Tshering Tobgay's Blog

Investigating rewards?

2009-05-04T14:30:00.003+06:00

The First Annual Media Award’s prize for Investigative Report of the Year, the award’s most prestigious category, went to Kuensel’s Phuntsho Choden. This came as no surprise. Phuntsho is good. Well done.

But what did come as a surprise was Tenzing Lamsang. I dare say that Tenzing has contributed significantly to the development of a free media in our country since returning to Bhutan after a stint with the Indian Express, one of India’s biggest and most respected newspapers. From politics and government to the civil service and business, he’s covered a lot of ground. And he’s done his share of investigating. He works hard: I’ve seen him in action. And he’s brave: I’ve read his stories. So, by our standards, his work is indeed very good.

Now what surprised me yesterday was not that he didn’t win. But that he wasn’t even nominated for the investigative report category. In fact, Tenzing Lamsang was not nominated in any of the four categories that he had participated in – his name was not mentioned at all yesterday.

I’m shocked. And I’m disappointed.

Media awarded

2009-05-04T14:17:00.004+06:00

14 different prizes were up for grabs during yesterday’s First Annual Media Awards. Of them, I was especially interested in seeing who would bag the prize for the best editorial of the year. Editorials, after all, are important: they express a newspaper’s stand or opinion on issues. And editorials are powerful: many readers, especially in rural Bhutan, accept, without any questions, the opinions expressed in the editorials as the truth.

So who was awarded the prize? The prize was awarded to not one, not two, but three journalists representing the three main newspapers in our country – Kuensel, Bhutan Observer and Bhutan Times.

What does this mean? That the editorials, one from each of our three leading papers, were equally good. Or that the editorials, one from each of our three leading papers, were equally bad. Or that the judges, appointed by and paid for by the government, were guided by considerations other than quality of the editorial.

Government awards media awards

2009-05-03T23:46:00.000+06:00

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, our government organized the first Annual Media Awards. Yes: the government organized the event. This is good, but could also be dangerous.

This is good because our government’s sponsorship of the annual media awards could be seen as support for the media. After all, the government is recognizing and rewarding the best in the media, in spite of the fact that, due to the nature of their jobs, those in the media regularly question, and sometimes even confront the government.

This could be dangerous because the media should not allow the government to decide who among them to recognize and to reward.

So from next year, I hope that the media is able to organize this important event without the government’s involvement. At the very least, the winners would draw much more pride and satisfaction knowing that they were recognized by their peers, and not by judges appointed and paid for by the government.

Star gazing

2009-05-03T14:27:00.001+06:00

Yesterday, our government organized the 8th Film Festival Awards. Our government’s sponsorship of the celebrations is indicative of their support for the movie industry. This is good.

Our movie industry has played an important role in promoting our national language and culture, in generating employment and in providing countless hours of entertainment. I thank them and congratulate them for continuing to take Bhutanese cinema to new heights.

Congratulations to the winners of the 8th film festival awards – you are our stars.

(Till last year the film festival awards were organized through private sponsorship, mainly by the Zimdra Group.)

Happy Teachers' Day

2009-05-02T23:48:00.001+06:00

Gakiling has only one school, a community primary school. It is in Rangtse, a small, impoverished village located four walking days from the nearest motor road in Haa. Tshering Dorji is its principal.

In 2006, after teaching for about three years in remote schools in Samtse, Lopen Tshering volunteered to go to Rangtse to establish a community primary school. There he met enough children to start the school. And he saw a community eager to build their school. So together, they – farmers, children, and teacher – erected a two-room hut that would become Rangtse’s first classrooms.

Early the following year, 38 children showed up for school. And Lopen Tshering got to work. He taught his students to read and to write, to sing and dance, and to work and play. His first students included a paraplegic and several toddlers in the “pre-school” section. By the end of that year, the school had treated the public of Rangtse to their first ever cultural show. But that was not all: the principal took the show on the road, where his talented students entertained admiring crowds in Sombaykha and in Dorokha.

Today Rangtse CPS has 97 students studying in classes PP through III, many coming from villages that have never had a child attend school. The school now has four teachers including the principal and his wife. And they have a few more huts, some of which are still being built. But that is still not enough. So all the teachers – the principal, his wife, and the two others – live in one room. That room is furnished with three beds and one cupboard.

Lopen Tshering has shown how much can be achieved with so little. He’s built a school from scratch. A school that gives hope. And that provides the only opportunity to escape poverty.

So today, on Teachers’ Day, I want to recognize the hard work that Lopen Tshering Dorji and his teacher friends have put into building Rangtse CPS. And I want to acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices that they have made. And thank them.

I wish Lopen Tshering and his teacher-colleagues throughout our country: A very happy teachers’ day.

Early warning

2009-04-30T18:35:00.004+06:00

Early yesterday morning, the health assistant in Lunana was woken up by loud rumbling sounds from the Gotu-chu. At 3:30 AM he found that the river, a tributary of the Pho- chu, had swollen to thrice its size and dispatched a wireless message to the Early Warning Station in Wanduephodrang warning them of a possible flood downstream along the Pho-chu and Punasang-chu.

The rumblings that the health assistant had heard spread panic in Punakha and beyond. And by mid-day, the entire nation was consumed by fear of the impending dangers in Punakha and Wangduephodrang. His Majesty the King was immediately in Punakha. As were our prime minister and home minister.

By the time I reached Punakha, traveling from Phuentsholing, the alert had been called off, and everything appeared normal.

I was happy to see the quick response of our government to a potential disaster. And I was happy to see our prime minister admit: “we were not prepared, thousands of lives would have been lost if this was a real flood.”

We now know that we are “not prepared” to handle a flood in Punasang-chu. And we know that, if the river were to flood, thousands of lives would be at risk. We also know that a “real flood” is inevitable – it’s only a matter of time.

How we use this knowledge will determine how we react to future rumbling sounds from Lunana.

Sustaining happiness

2009-04-29T07:02:00.001+06:00

I’m in Phuentsholing, on my way back from a special trip to my constituency. I went there to receive Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, who visited Sombaykha and Gakiling in my constituency, and then to accompany the royal entourage to Dumtoe and Dorokha in Samtse.

Her Majesty trekked for eight straight days, from the freezing Tergo-la in Haa to the hot and humid Yaba-la in Samtse. She undertook this arduous journey – trudging in the cold winds and snow, in the rain among leeches, and in the sun in sweltering heat – to meet the people living in the remotest parts of Haa and Samtse. And Her Majesty met them in their villages and in their homes to tell them about reproductive health, to advocate family planning, and to warn them of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, drugs and excessive alcohol.

Pictured is Her Majesty in Rangtse enjoying a happy moment with the people of Gakiling. There, I was suddenly struck by the realization that Her Majesty’s journey to my constituency, and those through the length and breath of our country, was not just about reproductive health or HIV/AIDS; it was ultimately a campaign to ensure that the happiness of our people is sustainable.

I return to Thimphu today.

Watching our mountains

2009-04-26T08:00:00.002+06:00

On the 12th of April, I had promised to post a good picture of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Range. I’m afraid I haven’t been able to get one. I’m sorry.

Dun dun was correct in commenting that I “was indeed in a hurry” and that my picture is “all hazy, washed out and dry!”

I will be honest: the real reason I wrote the entry, even though I didn’t have a good picture of the mountains, was to remind myself that our northern range is now called the “Jigme Singye Wangchuck Range”.

The picture of the mountain range I’m posting is a photo of the one that accompanies the popular binoculars in Dochula. The photo shows off our important mountains and their respective altitudes. It was given to me by a friend.

On a related note, most tourists visiting Bhutan know that mountaineering is forbidden in our kingdom. And all of them would know that that’s out of respect to our deities that reside in our high mountains.

But some of our mountains have been “conquered”. Do you know which ones? By whom? And when?

Saluting the army

2009-04-24T08:00:00.004+06:00

Today, on the 24th of April, we observe Armed Forces Raising Day. On this important day, we commemorate the establishment of our armed forces comprising of the Royal Bhutan Army, the Royal Bhutan Guards, and the Royal Bhutan Police. And, more importantly, we remember and celebrate their valuable services to the tsa-wa-sum.

I respectfully offer my gratitude and tashi delek to the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Militia, and to all officers and troops of the RBP, RBA and RBG.

Risky business

2009-04-22T08:00:00.003+06:00

I was horrified to learn that an oil tanker burst into flames in the BOD’s petrol pump in Samdrup Jongkhar. (Read Bhutan Observer article) The fire was quickly contained, but only after two men had been seriously injured. We’re lucky that the fire didn’t spread to and cause unimaginable damage to the residents of Samdrup Jongkhar.

The BOD station in Thimphu is a disaster waiting to happen any day. The street literally runs through the middle of the petrol pump. So traffic is heavy. But not just to fuel-up. Every driver uses the BOD station as a thoroughfare.

The danger is obvious. If something like the Samdrup Jongkhar incident were to take place in Thimphu, it would be difficult to control the fire. It would be catastrophic. One, the station stores much more fuel. And two, the resulting traffic jam would prevent fire trucks from reaching anywhere near the inferno.

The solution is also obvious. Redesign our streets. Or, if that’s not possible, relocate the BOD.

Seedy grant

2009-04-20T08:00:00.002+06:00

Our newspapers reported that the cabinet has approved the constituency development grant last week (read Bhutan Observer). I join the NC Chairman in expressing complete shock at the cabinet’s decision. Here are a few reasons, most of which I’ve shared with BBS, why we should be seriously concerned if the CDG has really been approved:

1. It is unconstitutional. Our Constitution declares that “there shall be separation of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and no encroachment of each other’s powers is permissible.” Allowing MPs to implement the CDG amounts to the legislature encroaching on the executive.

2. It undermines local governments. Our Constitution declares that “power and authority shall be decentralized and devolved to elected Local Governments…” By granting Nu 2 million per year per constituency as CDG, MPs retain a considerable amount of direct control over development funds. This will seriously undermine the “power and authority” of the Gewog Tshogdes.

3. It undermines the National Council. During the second session, the NC resolved that the CDG is unconstitutional and submitted the matter to His Majesty the King. In approving the CDG, the government may have totally disregarded the NC’s resolution.

4. Rules have not been approved. During the first session of the parliament, the NC and NA, in the joint sitting, resolved that they would continue deliberating the CDG in the next session, and instructed the government to present draft rules on the CDG at that time. The CDG rules were not presented or discussed during the second session of the parliament.

5. It is not fair. If members of the National Assembly require a constituency development grant, what about members of the National Council? They too have constituencies. They too made promises. And what about gups? And mangmis? And tshopas? All of them also have constituencies and also have promises to fulfill.

6. It will breed corruption. The CDG looks a lot like slush funds – the money is not earmarked for any specific purpose, and it will be used to gain political mileage.

7. It is inefficient. If money is available (and it must be, hence CDG), use it to fund development work as part of the 10th Five Year Plan. The ruling party’s promises, and that of its MPs, should and must be fully covered in the Plan. Extra money, if any, should be placed at the disposal of local governments. After all, they will have a much more intimate knowledge of the problems and the opportunities in their gewogs.

8. Learn. Several countries that have similar schemes – India, for example – are trying to abolish them. But they can’t. Why? Politicians, who are the ones who stand to gain the most from such schemes, will not agree to do away with them. Let’s learn from the mistakes of others.

