 3 April, the National Speaker, Jigme Tshultim gave a speech on the workings of a democracy and how laws  have been implemented and enacted so far. The meeting was held at the Dzongkhag Tshogdu hall at Damphu, Tsirang.  It was attended by Dzongkhag sector heads, Gewog Administration Officers (GAO), Gups, Mangmis,  Wangdi and Tsirang NC members along with police officers and Drangpons. “The meeting was very informative, educative,”…

Bridge needed for villagers

About 206 toilets have been built for every household in Goshing gewog since the start of the 10th Five Year Plan. Besides this, electricity poles were also fixed in the gewog. However, despite these developmental works, a major problem being faced by the villagers is that there is no bridge for vehicles on the Gongphu-Pangbang highway, only a mule track. The bridge which has to be built over Mangdechhu…

Training Tshogpas on local governance

The Tshogpas from Wangchang, Lungnyi  Hungrel, and Shapa will gather at the gewog conference hall in Wangchang geog today for a discussion with the Department of Local Governance (DoLG). They will be joined by their Gewog Administrative Officers. The tshogpas will be briefed about their responsibilities towards their respective chiwogs. This initiative is being taken by the DoLG especially to promote the efficiency and to maximize the participation of…

Preparing schools for disasters

 

 

Currently, 36 participants from 31 schools across Lhuentse are attending a six-day workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Response for Safe School, organized by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

Apart from Lhuentse, DDM  has targeted four other dzongkhags for the training programme:  Sarpang, Tsirang, Trashi Yangtse, and Paro.

According to the organizer of the workshop, Keshap Moktan from DDM, the students and faculty members have mock drill sessions which are very…

Projects identified for vulnerable communities but feasibility questionable

Most developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) are in favor of financial mechanisms which pay them for conserving the environment while developed countries are held responsible for having developed at the cost of the same.

Such mechanisms like Clean Development Mechanism, Carbon Trading, Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), REDD+ have also invited a lot of skepticism.

Amidst this, the Vulnerability Reduction Credits (VRCs) concept was published in…

Ex-monk impersonating Druk Air official arrested

A 32-year old ex-monk from Haa who impersonated a Druk Air official was arrested for conning a 35- year old woman on April 20.

According to the victim’s statement, she knew the suspect through talking with him over the phone. They had been in contact for a month.

The victim asked for her “call-friend’s” help in procuring dollars when he claimed to be a Druk Air official and promised to help…

Three principals appointed as Dungpas

Karma Dhendup,    Sonam Dorji,   Jamyang Cheda

Yesterday in Thimphu, three principals were officially appointed as Dungpas of various Dungkhags .

Sonam Dorji, 43, Karma Dhendup, 43, , and Jamyang Cheda, 42 were the three appointees.

Sonam Dorji was the principal of Wangdue Lower Secondary School before being appointed the Dungpa of Sakteng, Trashigang. He…

Sarpang observes World Malaria Day

 

The fifth World Malaria Day with the theme “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria” will be observed today in Norbuling under Sershong gewog, Sarpang.

About 436 malaria cases were  reported across the country in 2010 and just a year later, the cases decreased to 194 with one death.

The first World Malaria Day was celebrated in Gelephu in the year 2008 and for the second time, the health ministry is…