To Gakiling and beyond

2009-04-19T06:31:00.003+06:00

I begin another visit to my constituency today. In particular, I’ll visit Gakiling. And from there head to Dumtoe and Dorokha in Samtse. Most families from Samar gewog, including mine, make this journey every year, moving their cattle from the high mountains in Haa to the lowlands in Samtse each winter. This difficult journey has been undertaken by many, many generations at almost the same time each year, along exactly the same path, and to the same pastures. Our people continue this tradition. We have to: we are semi-nomadic people.

So, naturally, I'm excited.

I won’t be able to access the internet, and this blog, for the next 8 days. But, be warned, I’ve already posted a few entries that are scheduled to be published while I’m away, enjoying the beauty of our countryside and its people.

Pictured is part of Sombaykha and Gakiling gewogs courtesy Google Earth. If you enlarge the picture (by “clicking” on it) you’ll see the main parts of Sombaykha and Gakiling. These are some of most rural parts of our country. The river you see running through the middle is Amochu, what most of us know as the Toorsa as it enters Phuentsholing.

Meeting gups

2009-04-18T21:12:00.003+06:00

Many of our readers expressed concerns about the opposition being left out of the 5th annual meeting of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu and Gewog Tshogde Chairpersons that ended today. Some were obviously outraged. And a few suggested that the opposition organize a separate meeting with the gups.

I appreciate your concerns. And your advice. Thank you.

We’ve decided that organizing a separate meeting with the gups would not be proper. It would send the wrong message: that the annual meetings are organized only for the government. In fact, gups are apolitical. And they are important. So all relevant agencies should have access to them during the one time they congregate together. And I’m not just talking about access for the opposition party. I’m sure the National Council would find it useful. And NGOs. And the private sector, among others.

Organizing a separate meeting is also not possible. I’m already in my village, Dorikha in Haa! I arrived half an hour ago.

So, because I couldn’t meet them in Thimphu, the idea is to travel to the dzongkhags to meet them there. And I’ll telephone those who I can’t meet in person.

I view this as a good opportunity to interact with local governments at an even more personal level.

Left out

2009-04-18T11:04:00.003+06:00

The 5th annual meeting of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu and Gewog Tshogde Chairpersons will end today. These meetings are important as, once every year, the gups of all 205 gewogs get together to discuss issues relating to local government. And this year’s meeting is especially important as this is the first such meeting since the introduction of parliamentary democracy.

But the opposition party was excluded from this meeting.

I’d hoped to meet our local government leaders to solicit their opinions and advice on the opposition party’s work. And to seek their views on the amendments to the Local Government Act that are expected to be discussed during the parliament’s next session.

So when the meeting was announced, I requested the organizers for an opportunity to meet the gups. But I was told that their agenda was packed. And that it would not be possible to include a session for the opposition.

And so I’ve decided to contact the 205 gups personally.

Photo of gups from www.kuenselonline.com

Free media

2009-04-17T05:53:00.001+06:00

On Sunday, March 22, Bhutan Times reported: The most direct evidence of our new democratic freedom this past year is the ease with which the kingdom’s young media professionals can now get hold of government leadership including, even, the Prime Minister himself. Good.

On Saturday, April 11, Kuensel reported: The prime minister said that the government respected the media. It had in no way hindered them. “The government lets media do what they’re supposed to be doing. People need to know the truth, both good and bad … We should be honest and we should reveal.” Very good.

On Wednesday, April 15, Kuensel reported: When discussions got heated up between MPs and coordinators, the DPT party told the press to leave the hall. Not good.

Golden youth

2009-04-16T17:57:00.005+06:00

For more than three decades, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo traveled to every part and every corner of our country to meet the children of Bhutan. And everywhere our king went, from community schools to Sherbutse, our nation’s “peak of learning”, He commanded: “The future of our country lies in the hands of our youth.”

To honour and to celebrate our fourth king’s boundless love for and confidence in our youth, the Youth Development Fund started the Golden Youth Award a few years ago. This annual award essentially recognizes children who excel at school – in both, the classroom and playground – and the community.

The day before yesterday, in Phuentsholing, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, recognized our first batch of “golden youth”. They are:

Tshering Dhendup, Class VI, Samdrup Jonkhar MSS
Meghna Upreti, Class VI, Khuruthanng MSS
Phub Dorji, Class VIII, Yangchenphug HSS
Tsheyang Choden, Class VIII, Shari HSS
Tshewang Gyeltshen, Class X, Yangchenphug HSS
Nikey Subba, Class X, Khuruthang MSS
Dawa Gyeltshen, Class XII, Samtse HSS
Ugyen Lhamo, Class XII, Yangchenphug HSS

I congratulate each and every one of them for being “golden youth”, and for making their classmates, their schools, their parents, and, most importantly, their kings, proud of them.

Well done. Keep it up. Tashi Delek!

Nazhoen Pelri, Phuntsholing

2009-04-15T22:24:00.005+06:00

Yesterday I had the good fortune of attending the opening ceremony of Nazhoen Pelri, YDF’s youth hostel in Phuntsholing. The hostel was inaugurated by the YDF President, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck. I am pleased the post Her Majesty’s address to YDF supporters, the Phuntsholing community and the youth of Bhutan.

Almost four years have passed since the Youth Development Fund initiated our plan of making a hostel in Phuntsholing, a hostel which will be useful for providing the youth with low cost housing. Today, our plans have finally become a reality and we now have Nazhoen Pelri Youth hostel. When I look around, my heart is filled with pride and happiness as I see a place of hope and a place of great potential.

For this we have to thank the Jaypee Group and in particular their Joint Managing Director, Mr Pankaj Gaur. They have not only funded the building of the hostel but have generously offered us 20 scholarships, 10 every year at the under graduate level in some of the best IT colleges in India, and 10 at the certificate technical level, for 10 years starting from 2005. We truly value the genuine friendship between the YDF and the Jaypee Group and look forward to many years of friendship and cooperation. Through their endless generosity and support, the Jaypee Group has helped shaped many aspects of Bhutan thus re-enforcing the friendship between India and Bhutan, and for this reason alone, they will always be a friend not only to the YDF but to Bhutan as well.

The Youth Development Fund, with the assistance of the Jaypee Group of India has offered this valuable gift to the youth of Bhutan. In turn, I would like to make a personal request to the Phuntsholing community: Let us join hands in making this center a worthwhile and meaningful place for the youth. This can only be achieved if the facility is well utilized and is a safe haven free from drugs, alcohol and violence. An Advisory Committee comprising of community leaders will steer the management of this center. Hence, I would like to encourage the community to make this establishment a fine example of a well run center that promotes community unity and social development.

As Bhutan’s leading youth organization, the Youth Development Fund is “committed to ensure that all youth have equal access to education, meaningful employment and opportunities to develop their potential. Our programs build leadership skills, encourage teamwork and promote the value of service among youth. Through advocacy work and strategic partnerships, we work to encourage youth participation, raise awareness of youth issues and promote youth oriented policy.” In pursuance of this mission, we are building youth facilities because we believe in the importance of developing competencies other than academic and vocational training such as personal and social skills. We hope that the youth hostel in Phuntsholing will be a role model in using the center for self development and undertaking outreach work in social services.

Today, it not only gives me much pleasure to be attending the consecration of our youth hostel but it also makes me very happy to have the chance to meet you, the youth in Phuentsholing. I would like to take this opportunity to talk to you about youth related problems. I am particularly concerned about the increasing abuse of drugs and alcohol by our youth and young adults. As we all know, Phuntsholing is a gateway for narcotics into Bhutan. Therefore, you have a great responsibility to bear. There are many institutions and programmes to address the problem. Nonetheless, it is you who can play a vital role in helping others or yourself by being responsible and preventing the trafficking of narcotics, youth crime, gang violence, vandalism, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and even HIV/AIDS. The challenges ahead may seem daunting but you have to strive forward and push yourself to overcome them to achieve your dreams. You must never forget that you are precious not only for the country but also for your family and community and together we have to help protect our beloved kingdom.

I wish the community of youth and the people of Phuntsholing all the best in their effort to lead the country in establishing a model community center.

Tashi Delek!

Portrait of Her Majesty from the YDF website

Our Punakha party

2009-04-13T18:25:00.003+06:00

Yesterday, our secretary general Sonam Jatso and I visited Punakha. The PDP Dzongkhag office there had invited us to attend their general meeting. About 100 party members including members, workers and supporters had gathered to discuss strategies to further strengthen our dzongkhag office.

I was delighted. We lost both the Punakha constituencies last year. And our president, Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup, who hails from Punakha, resigned to take moral responsibility for the poor election results. Yet, not a single party worker or supporter has left the party. Instead, they are closer and more focused than ever. And they are determined to work hard to revitalize our party.

Now we must do our bit …

JSW mountain range

2009-04-12T22:06:00.002+06:00

This morning, at about 8:00 AM, while traveling to Punakha, Dochula honored me with the visual treat that is the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Mountain Range. Our northern range looked simply grand. My photo, which I had snapped very quickly, shows only part of the range, and does absolutely no justice to the real majesty of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Mountain Range.

But I’ve already asked a friend to loan me a real picture of our mountains. I’ll post that soon.

PDP Secretary General

2009-04-12T22:01:00.002+06:00

Last week, in a quiet ceremony, Lam Kezang Chhoephel, PDP’s secretary general, formally handed over the party’s files to the incoming secretary general, Sonam Jatso.

Lam Kezang joined PDP in July 2007 and served as the party’s first secretary general. He successfully registered PDP as Bhutan’s first political party on 1st September 2007, and was instrumental in establishing and developing PDP’s party offices throughout the country.

Lam Kezang leaves the PDP to join a private company. I thank him from the bottom of my heart. And I wish him success.

Good karma

2009-04-09T23:45:00.004+06:00

Coffee, many say, is the most popular beverage on earth after water. Yet good coffee is hard to come by in most places. But it is available in Thimphu, at Karma’s Coffee, located in the Zhamling Building somewhere above Hotel Phuntsho Pelri.

Karma’s is owned and run by Karma Tenzin, Bhutan’s first barista, who spent about two years in Australia training to make good coffee. And he made a lot of it: about four to five hundred cups a day!

Back home the pace is much slower. He makes only 40 to 50 cups of coffee a day. This, he claims, allows him to pull the perfect shot of espresso each and every time, This also allows him to offer his customers a much wider choice of espresso-based drinks, from cappuccino to a range of lattes all brewed from the choicest Arabica beans.

Karma’s is open everyday, from 11 AM to 9 PM, and serves milk shakes, freshly squeezed fruit juices, tea, iced coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and great coffee, all in a cozy setting offering comfortable seats, cool music, and free wifi, where no one will bother you as if you fiddle your laptop or bury your head in a book.

Karma Tenzin is courageous. And he is a professional. I’m impressed.

Political Instability Index

2009-04-08T08:13:00.000+06:00

The Economist Intelligence Unit has predicted that the likelihood of political unrest has increased for most countries since 2007. A total of 95 countries are rated as being at “very high risk” or “high risk”, and Zimbabwe is considered to be the most vulnerable of all the 165 countries surveyed. Only 17 countries, led by Norway, are deemed to have “low risk” of political turmoil. See EIU’s Political Instability Index.

With seven of the ten most vulnerable countries coming from Africa, that continent continues to be the most politically instable region in the world.

But South Asia doesn’t fare much better. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are all among the 27 countries rated to have “very high risk” of political and social turmoil. Bhutan and India, both rated to be at “moderate risk”, are the least vulnerable to political strife among South Asian countries.

EIU’s Political Instability Index was prepared by rating each country for its “economic distress” and “underlying vulnerability to unrest.”

Improving public services

2009-04-07T09:38:00.000+06:00

Many businessmen and women would have been delighted to hear our government’s assurances to start the one-stop service centre during BCCI’s annual general meeting last Friday. And they would have been pleased to know that our government is already acting on these assurances. Because, yesterday, according to BBS, our prime minister met with government secretaries to consider ways of reducing the administrative burden.

Our government’s assurances and their immediate follow up came as especially good news to Dragyel Tenzin Dorjee. You see, Dragyel spent a year, running from pillar to post, to get permission to establish the Bhutan Institute of Media, a private institute offering courses in photography, journalism, graphics and design. He has his license now, but says that he wouldn’t wish his experience on any other person trying to start a business.

Connectivity for ICT businesses

2009-04-06T12:57:00.002+06:00

In my last entry I celebrated the government’s promise to make Bhutan an attractive destination for ICT businesses. I am truly excited at the prospects of using ICT to strengthen our economy, create much needed jobs and generated revenue, all while safeguarding our brand-image as a country that’s serious about gross national happiness.

But yesterday I was reminded that our government will need to do a lot of work if ICT is to become a viable business in Bhutan. This is especially so if we want to attract foreign investment to spearhead the development of ICT businesses.

What happened yesterday? I couldn’t go online. And I’m still having trouble accessing international websites, including this blog.

So I called up Bhutan Telecom’s customer service (at 1700-1700) and learnt that, on the night of 3rd April, strong winds forced a tree on a BPC tower in Bunakha damaging both electrical and fibre optic cables. The electrical cables have already been restored, but it appears that it might take longer (3 to 4 days, I was told) to repair the fibre optic cables.

Though the storm at Bunakha has affected international uplinks to Hong Kong and London, Bhutan Telecom continues to provide about 10 Mbps link to Phuentsholing using their microwave link. But 10 Mbps is not enough to do the smallest of ICT businesses. In fact, even the 116 Mbps that Bhutan Telecom provides at full capacity will not be enough to develop an industry around ICT.

So our government should upgrade existing links and build alternate international links to make connectivity sufficiently reliable in our country. This should not be too difficult if the Universal Service Fund, which consists of license fees amounting to Nu 777 million each from Tashi Cell and B-Mobile, is used to finance these critical investments. The Fund, after all, was established to do just this sort of work.

Only after improving our connectivity infrastructure will investors – national and foreign – take our government’s promise to make Bhutan an attractive location to do ICT businesses seriously.

Otherwise get ready for more disruptions. See “Stayin online” for an earlier entry about unreliable internet services.

Attending to BCCI

2009-04-04T17:26:00.004+06:00

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry has just concluded its 24th Annual General Meeting. The gathering attracted some much needed attention for the private sector in general and the BCCI in particular.

The minister of economic affairs addressed the AGM during its opening ceremony on Thursday, and encouraged the private sector to come up with new business ideas.

On Friday, our prime minister also attended the meeting. And he spoke at length – for more than two hours, some say – to the business community about what the private sector can expect from our government. He reiterated our government’s promise to make Bhutan a preferred destination for ICT businesses. Yes! It’s about time that we started harvesting the enormous business and employment potential of ICT.

And he promised a one-stop service centre to make doing business easier. Yes! Our business community has heard this promise over and over again, first from previous governments and then, very compellingly, during the campaigning that preceded last year’s elections. And still no one-stop service centre. But now I’m very hopeful.

Kuensel’s article on the AGM is available here.

BCCI's new leaders

2009-04-04T17:24:00.001+06:00

On Thursday, during its 24th Annual General Meeting, the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industries elected Topgyal Dorji as its 5th president, and Chen Chen Dorji and Thinley P. Dorji as vice presidents.

I offer my heartiest congratulations to the incoming president and vice presidents. The three unrelated Dorji’s have an important common mission: to force our government to get serious about private sector development.

Unresolved audit issue

2009-04-02T10:19:00.000+06:00

It’s quite common to hear government officials complain: “I’m willing to help but, if I do, Audit will fix me up.” This refrain is not an excuse to avoid work. Instead, this shows how nervous most officials get when dealing with the RAA.

This is unfortunate. This is unfortunate because all public servants actually accept and support the need to enhance responsibility and accountability in the government, especially when it comes to matters concerning use of public money.

Yet most officials are wary of the RAA. And it’s not because they fear getting caught doing something wrong. More often, it’s because most officials do not want to risk making unintentional mistakes, especially if they suspect that RAA could refuse the all-important Audit Clearance even for small mistakes.

And to make matters worse, no one seems to know how long a person will be held accountable for small infractions. For blatant offenses, even if they are small, I support making the perpetrator fully and unconditionally accountable even if the offense is detected years later.

But what if the RAA could hold you accountable for any mistake, including those made by your staff, many years after they take place and years after you’ve left the organization? That would, and should, make our government officials concerned, particularly if Audit Clearances matter.

What’s made me so concerned is a letter that recently arrived from MOLHR. That letter told me to sort out certain audit memos on possible lapses that occurred during my tenure, not with the MOLHR, but with the NTTA way back in 2001. The memos concern “other irregularities in advance” of Nu 11,000 and Nu 5,000 taken by Kakamo and Tenzin Dorji respectively, and are issued in my name because, in 2001, I was their “supervisor”.

Now I will take full responsibility for these irregularities, but consider this: between 2001 and today, the RAA must have issued several Audit Clearances to Kakamo and Tenzin. I certainly received many, the latest in order to contest the general elections last year. So what comes to my mind is this: why am I being told about this only now, years after RAA probably knew about it, and many years since I ceased to be their “supervisor”?

And where is Kakamo? She resigned sometime in 2003 to return to her village. And Tenzin? According to MOLHR he was suspended from service on other matters. I’ve already accepted that I won’t be able to find them. And, even if I do, they’ll find it difficult to remember lapses that occurred in 2001.

No wonder our officials can sometimes appear reluctant to help.

Lazy banks

2009-04-01T20:41:00.002+06:00

My last entry provoked Zekom to exclaim: “…calling Bhutanese Banks conservative is a praise they don’t deserve. I’d call them lazy!”

She is correct.

Because our banks our lazy, money lenders are doing a thriving business throughout rural Bhutan, where our farmers are compelled to take loans at exorbitant rates. It’s common for money lenders to charge farmers interest rates of 5% per month, which works out to 60% per year!

This, of course, is illegal. The Moveable and Immoveable Property Act (1999) stipulates that “… no lender other than a registered financial institution which has been duly licensed to engage in the extension of credit, may charge interest greater than 15 percent per annum expressed as a simple annual rate.” But the complete absence of meaningful banking services in rural Bhutan means that desperate farmers are willing to accept extremely high rates, even though they are illegal. It also means that our farmers find it very difficult to repay loans. And those that can’t lose their land and, sometimes, even their houses.

But that’s not all. I’ve learnt that money lenders do brisk business even in Thimphu. And how much do they charge? Get ready for this: as much as 20 percent a month! That works out to 240% a year.

This is ridiculous. And illegal. And heartbreaking.

Banking on our banks

2009-03-31T09:03:00.007+06:00

Our banks continue to make generous profits. Last year, BNB made Nu 310 million, a whopping 124% over the previous year, and BOB made Nu 168 (see Kuensel article). Not bad, considering the size of our economy. And, considering that they’ve been consistently declaring very attractive dividends.

How do banks make money? Primarily by paying depositors a certain interest rate, and charging borrowers a higher interest rate. And obviously, the larger the spread between the two rates, the bigger the profit that banks earn. But what about bad loans, loans that banks cannot recover? That’s the risk that banks take, a risk that’s minimized by lending only to reliable borrowers.

So how do our banks consistently make so much money? By paying depositors low interest rates and charging borrowers interest rates that are much higher. And by requiring that all loans are secured by full collateral.

This is very good for our banks. But not so good for our economy. And definitely not good for people who want to do business.

That’s why doing business is difficult in Bhutan (see “Doing business isn’t easy anywhere”).

And that’s why the Doing Business Report ranks Bhutan a miserable 172 out of 181 countries in terms credit access. (see ranking)

Our banks need to be less conservative and a lot more active. They need to lower interest rates so that businesses have a better chance. Access to capital is limited to a few people who have collateral – and this is what deprives the vast majority of Bhutanese of business opportunities. The financial institutions must be more proactive in making it easier for farmers and small businesses to avail of loans – on the merit of their proposals and not collateral alone. The risk factor can be minimized if loan officers not only study and analyze the proposals, but also offer guidance and other support to the borrowers.

Improving access to credit will be good for businesses. And good for our economy. And that would be good for our banks: they'll be able to make even more profits.

Mobile banking

2009-03-28T07:38:00.002+06:00

Wouldn’t you be happy if you could get your bank balance on your cell phone instead of having to go all the way to the bank?

Wouldn’t it be good if you could instruct your bank not to honour a cheque that you’d issued mistakenly?

Wouldn’t you like it if your bank informed you every time money was withdrawn from or deposited to your account?

And wouldn’t it be convenient if your bank reminded you when loan repayments were due?

All this, and more, are available with the BNB’s mobile banking service which was launched yesterday. I’m excited about this new service, so I went there yesterday afternoon to congratulate BNB staff and register for their service.

The concept seems to be quite simple: you send instructions by SMS to the bank, and they respond with the required information by return SMS. Regular rates for outgoing SMS’s apply, but incoming SMS’s from the bank are free. Plus the bank sends SMS’s to alert you when money is withdrawn from your account, deposited to your account, or when loan repayments become due.

The beauty of this service is that it is free and easy. BNB has tied up with both Tashi Cell and B-Mobile to provide this convenient service free of cost. And while I will certainly find this service very useful, it could be even more beneficial to our farmers. Almost half our population, and most farmers, now carry cell phones. So mobile banking should now be possible throughout the country. And our farmers should finally find it worthwhile to open bank accounts.

But I’m already excited about the next level of mobile banking: fund transfer. Now wouldn’t you like that? Wouldn’t you be delighted if you could transfer money to your daughter’s account just by sending an SMS? Or if you could shop, buy petrol for instance, simply by using your cell phone?

I congratulate BNB for improving their financial services. And, more importantly, I thank them for making banking that much more possible for our farmers. Go ahead. Make your services even more accessible. And empower us, your customers.

Educating doctors

2009-03-27T11:16:00.003+06:00

On 23rd March, the Ministry of Education announced rules on the recently approved medical scholarship grants (see the rules). The rules clarified how the government will implement the grants. But we should be concerned at least on two counts.

One, on the impact on current private students. According to the rules private students currently studying in universities recognized jointly by RCSC, MOH and MOE in the SAARC region, Thailand and Cuba are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Of them 15 will be awarded the medical grant.

Obviously, every private medical student by now expects the grant. And convincing them that they may not be eligible or that their universities are not recognized will be difficult. We’ve already upset most other private students. Now, it appears, that we may upset many private medical students as well.

And two, on the impact on future students. According to the rules, medical scholarship grants will be awarded to 15 private students each year selected on the “basis of academic merit and competition”. This is good. But there is one catch: to be eligible, a student must have already secured “their own placement/admissions to medical institutions/universities deemed reputable.”

The problem is this: a student having the best possible marks (among those who couldn’t get the full government scholarships) but without the financial backing or the connections to apply for admission privately, will not be eligible for the grant. So the grant is not based solely on academic merit; it favors the rich and the well connected.

And that could also be unconstitutional. Article 9.16 of our Constitution states that “The State shall provide free education to all children of school going age up to tenth standard and ensure that technical and professional education is made generally available and that higher education is equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.”

But it’s not enough to say it’s unconstitutional and do nothing about the shortage of doctors. So what’s the solution? I don’t know about current private medical students – we are already in this mess.

For the future, however, the solution is quite straightforward: Just do away with the grants for future private medical students. And, instead, create additional full scholarships that will be “equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.” It can’t be that difficult to create 15 more full scholarships. The government is obviously willing to make the money available. So all that’s really needed, is to convince other governments or medical universities to reserve a certain amount of admissions for our students each year.

Doing the work

2009-03-27T07:34:00.003+06:00

Regular readers of this blog know that every once in a while I present an issue without making a judgment or giving my views. I just present the facts as I see them.

Why do I do this?

Firstly, to make us think. Merely raising an issue forces me think much more deeply about it. And I am hopeful that it makes you, the reader, also spend some time reflecting on the issue.

Secondly, to solicit your views. Your views are important to me and, I would like to think, to other readers as well. And, by the way, yes, I welcome your comments telling me I’m wrong, especially when they are told convincingly.

And thirdly, to encourage public debate. Constructive discussion will help us determine if an issue is important and, if so, how we, collectively, can address it.

My last entry “Construction waste” was one such issue. The idea was to raise an issue that many of us know about, but don’t necessarily talk about. And the idea is to talk about it publicly so that we, especially those who are responsible for it, are forced to take action.

Construction waste is dumped not only around Memelakha. The forest below the road between Langjophakha and Taba is another favorite spot. And I’ve seen construction waste dumped below the highway opposite the Semtokha Dzong and even on other side of the RBG garage near the Tashichodzong parking lot.

We all know that there’s a lot of construction taking place in Thimphu. And that the waste that’s generated must be discarded. But the question is where? Nobody seems to know. And nobody knows because it looks like we don’t have a landfill for construction debris.

If we had a landfill, most people would gladly take their construction debris there rather than risk being caught illegally dumping it below a road. So our government should identify appropriate landfills. There are many possible sites. The park near Changlimithang, for example, is built mostly on land reclaimed using waste – mud and debris – from construction sites.

Sounds straightforward, doesn’t it? So why don’t we have a proper site to dump construction waste? Probably because no government agency has taken the responsibility. I mean, whose job is it, after all? The City Corporation? The Dzongkhag Administration? Ministry of Works and Human Settlement? Department of Forests? I don’t know. But what seems obvious is that the job, whoever’s it is, is not being done.

So we, you and I, should tell our government that something needs to be done. We can tell our friends in the government. We can express our opinions in the media. We can write to the government agencies. We can write to the member of parliament concerned, South Thimphu, in this case.

We can also bring the issue to the NEC’s notice – this is what I’ll do.

And if nothing gets done, we can get together, as concerned citizens, to clean up the mess ourselves. This has been done in the past. And I’m sure RSPN will be very happy to organize another clean up campaign.

Construction waste

2009-03-25T21:05:00.005+06:00

This afternoon, while travelling to Punakha, I saw garbage dumped below the highway at several places about 10 kilometers from Thimphu. The waste, which was obviously from a construction site, had been transported by truck and dumped in the forest near Memelakha.

The winner takes it all

2009-03-25T13:10:00.002+06:00

I commemorated the first anniversary of our country’s first general elections by pouring over the election results. And, in doing so, I was reminded of the pain and disappointment on that historic day. I was also reminded of the dangers of our electoral system.

Of the 253,012 votes cast, 83,522 were cast in favour of PDP. That works out to a little over 33% of the total votes cast. The rest, that’s about 67%, were cast in favour of DPT.

But PDP won only two of the 47 constituencies. That’s barely 4% of the total number of constituencies. So although PDP won 33% of the total votes cast, it won only 4% of the total number of seats in the National Assembly.

Now what if Dasho Damcho Dorji, contesting Khatoe-Laya, had received 4 less votes? He got 349 votes, so 4 less would mean that he would have got 345. And his opponent, who got 343 votes would have gotten 347. So PDP would have lost Khatoe-Laya.

And what if I, Tshering Tobgay, contesting Sombaykha, had received 190 less votes? I got 1224 votes, so 190 less means 1034 votes. And my counterpart , who got 846 votes, would have gotten 1036 votes. So PDP would have lost Sombaykha too.

4 less votes in Khatoe-Laya and 190 less in Sombaykha would have meant that PDP would have gotten a total of 83328 votes, not 83522. And 83328 out of 253012 works out to 32.93%, that’s almost 33%. So, if that had happened, and theoretically it could have, PDP would have won 33% of the popular vote, but would have had no seats in the National Assembly. And we wouldn’t have had an opposition party.

In fact, in theory, PDP could have won as much as 49% of the total votes cast, and not won a single constituency. That would have happened if PDP had lost every constituency by a very small margin. And DPT? It would have enjoyed an absolute majority in the national assembly although it would have won only 51% of the total votes.

Why am painting such a bleak picture? Because we must accept that our system can produce such an undesirable result. This is one of the disadvantages of a first past the post or winner-takes-all system.

But many countries, including India and the USA, use this system. True. And, theoretically speaking, such outcomes are also possible in those countries. Possible, but very unlikely, because they have a large number of constituencies.

In our country, however, with only 47 constituencies and a small voter population, the likely hood that a party can win 49% of the total vote and yet not win a single constituency, should not be ignored.

I’ve learnt that politics is dangerous. And I’ve also learnt that our electoral system is very dangerous.

A unique example

2009-03-24T12:33:00.002+06:00

Last year, in Sherubste College, a student asked me: “We’ve been told, many times, that democracy in Bhutan is unique – please tell me how it is unique.”

The fact of the matter is that all democracies are based on, more or less, the same principles, and none can claim to be really unique. But, on the other hand, no two democracies are exactly the same, making every democracy, unique in its own way. So to claim that our particular form of democracy is unique, in the way it is structured for example, would not make much sense.

But in one regard we are unique, and in another we must aspire to be so.

We are truly unique in the way democracy was introduced in our country – gifted, so to speak, from the Golden Throne to the people. This, we must never forget. And always celebrate.

And we must aspire to be unique in another way: in the quality of politicians that we elect. In every democracy, politicians are viewed with suspicion. They are considered, and many times proven, to be a greedy, corrupt and power-hungry lot who will go to any length to win, but who, once elected, can’t be trusted to keep their promises.

So this was my reply to the very concerned Sherubtse student: “If you want a unique democracy, insist that our politicians are unique. Insist that they empathize with the common people and that they serve them with humility. Insist that they keep their promises – that they actually walk the talk. Insist that they are the champions of our democracy. And the role models for our youth. Insist that they are unique. Then, and only then, we’ll have a unique democracy.”

Why do I remember Sherubtse? Because today, 24th March, is exactly one year since we elected 47 people to the National Assembly. So it is a fitting time to reflect if we, politicians, are fulfilling His Majesty’s vision for a vibrant and honest democracy. And to see if we, politicians, are living up to the hopes and aspirations of our people. To consider if our politicians are unique.

One politician has already proven that he is unique. Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup may have lost the elections last year, but, by all accounts, he has become even more popular. Yet, in spite of his growing popularity and the strong appeals from all over our country, he resigned as PDP’s president. And he resigned for one reason alone: to take full moral responsibility for his party’s loss in the general elections last year.

Now that, in Bhutan’s context, is unique. And should be emulated by our politicians. Perhaps then, we can claim to have a truly unique democracy.

2nd general convention

2009-03-23T14:10:00.003+06:00

The PDP held its second general convention yesterday.

Despite strong appeals, from every party member, PDP president Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup resigned, taking full “moral responsibility” for the party’s loss in Bhutan’s first general elections.

The general convention confirmed the following nominations:

President: Tshering Tobgay
Vice Presidents: Damcho Dorji, Ritu Raj Chhettri, Yeshey Dorji
Secretary General: Sonam Jatsho
Treasurer: Namgay Dorji
Spokesman: Dr Tandin Dorji

The general convention also approved a new executive board.

PDP general convention

2009-03-21T22:48:00.000+06:00

Tomorrow, 22nd March, PDP will hold its general convention.

We anticipate a large turnout. People from every dzongkhag have telephoned to inform us that they’ll be participating in the meeting.

The convention is open to all party members. To attend, please be at the RAPA hall by 9:30 AM.

Women warriors

2009-03-21T15:07:00.007+06:00

Fourteen villages in my constituency, most of them in Gakiling gewog, do not have electricity. Every night, women in these villages turn their rangthang, a traditional stone mill, grinding buckwheat, maize and millet for several hours in virtual darkness. Working the rangthang is hard work in the best of conditions. But in the dark, by a hearth that offers more smoke than light, grinding food is a lonely and backbreaking exercise. Yet is must be done, for they must feed their families the next day.

So yesterday, when 35 women from similar villages across Bhutan announced that, in three months, they had fitted 504 families in 48 villages from 13 dzongkhags with solar lanterns I was overcome with joy.

These women are not ordinary people. They come from some of the remotest and poorest parts of our country. And almost all of them have never been to school. That’s why they now call themselves “barefoot solar engineers.”

And these women use solar power to fight the darkness that breeds poverty in distant villages. So they are already being called the “solar warriors of Bhutan”.

Yesterday, these women showed off their skills. They showed us how to install, maintain and repair solar lanterns. And they taught us that, with solar lanterns, they won’t have to work in the dark; that their children will be able to study at night; and that they will be better equipped to protect their crops from wild animals. They also taught us that they will no longer have to strain their eyes, or breathe in smoke, or travel long distances to buy kerosene, batteries and candles.

These "warriors" showed off their expertise with obvious pride and joy.

But one warrior, Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, easily showed even more pride and even more joy. After all, it was Her Majesty’s Tarayana Foundation that permanently transformed the lives of these women from simple villagers to community leaders. During the last two years, Tarayana, along with Barefoot College, a leading Indian NGO, had carefully selected, supported and trained these women to become confident and competent engineers.

Some of these women will be employed by Tarayana to train even more barefoot solar engineers. Some will soon leave for Ladakh in India to train solar engineers there. But all of them will help illuminate dark villages. And fight poverty.

What I saw yesterday is not just about women empowerment as some observers noted. Or about reducing poverty, as proclaimed by others. It’s much, much more. It’s about putting GNH into action.

And it’s about the distinct possibility that women in my constituency will, in the near future, be able to work their stone mills in the comfort of the light from a solar lantern.

Kajana fire

2009-03-20T00:17:00.002+06:00

At about 1:30 AM on 14th March, a fire raged through two adjoining houses in Kajana in Haa.

The first house belonged to Aum Dema, aged 60. Aum Dema wasn’t home during the fire – she was at her daughter’s house because she didn’t want to spend the night alone. She would have had to spend the night alone because her husband, Ap Passang, was in Danadingkha Goenpa. And Ap Passang was in Danadingkha fighting a forest fire … as a volunteer. He’d volunteered to spend the night in the goenpa to make sure the forest fire didn’t restart.

Aum Dema lost everything in the Kajana fire. She lost all her possessions including her five cows, all prized jerseys.

The other house belonged to Ap Sangay. He lost his home, his belongings and all the timber for the new house he was building. He wasn’t home. But his family, thankfully, is safe. His family is safe because his son, Sonam Dorji, rescued the other children.

The fire almost spread to Aum Chimi’s house. If it had, it would have spread through Kajana village. And destroyed most of the houses.

The other residents of Kajana are grateful for two factors that saved their village. One, they have a farm road; and because of that, two, the police firefighting team were able to prevent the fire from spreading.

I salute Ap Pasang, Sonam Dorji and the police firefighting team in Haa.

Preparing for storms

2009-03-19T23:36:00.005+06:00

A week ago, strong winds damaged 20 houses in Haa, most of them in Katsho. The storm had blown off most of their roofs.

I’m in Haa. And I was delighted to see that most of the houses have already been repaired.

Wind storms are not uncommon in Haa. Just last year several houses had been severely damaged, mostly in Samar.

In fact, wind storms are not uncommon in most parts of our country. My colleague, Dasho Damcho, is currently in Laya meeting farmers still recovering from the effects of last week’s storm. And, barely a year ago, strong winds swept through Eastern Bhutan on two occasions.

So we need to prepare ourselves.

We need to design better and stronger roofs for our traditional houses, especially since the use of CGI is increasing.

And we need to improve the rural insurance scheme. At Nu 150, the current premium is low. But at only 20,000 for a blown roof, the benefits are hardly enough to rebuild and replace a CGI roof.

Pictured is Ap Sanchu’s house in Wangtsa. Photo by Tshewang Dorji, Katsho GAO

Opposing the oppostion

2009-03-19T13:48:00.008+06:00

My last entry made Di demand that the opposition leader oppose the government’s decision directly and firmly. This is what she said:

“dear OL, are u not going to say anything to oppose this directly to the cabinet? this is wrong wrong wrong. this goes against every morals, values and ethics we have ever been taught. this is showing us that the people who are incapable and the least deserving get the best in life. It is a mockery to everything we have been taught is right. Do u not have duties and rights, as the opposition leader, to oppose this firmly?”

Di is right.

I have the duty to oppose the government when their decisions are unlawful or are not in the best interest of the tsa-wa-sum. I have this sacred duty at two levels: first, personally, as a citizen of this great country; and second, officially, in my capacity as opposition leader.

My last entry was a “personal” attempt to oppose our government’s decision. Through this blog, I have made my personal views on the medical grant issue public. Naturally, I hope that my humble views may receive favour of our government’s attention.

Similarly, but more importantly, many of you have also expressed your personal views in this blog and other on-line discussion fora. I believe our government will give serious consideration to all constructive comments, regardless of how they are communicated.

But what will I do officially? As opposition leader, I still do not know the full story. I don’t know the real objectives of the grant, the number of private students it would cover, criteria for selecting students, obligations of the students, financing source, and how the scheme will be implemented from the new academic session onwards. I also don’t know if the government is considering similar assistance for private students specializing in other professions.

So, as opposition leader, I have spoken with people in the cabinet secretariat, ministry of education and ministry of health. I have also written “officially” to the ministry of education, who will presumably implement the scheme, requesting for information. Their feedback, your views, and the government's response will determine if I, as opposition leader, should “officially” oppose our government’s decision.

Our government will make mistakes. But know that the opposition’s earnest belief is that, when that happens, our government will admit their mistakes, apologise for them and take corrective measures – all this without “official” opposition.

On a related note…

The public has been quite vocal. This is good for democracy.

But our media has not given any attention to the public’s growing concern on medical grants. This is not good for democracy.

Visit di’s blog

A bold scheme

2009-03-17T15:21:00.002+06:00

Our government’s decision to award grants to private medical students is bold. But it is wrong.

It is bold because it shows that our government can take unconventional measures to get things done – in this case to train more doctors.

But it is wrong because awarding grants to private medical students will not increase the number of doctors. Current private medical students will graduate and become doctors even if the government doesn’t intervene. So helping them will not add to the pool of doctors.

It is wrong because the unexpected grant will benefit current private medical students unfairly. They would enjoy the government’s generosity without having to compete for it.

It is wrong if our government’s decision is, as our education minister reportedly told Kuensel, “… in response to requests made by students”. We have thousands of students studying privately abroad. And it must be that many of them would have even more compelling requests for support.

It is wrong because our government has taken this decision without first understanding how the scheme will be put into practice. Or, for that matter, if it can be put into practice. The “implementation modalities” are only now being developed even as the public continues to voice serious concerns.

And it is wrong because our government should not single out medical students when the country also faces severe shortages of professionals in other areas. These include lawyers and pilots, chartered accountants and chefs, professors and architects, engineers, and even teachers. Will the government help these private students as well?

We need our government to be bold. But that’s not all. Our government must be bold and right. Otherwise we, the people will loose trust and confidence in our own government. And that wouldn’t be good.

Our government should retract its decision.

Returned rightfully?

2009-03-17T11:02:00.002+06:00

On 7 March, BBS reported that: “The land occupied by the Paro Valley Area Development Project was finally handed over to the landowners today. It was handed over by the Agriculture Minister Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho to the Member of the Parliament from Lamgong-Wangchang constituency in Paro, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.”

The principle of returning the land to the public is right. The land was acquired by the government in 1990 and compensation paid to the farmers. But it was never put to its intended use. So though it’s been almost two decades, there is a strong case to return the land to the farmers.

But the way it was done was not right.

First, according to the Constitution and the Land Act, only His Majesty the King may grant government land.

Second, the land should have been handed over to the farmers or the gup or the thrizin … and not to the MP of the constituency, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.

Photo from BBS website

Medical grants

2009-03-16T12:45:00.000+06:00

Many of you have commented on the government’s decision to provide financial assistance to private medical students. And some have telephoned me.

I don’t know enough about this sudden development to comment publicly. So I’ll talk to people who do know. And learn.

I notice that all the comments I’ve received so far denounce our government’s decision. So I urge those in support of the decision to share your views.

Talk of rights

2009-03-15T23:51:00.002+06:00

Yesterday, the ministry of economic affairs announced in Kuensel that today, 15th March, is World Consumer Rights Day.

According to their announcement, the annual event is “a time for promoting the basic rights of all consumers, for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them.”

And according to the announcement, the ministry of economic affairs has drafted the Consumer Protection Act which will be submitted to the Parliament soon.

This is good news. Our government seems serious about promoting consumer welfare and protecting consumer rights.

But is it really serious? Consider this: the Tenancy Act, which came into force almost five years ago, was designed to protect the rights of tenants – the consumers of “rental units”. But the Act has hardly been enforced, leading Kuensel to question if the "Act was being violated in spirit and letter."

Yes, our rights, as consumers, need to be understood, respected and protected. So yes, a Consumer Protection Act may be required.

But let’s first enforce the Tenancy Act. Let’s demand that our rights, as tenants, “are respected and protected.” And let’s protest the “market abuses and social injustices” which undermine these rights.

If we can’t protect the rights of tenants, the government’s talk of protecting consumer rights will remain just that … talk.

Water solution

2009-03-15T01:49:00.000+06:00

In “Weather dependent” I’d celebrated the snowfall, without which our farmers wouldn’t be able to plant potatoes. But I’d also agonized that too much snow could be bad for potato cultivation.

These mixed emotions prompted one Anonymous to comment: “You complain when there is no snow and complain again when there is snow. Nothing new – that is the way Bhutanese are and you are a true champion.”

Precisely.

And I’ll keep complaining: it snowed here, but I learnt that other parts of Bhutan, Gakiling and Sombaykha gewogs for example, got hardly any precipitation. There I saw many farmers look helplessly on as the harsh sun scorched their maize and buckwheat saplings even as they barely sprouted. These farmers already fear their worst harvest in many years. This is bad news for, even at the best of times, their farming is barely subsistence.

What can we do? This is what Aum Zekom advises: “See a rough stretch of wilderness just above the farmer in the middle of this photograph? In Sri Lanka, where rain-water harvesting has been practiced for centuries, one finds a small earthen pond in such a position. Apart from using the pond for irrigation when monsoon rain is late, the pond's seepage into the ground water system below moistens the soil, helps break down organic matters, prevents loss of top soil, etc., and raises land productivity significantly.” (see “More potatoes”)

Sound simple? It is! See what’s being done in Sri Lanka (I recommend downloading the full report). And in Tanzania.

Let’s not condemn our farmers to the vagaries of nature. We are blessed with a bountiful monsoon – let’s make better use of it.

Pictured is our team walking through a parched field in Gakiling.

Home from home

2009-03-14T16:06:00.005+06:00

I’m back. And I’m sorry for the confusion my last entry created.

Anonymous Migmar wondered how I’d posted “Celebrating women” with “No road, no electricity and no telephone” in the two gewogs I was visiting. So he asked: “… are you back in Thimphu or is someone from your office upgrading your blog... he..he Explain.”

Aum Zekom suggested that I could be “blogging mobile” as “At some of the highest passes, you can catch the airwave to connect your cellphone.”

Here’s the explanation: I wasn’t in Thimphu; no one had posted the entry on my behalf; and none of the many high passes that we traversed had cellphone connectivity. And the VSAT station in Sombay Ama, which had recently been re-commissioned after almost a year in disrepair, didn’t provide internet access.

So here’s the answer: I was dishonest. I’d written “Celebrating women” in Haa the night before I headed to Sombaykha. I then saved it, but scheduled to publish it only at a later day, on 8th March.

A small trick. But one that raised many eyebrows.

I’m sorry.

Pictured are the first three people we met in Shebji, the first village in Sombaykha.

Celebrating women

2009-03-08T07:30:00.001+06:00

Today the world celebrates the achievements of women. Today is International Women’s Day.

When I last checked, the IWD website had registered that 841 events would take place in 54 countries to observe International Women’s Day. And according to a press release from RENEW, Bhutan alone will hold five events – in Paro, Phuentsoling, Sarpang, Thimphu and Trongsa.

Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the founding president of RENEW, will grace the celebrations in Trongsa and address the nation. This is fortunate. Her Majesty works tirelessly to raise awareness and improve the conditions of our women. And to create social, economical and political opportunities for them.

So let’s listen carefully when Her Majesty announces this year’s IWD theme: “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”

Let’s obey Her Majesty’s appeal to “Say No to Violence against Women: it is not in our culture!”

Let’s acknowledge Her Majesty’s constant reminder on RENEW’s website that “Home is a place for love and happiness, not for violence”

And let’s honour Her Majesty by celebrating our women – not just today, but tomorrow and everyday.

Her Majesty's portrait from RENEW website

Going home

2009-03-05T06:45:00.001+06:00

I’m off to my constituency.

We’ll walk everyday, some days for more than 12 hours, to visit some 18 villages in Gakiling and Sombaykha. In these remote gewogs live some of our poorest people.

I’m looking forward to meeting our people: to give them my report on the second session of the National Assembly; to ask for directives for the third session; to listen to their problems; to discuss possible solutions; to investigate income generating activities; and to renew growing friendships.

Gakiling and Sombaykha are not connected by car road. And by telephone. So my blog will be quiet for a while.

Pictured is the treacherous tsha zam over the Amochu. Our villagers rebuild the bridge every year after the river subsides. It’s plainly dangerous. And it’s barely useable during the monsoons.

I’ve crossed this bridge several times. But the last time I used it, in October 2008, I froze in the middle of the bridge. I was terrified. And, thinking that a suspension bridge will replace the tsha zam by now, I’d secretly vowed to never cross this dangerous bridge again.

But construction of the new bridge can begin only towards the end of this year. So my promise will have to wait, till I cross the bridge a few more times.

More potatoes

2009-03-04T23:52:00.003+06:00

While traveling to Haa today, I saw several farmers planting potatoes. Some were done. Others, like this couple in Jabana, were just beginning to prepare their field. But all of them expect a good crop – the rains came just in time.

Solving problems

2009-03-04T09:48:00.009+06:00

Today is World Maths Day.

And children throughout the world are celebrating mathematics by solving mental arithmetic questions online. Their goal is to set a new world record in the number of questions they collectively answer in 48 hours. But the real objective is to make maths fun. And to promote numeracy among students.

Last year more than 1 million children from 20,000 schools and 150 countries set a new world record by correctly answering 182,455,169 questions in 48 hours. The organizers of the event already predict that, by tomorrow, another world record will have been set.

The competition began at 5PM yesterday. So the competition will go on for another 31 hours even as I post this entry. And that means there’s still time. Registration is easy and free. All you need to register and participate in the event is internet access.

Our ICT facilities are rudimentary, at best. And most schools do not even have computers. Still, where the facilities are available, make use of them. Go online. Register. And get a few students – yes, even if only a handful – to participate. We can set our sights higher next year. And perhaps even borrow the idea and adapt it for our specific conditions.

Why am I excited about World Maths Day? Listen to the pain in our beloved king’s voice as he commands that “Mathematics is one of our main weaknesses. We have similar weaknesses in Science and amazingly, even English.”

For more information go to the WMD website. Or read Maria Miller’s blog.

The Growing Bhutanese Middle Class

2009-03-03T12:34:00.003+06:00

I’m reading “The Great Indian Middle Class” a bestseller written by Pavan Varma, a prominent Indian, and India’s next ambassador to Bhutan. The book traces the emergence and evolution of the Indian middle class, and examines its influence on the development of India’s society, politics and economy.

The publisher calls Mr Varma’s work a “powerful and insightful critique” that shows us “how the middle class, guided by self-interest, is becoming increasingly insensitive to the plight of the underprivileged, and how economic liberalization has only heightened its tendency to withdraw from anything that does not relate directly to its material well-being.”

I wonder what Mr Varma will make of our own growing middle class. Will he see us as a powerful force determined to eradicate poverty? Will he identify us as champions of democracy? And will he conclude that we are true defenders of GNH?

Or will he discover that our middle class is also a “consumerist predator” that is motivated by self-interest and greed? That breeds corruption? And that is insensitive to the plight of our poor?

Weather dependent

2009-03-01T21:56:00.000+06:00

Yes! It snowed in Haa. And the land is now moist. So our farmers are working their fields in earnest, preparing them to plant potatoes.

Before the recent snow and rain, our farmers could not plough their fields – the earth was too hard, and much of the dry top soil would have been lost in the wind anyway. If the dry weather had continued, our farmers would have virtually lost the potato season.

So our farmers are happy. But their concerns are not over. It’s threatening to snow again. And if it does snow, and snows heavily, potato planting could be further delayed. Or potatoes could, if already planted, simply freeze. Either way, our farmers would loose.

Now I’m worried that it may snow heavily.

The real Yangphel archery tournament

2009-02-28T21:41:00.003+06:00

Last year, Yangphel organized its biggest national archery tournament ever: 900 archers from all over Bhutan made150 teams and played a total of 180 matches over almost two months. The tournament commemorated a hundred years of monarchy and celebrated the coronation of our fifth Druk Gyalpo.

Yesterday, Yangphel organized its annual internal archery tournament: 30 archers, all Yangphel employees, made six teams and played a total of five matches over two days. The final was played today. And, in true Yangphel style, prizes included television sets and cash.

But to me, everyone – proprietor, management and employees – was a winner. After all, the last two days was a celebration of the excellent relations between workers and management of a successful company … a GNH-company.

Student on ice

2009-02-27T22:06:00.003+06:00

Nishtha Sinha is Bhutan’s first student to visit Antarctica.

Nishtha, an Indian, studies in Lungtenzampa MSS. So she represented two countries – Bhutan and India – when she participated in the 15-day Antarctic University Expedition 2009.

The expedition, which ended yesterday, was organized by Students on Ice, a unique program that takes students, teachers and scientists to Antarctica and the Arctic to learn about and to develop respect for the world’s ecosystem.

Nishtha, along with other student researchers from high schools and universities from a dozen countries, blogged from their “school” onboard the research ship, MV Ushuaia. Her second blog can be read here.

Well done Nishtha. And well done Lungtenzampa MSS.

Photo from www.studentsonice.com

Zeko's dream

2009-02-27T12:46:00.003+06:00

Several people have told me that the quality of discussion among you, the readers of this blog, is unusually high. Your comments are educative, insightful and provide food for thought.

But I am concerned that most casual readers will not see your comments, especially if they read only the main entries. And I think that some of your views are too significant, and too valuable, to leave simply as one comment.

So I’ve decided to periodically post some of your comments as main entries — please let me know if this is okay. Reproducing your comments on the main page will, I hope, draw more attention to your views and encourage public debate.

I’m pleased to reproduce Ap Zeko’s comment on Weathering poverty. I suspect that Ap Zeko is the one and same celebrity featured in Kuzoo.

On February 26, 2009 2:25 AM, Ap Zeko said...

What a shame, when our farmers produce what the rest of the world covets – natural and organic food!

Have we forgot His Majesty’s Vision for the Nation? A nation of “strong dynamic economy” unique to the world? Here is what His Majesty said, at the 2007 Sherubtse Convocation:

“… if we begin to work today on building a Bhutanese economy designed for Bhutan’s needs, then just as we succeeded in creating a development philosophy unique to Bhutan, a democratic transition unique to Bhutan, we will be able to build a Bhutanese economy unique to Bhutan. You all are fully aware that in the past we embraced modernization based on our own terms and conditions. Today if we work hard, if we plan ahead we will be able to build a Bhutanese economy for ourselves and for our children’s future, once again on our own terms and conditions.”

Our economy’s strength and dynamism come from nurturing what is unique to Bhutan. That means, we must understand opportunities the world market offers, find those where we can excel, and combine the frontier of knowledge, information, and technology with our own tradition and age-old wisdom – resolutely and aggressively, in everything we do.

I can just hear what the readers might be thinking – “but the government isn’t doing anything!”

Well, well, well! It’s easy to criticize others, including "the government". But, changes we want will never happen unless we act, ourselves. With a little capital, combined with a lot of wisdom and cooperative spirit, managing the uncertainty of rain will be nothing to our brave famers.

Let’s stop looking to the government to do something on everything. Let’s ask, “What can I do to change?” instead. Let’s dream big, like His Majesty did. Let’s start small, but start acting. That’s how all dreams come to reality.

Happy Losar!

2009-02-25T12:17:00.002+06:00

Losar Tashi Delek! I offer prayers that the Year of the Ox will bring even more peace, prosperity and happiness to our beloved monarchs, to our great nation, and to our people.

And as we begin a new year, I thank you for reading and contributing your valuable comments to this blog. You have nurtured the fire within me. Thank you very much.

Pictured is New York’s famous Charging Bull. This website has the interesting story of the 7000 pound bronze sculpture which was installed illegally in Wall Street.

Free media’s ace

2009-02-24T20:27:00.004+06:00

The ministry of information and communications finally has a secretary. Dasho Kinley Dorji, the former Kuensel MD, assumed his new office this morning.

Dasho Kinley, popularly called "Ace", has a big responsibility. On the one hand, as the champion of a free media, journalists will expect him to continue leading and defending our still nascent media.

But as a government secretary, on the other hand, he will be expected to carry out the directives of the government, his political masters.

I wish him Tashi Delek! I also wish him, and the press, good luck.

Photo from www.kuenselonline.com

Weathering poverty

2009-02-24T07:38:00.001+06:00

Well it didn’t snow last night. And it didn’t rain enough. But it’s still overcast. And I’m hopeful.

Part of my excitement yesterday was because I was sure it would snow in my village, which, at about 2800 m, is higher than Thimphu. But it didn’t snow there either. The light drizzle was barely enough to “settle the dust” one uncle told me. He and his neighbours can’t begin to prepare their fields till enough water seeps into the parched earth.

Throughout our country, most of our farmers are completely dependent on rain water. This makes farming unpredictable and unproductive. And breeds unseen poverty in our villages.

Inspiring Bhutan

2009-02-24T00:15:00.002+06:00

I went on a field trip today. I went to see the Royal Thimphu College in Ngabiphu. The college is spread elegantly over 25 acres of gently sloping blue pine forest about 10 km due south of the capital. (See RTC website)

The construction of the college, which began only in October 2007, is already nearing completion. And by July this year, Bhutan’s first private college will have admitted its first students.

These students will be fortunate. Dormitories, classrooms, auditorium, sports facilities, gymnasium, dining hall, cafeteria, club house … the facilities they’ll enjoy are equal to those of the best colleges in our region.

These world class facilities were planned, designed and built by our own people. Gandhara Designs developed the master plan, zoning and all designs and drawings. And Phuensum Builders are the civil works contractors. Together, these two firms have shown that our construction industry, especially our architects, have come of age.

Only a few government officials have visited the college so far. Many more should visit. They’ll see that it is possible to improve the quality of construction in our country. And they’ll see that it is possible to develop education as a viable industry in our country.

But to improve the quality of construction or of private education the government must play a more meaningful role. It must provide vision. And genuine support to realize that vision.

The RTC’s motto is “Inspiring Education in Bhutan.” I am inspired.

Rhythm of the falling rain

2009-02-23T23:20:00.001+06:00

It’s drizzling outside. I hope it rains. In fact I hope it snows. We need the precipitation.

Our rivers have dwindled. And can barely turn the hydropower turbines that generate electricity – and revenue – for our country.

But, more importantly, our farmers have not been able to cultivate their land. Without water, their land is parched and cannot be tilled; cannot be prepared to plant potatoes. If potatoes are not planted in time, the potato yield will be bad. And potatoes are the only source of money for many of our farmers.

So I’m thoroughly enjoying the soft, percussive sound of the rain on my roof. But I hope it stops, as the rain turns to snow.

Party convention

2009-02-22T22:18:00.001+06:00

Here’s good news for PDP supporters:

A high-level party meeting today decided that PDP’s annual convention will be held on 22 March 2009. All registered members are entitled to participate in the convention, details of which will be made public this week.

Happy Birthday

2009-02-21T23:11:00.004+06:00

Earlier today, 14 lucky students got to wish His Majesty the King Happy Birthday! I’m very happy for them.

I’m also proud of them. For those 14 children, all toppers in the 2008 national examinations, gave our monarch a valuable gift – the promise “that their young little hands grow to become strong and worthy of carrying our nation to greater heights.”

On the happy occasion of His Majesty’s 29th Birth Anniversary, I join those successful students, and the entire nation, in wishing our beloved king Happy Birthday! And in offering prayers for His Majesty’s long life.

May peace, prosperity and happiness flourish in Drukyul under the glorious reign of the Fifth Druk Gyalpo.

Effectively changed

2009-02-20T23:57:00.001+06:00

The BBS reported today that the finance ministry has issued an office order announcing that the pay revision for MPs will be effective from 1st January 2009 and not 1st April 2008 as notified earlier.

Good.

Committed vision

2009-02-20T23:27:00.005+06:00

“My duty is to worry every single day about our people and country. And to voice these worries frankly so that we do not get carried away, get caught unawares, or become complacent” commanded His Majesty the King to the teacher graduates during their convocation on 17th February (read full text). His Majesty then articulated his concerns about our education system with the clarity, earnestness and sense of urgency that comes from “worrying every single day”.

Our education system has recently come under increasing fire. Yet seemingly little is being done. So His Majesty’s counsel is timely. No doubt, the government will take it seriously. What follows are experts from His Majesty’s address …

Does our education system reflect our changing opportunities and challenges? Contemplate this question.

Our hopes and aspirations as a nation must be reflected in what is taught to our future generations in the classroom.

We must ensure that … young little hands grow to become strong and worthy of carrying our nation to greater heights.

It is the duty of parents, policy makers and the government to put the right tools in their hands – the right books, the right curriculum, the right direction.

We must first ask ourselves … what is the Vision for Bhutan? Then we must build an education system that nurtures people with the right skills, knowledge and training to fulfill this Vision. The sooner we realize this, the better.

Our nation’s vision can only be fulfilled if the scope of our dreams and aspirations are matched by the reality of our commitment to nurturing our future citizens.

If our Vision for the nation is not contained in the pages of the books that our young children hold, in the words of our teachers … and in the education policies of our governments, then let it be said – we have no Vision.

While we pile dream upon dream like floors on a skyscraper, the foundation needs to be strengthened.

Mathematics is one of our main weaknesses. We have similar weaknesses in Science and amazingly, even English.

A nation’s future will mirror the quality of her youth – a nation cannot fool herself into thinking of a bright future when she has not invested wisely in her children.

It is not enough to provide free education – we must provide education of such quality that it will guarantee a distinguished place for our youth anywhere in the world.

Do not … let the light of education ever go out.

Teaching differently

2009-02-19T21:43:00.005+06:00

Team teaching – a new pedagogic method practiced in urban schools to address classroom shortages and high enrolment; two teachers teach one class; while one teaches, the other monitors the class and helps students; the two teachers share homework correction duties. This week, Kuensel wrote about “team teaching” being introduced in Thimphu schools.

Multigrade teaching – a pedagogic method practiced in community schools to address teacher shortages; one teacher teaches several classes together, in the same classroom; that teacher teaches all the subjects for all the classes; and that teacher does all the homework correction, for all the students. Last week, Kuensel wrote that community primary school teachers are required to do “multigrade teaching”.

The two Kuensel articles, published one after the other, in two consecutive issues, are disturbing. Together, the articles indicate that our rural schools face a shortage of teachers, while our urban schools could be having excess teachers.

Yesterday, BBS reported exactly that.

Major pension change

2009-02-17T23:12:00.004+06:00

According to the finance minister’s Pay Revision Notification of 13th February, “The Government has approved a major change in the pension scheme…” The “major change” involves increasing pension benefits to 40% of the final basic salary and raising contributions to 22% of the basic salary (11% each by the member and employer).

Increasing pension benefits will, as I argued in a previous entry, affect the sustainability of our pension scheme. Some of this pressure will no doubt be relieved by raising the contribution levels.

So what overall impact will the government’s decision will have on the pension scheme’s sustainability? We don’t know yet.

What we do know, however, is that the government is dictating how our pension scheme will be run. And that is not good. Careless governments could easily misuse the pension fund to gain political mileage.

True, major reform is needed to make our pension scheme more sustainable and robust. But reform should come from the NPPF; it should not be imposed by the government.

Effectively different

2009-02-16T23:35:00.002+06:00

Our finance minister issued two notices on 13th February.

The first notice announced that “Upon approval of the Parliament, the Ministry of Finance is pleased to announce the revision of pay and allowances of the public servants with effect from 1st January 2009…”

Good. This is consistent with the Parliament’s resolution and the government’s Pay Revision Proposal which states that “In order to reduce the magnitude of the costs, the Government has decided to implement the pay revision from January 2009” (see Pay Revision).

The second notice, addressed to the Hon’ble Speaker and Hon’ble Chairman of the NA and NC respectively, states that “…the pay raise and revised benefits of the MPs shall be effective from 1st April 2008…”

Not good. This is not consistent with the Parliament’s resolution, which was that the pay revision would be effective from January 2009. Parliament did not discuss or decide to apply the pay raise for MPs retroactively.

Addressing addresses

2009-02-16T21:53:00.003+06:00

I’m going to the wedding too, remarked my friend, can you tell me where it is?

I told him that the happy event was taking place opposite the RSPN’s old office, below the new Norling building in lower Changangkha.

My friend’s blank look promoted me to continue: at the Chubachu roundabout take the road to Motithang; drive by the DHL office towards the RICB colony, but don’t go all the way to the colony; take the road that goes to the new road leading to the YDF complex; before you reach the new road, you’ll see a lot of vehicles; the wedding is somewhere around there…

Giving directions in Thimphu can be interesting. Landmarks, such as the clock tower, taxi parking, milk booth, pani tanki, swimming pool, main traffic and Memorial Chorten are used together with the locations of businesses, institutions and well known residences to guide people to specific places.

It’s surprising that we still don’t have proper addresses in Thimphu. A street name and a house number are all that a person really needs to find any place in this small city of ours. But for some odd reason, we haven’t been able to name our roads and number our houses. Actually our roads have names, but most of us don’t know them – without house numbers there’s no need to use them.

So it’s not easy finding your way around Thimphu, especially if you’re visiting. And, if you are a resident, you can’t receive mail unless you have a post office box or you use your office address. But DHL won’t deliver to your post office box, and international application forms won’t accept your papers without a proper address.

The Centre for Bhutan Studies, by the way, has an interesting address - it's P.O Box 1111, Thimphu. But to visit CBS: go to Langjophakha; drive towards Dechhenchholing; take the road towards the Indian Embassy; take a left about 200m before the bridge and oppostite the double-storied traditional Bhutanese house.

Street names and house numbers … can it be that difficult?

Road to nowhere

2009-02-15T23:56:00.002+06:00

The double-lane road below Norzin Lam has recently attracted a lot of attention. Dorji Wangchuk, in his blog, complained that he was clueless about the purpose of the “middle road”. And Kuensel questioned government officials why the road was built in the first place.

The double-lane road was built to take away Norzin Lam’s vehicular traffic, so that it could be converted to a completely pedestrian path. That, according to the Thimphu Structural Plan developed by Professor Christopher Beninger, was the idea. But that is not happening.

Norzin Lam continues to be used by vehicles traveling towards Chubachu. Vehicles returning from Chubachu use the lower lane of the double-lane road, leaving the “middle road” empty.

Our officials claim that Norzin Lam cannot be converted to a pedestrian lane because they do not have “budget and resources”. That is nonsense. If Norzin Lam is closed to vehicular traffic, it will automatically become a completely pedestrian lane. And without investing much money, a lot of what was envisioned for a pedestrian Norzin Lam can be realized.

It’s not about budget and resources.

So what is it about? I see two possibilities. One, that the government does not have the political will to close Norzin Lam to vehicles. And two, that the whole idea of converting Norzin Lam to a pedestrian lane was wrong.

Transforming our towns

2009-02-14T22:38:00.000+06:00

Last week, Bhutan Times reported that a model town will be built in Denchi, Pema Gatshel (A new town like no other; Bhutan Times; 11 February – I couldn’t find the article on BT’s unfriendly website, so please bear with the numerous quotations).

The article quoted our prime minister as announcing that Denchi “… will be a dream town structurally planned and aesthetically beautiful with all aspects of urbanity…” And that it “… will have facilities not incorporated in other towns like a town hall, a park, a promenade, a unique modern dzong and banking and postal services.”

Very good.

But our prime minister also announced that Professor Chistopher Beninger will “… develop the concept and come up with a conceptual plan”. He clarified that “…the contract has not been awarded to him yet, but an arrangement will be worked out if the government likes what the professor offers.”

Not good.

The government should also invite Bhutanese architects to develop and propose concepts for the new township. In fact, the government should encourage and support national architects to develop the conceptual plans. And, at the very least, our architects should be given the opportunity to compete for the lucrative government contract.

As it turns out, the government may be giving special privileges to Professor Beninger instead – Bhutan Observer features him already discussing the plan with the prime minister.

Our own architects have been sidelined. Some of them are truly capable. And all of them can articulate the history, culture and spirit of this country far more eloquently than most foreigners. But only if they are given the chance.

In the past, we ignored our traditional architects and carpenters. And look at where that has landed us. Our towns show complete disregard for Bhutanese traditions and culture. Instead, we live in concrete blocks pretending to be traditional Bhutanese houses simply because we coat them with fake Bhutanese paint.

Let’s learn from our mistakes. Let’s use our own architects. Let’s use traditional carpenters. Otherwise we risk spreading the shame that is Thimphu to our beautiful countryside. And that’s no way to build a “model town”.

(Photo from Bhutan Observer)

Working online ... securely

2009-02-14T22:11:00.003+06:00

Okay, I’m impatient. I wish we’d make better and quicker use of ICT. I wish we’d use the decades of hard work and zillions of dollars that others have invested to leapfrog to the frontiers of ICT.

But I should also wish that we learn from their mistakes.

A close friend of mine tells me that filing taxes and declaring assets online is dangerous stuff. She warns me that financial information, such as bank accounts and personal identification, that is sent online, especially as email attachments, can easily be intercepted and misused. And that “identity theft” and stealing other people’s money online is already a rampant crime all over the world.

But she also tells me that it is possible to design secure systems. And that ACC, MOF and other online service providers can and should provide complete security that goes beyond simple passwords.

We know about the opportunities of online finance. Let’s learn about the dangers as well – Wikipedia has some information on identify theft.

Working online

2009-02-13T15:05:00.006+06:00

I’ve filed my PIT returns electronically. It’s quite easy: go to the MOF website; download the electronic form, an excel file; complete the form; and submit it as an email attachment. The only cumbersome part is sending the supporting documents – TDS certificates, proof of education expenses, donation receipts and the like must be scanned and sent as email attachments.

The entire process should not take more than two hours. If you have trouble, telephone them. The officials are polite, patient and helpful.

I learned that, so far, only 600 of the 5500 PIT returns were filed electronically. That's barely 11% of the total returns filed. As the PIT deadline approaches, I expect and encourage more tax payers to file their PITs electronically.

I’ve also submitted my asset declarations online. This new feature of the ACC came as a pleasant surprise. I’d gone to their website to print the asset declaration forms and accidently stumbled on their online service. Declaring assets is now very simple. Just follow the online instructions and you should be done in less than an hour.

The ACC system, however, is new and they are still piloting it. So expect small glitches. But nothing that can’t be handled with a quick call to Chimme Wangmo who manages the system – she’s knowledgeable, courteous and very helpful.

So far about 40 people have submitted their asset declarations to ACC. Of them only 8 were filed online. Again, I’m sure more people will use this very convenient service as the deadline to submit asset declaration approaches.

One important point about submitting asset declarations: Public servants who fall under Schedule I are required to submit their asset declarations to ACC. All others submit them to their respective organizations. Read page 9 of the Asset Declaration Rules to see which public servants are under Schedule I.

Funny money?

2009-02-12T11:47:00.001+06:00

For over a decade now, every time I’ve fueled up in Phuentsholing, I’ve asked the petrol pump cashier to exchange various amounts of Ngultrums for Indian Rupees. I’ve had little problems changing small amounts, like Nu 500. But for larger amounts, say Nu 5000, it would sometimes get difficult to change my money.

I’ve rarely needed the Indian Rupees for my stay in Phuentsholing, yet I’ve made it a point to request for the informal currency exchange every time I visit our border town. I’ve developed this odd tradition to give me a very rough idea of the state of our economy.

My assumption is simple – petrol pumps in Phuentsholing should always have a ready supply of rupees. Why? Because many Indians fuel up in Phuentsholing. And they pay for it in rupees. Plus, since fuel is cheaper in Bhutan, some Indian’s take away petrol in barrels, presumably to sell at a profit … but that’s another matter.

So if I can change my money easily, it would mean that rupees are easily available; that the ngultrum is at least as strong as the rupee; and that, overall, we export more than we import from India. This is good sign.

But if I can’t change my money easily, it would mean that the rupees from the petrol pump are quickly diverted elsewhere; that the true value of the ngultrum is not at par with the rupee; and that, overall, we import much more than we export to India. This is not a good sign.

All things considered, I’ve had no cause to be concerned. Like I said earlier, changing small amounts of money has generally been easy.

But now I’m very worried. It appears that small shops in Phuentsholing are doing a brisk business charging a whopping 10% to change ngultrums to rupees (read The ‘swop’ shops of Phuentsholing). That means that you get only Rs 10,000 in exchange for Nu 11,000. That means demand for rupees outstrips supply. That means we import much more than we export to India, our principle trade partner. That means the market value of the ngultrum is not at par with the rupee.

Huge amounts of rupees have been pumped into our economy to construct hydropower projects. Even larger amounts of rupees come in as Indian aid. And most of our government’s revenue is realized through the sale of electrical power to India bringing in yet more rupees. And still we have difficulty changing ngultrums for rupees?

We should be very worried.

But there’s little point in treating the symptom. So trying to stop small business from selling rupees at a profit, for example, won't provide real relief. It won’t be possible to forcefully stop them, anyway. Instead address the problem: reduce unnecessary imports; decrease dependence on foreign workers; increase farm productivity; support rupee generating businesses; and strengthen the private sector.

We have free and full access to one of the world’s largest and fastest growing markets. Use it. Tourism, education, health, ICT, manufacturing, finance, agriculture, and hydropower … any one of them should be able to generate more than enough rupees. Used together, we should be able to fulfill His Majesty the King’s vision of creating a robust and vibrant economy for our country.

Interpreting our Constitution

2009-02-11T22:50:00.004+06:00

“WE, the people of Bhutan ... do hereby ordain and adopt this Constitution for the Kingdom of Bhutan ...” proclaims the preamble of our constitution.

And Article 1 declares that “This Constitution is the supreme law of the State.” And that “The Supreme Court shall be the guardian of this Constitution and the final authority on its interpretation”.

If legal interpretation of the Constitution was needed it should have been provided by the Royal Courts of Justice which includes the Supreme Court, the High Court, Dzongkhag Courts and Dungkhag Courts. The Supreme Court has the final authority on the interpretation of the Constitution, but that does not mean that legal interpretation of the Constitution cannot be provided by other courts.

So I’m surprised that the National Assembly asked a foreign legal expert to interpret our Constitution (read Indian advocate interprets constitution). And even more surprised that the foreigner’s opinion, which is of no legal consequence, has been made public.

Transforming our villages

2009-02-10T10:36:00.003+06:00

I am delighted that the agriculture minister is traveling to our dzongkhags to discuss the 10th Plan and to identify viable products that our villagers can make (read Taking the 10th plan to the people). If villagers and local leaders are fully involved in the process and genuinely accept his idea, our agriculture minister could bring about a true and sustained transformation of our villages. Well done.

The following article, reproduced from the PDP manifesto, talks about how the One Village One Product movement could transform villages in Bhutan:

Ohita is a small village in Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu, which is just about the size of Bhutan. Twenty years ago, Ohita was a sleepy backwater of Japan. Its young people were leaving for cities in droves, its economy was fast declining, and farmers increasingly depended on government subsidies that harmed Ohitaps’ spirit of self-reliance and self-respect.

Today, Ohita is a vibrant agro-based economy. It is a choice destination for Japanese looking for business and employment opportunities, and for foreign tourists looking for modern Japan steeped in tradition and pristine nature. “Made in Ohita” is recognized as the sign of unique farm produce of outstanding quality, and equally unique agro-industry products born of old heritage and new technology.

The One Village One Product Movement, started in 1979, is the power behind this transformation. The Movement was the brainchild of Ohita’s then-Governor Hiramatsu, who envisioned a dynamic and vibrant Ohita. But, he wanted to do it in ways that nurtured what he thought was the root of all sustained change: leaders who can inspire and move the community.

The Movement simply enables people and their community leaders to take up a product or an industry that is distinctive to their region, and transform it into a nationally or internationally accepted one. The government never used subsidies as a means to do so, for fear of hindering self-reliance and lasting success. Measures provided, instead, were leadership training, technical assistance, filling information gaps in marketing and distribution. (See the OVOP website for details.)

Around sixty communities of Ohita now produce more than 300 products of distinction bringing gainful employment and prosperity to the region. Among them are: “Shiitake” mushrooms regarded as the world’s best, commanding a lion’s share of Japan’s market; a flavorful “Kabosu” lime of ancient variety that is thought to have survived only in Ohita; a large number of processed products made from these unusual limes; “Bungo” meat that topped Japan’s Grand Championship; and various distilled barley spirits coveted for their smooth taste – like the best of our own ara.

The Movement’s success generated excitement elsewhere. It is spreading all over Japan and to many communities abroad – in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, and even USA and beyond.

Our people in villages are steeped in our cultural and natural heritage, in what they produce and how they live. One Product One Village Movement has a perfectly fertile soil, right here in Bhutan.

Possibilities are endless – limited only by our own imagination!

How (not) to lift the meat ban

2009-02-09T10:42:00.006+06:00

Well done, Bhutan Observer, for continuing the debate on the proposed amendment the Livestock Act 2001 (read their articles Meat ban debate and Killing ceases when eating stops).

I say “proposed amendment” because the proposal to lift the ban on selling meat products during the 1st and 4th months of our traditional calendar has not completed the constitutional process. So it is not yet law.

To become law, Article 13.1 of the Constitution requires that “A Bill passed by Parliament shall come into force upon Assent of the Druk Gyalpo”. And Royal Assent has not been granted so far. In fact, as far as I know, the amendment, as approved by the National Assembly, has not even been submitted to His Majesty the King.

So the government would be well advised not to lift the prevailing ban on selling meat during the 1st month the Year of the Female Earth Ox. Unless, of course, Royal Assent is granted within the next two weeks leading to Losar, our new year.

And the proponents against the amendment would be well advised to submit their grievances to His Majesty the King; not the agriculture minister or H.H the Je Khenpo – one will not listen and the other cannot listen.

But why approach His Majesty the King? Because according to Article 13.10 of our Constitution: “Where the Druk Gyalpo does not grant Assent to the Bill, He shall return the Bill with amendments or objections to deliberate and vote on the Bill in a joint sitting”.

My position? I’d voiced it in the Assembly and in “Consulting democracy” (read blog entry)

Is the GDP in our GNH?

2009-02-07T20:32:00.002+06:00

Here’s some good news from the RMA: our GDP, which is about Nu 59 billion, grew by 21.4% in 2007 and increased per capita GDP to US$ 1900. Not bad. We now have the highest GDP per person in South Asia. But what does this mean?

Do you contribute your share to the GDP? If you do, you would have contributed US$ 1900 worth of goods or services to the economy. And if you do that, you would earn US$ 1900 in one year. Now US$ 1900 is roughly Nu 95,000 which is about Nu 7,900 a month. Do you earn that much? If you do, you earn your share of the GDP. If you don’t, you earn that much more, or less, of the GDP.

But let’s say you are married, that your spouse does not work, and that you have two young children. That’s a total of four people in your family living off only your salary – that wouldn’t be farfetched. Now how much would you have to earn to get your family of four to enjoy their share of the GDP? Nu 7,900 times 4, or Nu 31,600 a month. Do you earn that much? Probably not. Most families don’t.

What does this mean?

This means that we don’t work to earn much of the money that is pumped into our economy in the form of international loans, aid and hydropower exports. This means that imports dominate exports. That money does not circulate among us sufficiently. And this means that we don’t have enough people working outside our farms. This means that our GDP is not really that impressive.

I’ll be happier with a smaller GDP and a much more modest per capita GDP, but one which truly reflects our productivity. A per capita GDP that most Bhutanese can claim to earn.

And one more thing: I’ll be happy if my earnings, however humble they may be, grew at more or less the same ratio as the GDP.

Official business

2009-02-06T05:16:00.003+06:00

I’m humbled by the quality of the responses to my last entry – they are insightful, meaningful and educative. And every one of them shows deep concern over how difficult it is to do business in our country.

But your responses scared me. I suddenly realized that Doing Business ranking for Bhutan may be terribly inaccurate. Why? Because Doing Business measures regulations and procedures that affect business activity, regardless of how well or poorly the regulations are applied.

Your responses all say the same things in various ways: that regulations are not our biggest constraint to doing business; that that distinction goes to our officials, the enforcers of the regulations; that doing business is really difficult because officials do not do their job properly, or are simply absent from work; and that unless one has proper connections it is very difficult to get down to business.

Yes, our regulations and procedures are not business friendly…that’s why Bhutan is ranked 124th in the world. But what Doing Business does not measure is the attitudes of officials. If attitudes are factored in, expect our already poor ranking to plummet all the way to the bottom.

So yes, let’s review and improve business regulations. Let’s keep those that enhance business activity. And discard those that constrain it.

But, more importantly, let’s improve the way our officials conduct their business. Let’s change the mindset in officialdom: from enforcer to service provider; from the person in charge to the person serving; from commander to servant.

Last year, both parties convincingly articulated their promises to change the mindset of the government and the civil service. It’s time to walk that talk.

Getting down to business

2009-02-04T20:14:00.001+06:00

Everywhere I look I see people, thousands of them, buying and selling goods and services. It must be easy to do business in Thailand. In fact it is: Doing Business 2009 ranks Thailand 13th out of the 181 economies that the World Bank studied.

Doing Business investigates government regulations that affect the following 10 aspects of business activity: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.

Bhutan, as we know very well, is ranked 124 (read Doing business isn't easy anywhere). Here’s how we fared in each of the 10 dimensions covered in Doing Business 2009.

First, the good news…In Bhutan, it’s relatively easy to:
Employ workers (13th in the world)
Enforce contracts (37th); and
Register property (38th)

And now the bad news…but, it’s difficult to:
Start a business (63rd)
Pay taxes (82)
Deal with construction permits (116th)
Protect investors (126th)
Trade across borders (151st)
Get credit (172nd); and
Close a business (ranked last at 181st)

So what do these rankings mean? How did we get there? Why? What can be done? I’ll post a few entries on some of these areas to initiate public debate going. Let’s get down to business. Let’s make doing business easier. Let’s strengthen our private sector.

Increasing voluntary contributions

2009-02-02T21:31:00.003+06:00

The election commission’s decision to increase the voluntary contribution ceiling to political parties is hazardous to the health of our fledgling democracy (read ECB’s notification).

It’s hazardous because increasing the amount that members can contribute will strengthen the two existing parties, and place any future party at a big disadvantage.

It’s hazardous because increasing the voluntary contribution ceiling by 500% to Nu 500,000 per member per year disproportionately favors one party – the ruling party, DPT, which also enjoys an overwhelming majority. To be sure, even a ceiling of Nu 100,000 favours DPT more than PDP, but that ceiling was established before the elections, and both parties were fully aware of the rules. Changing the rules now, in the middle of the game so to speak, risks bolstering one party unfairly.

And it’s very hazardous because only a handful of Bhutanese can afford to make voluntary contributions of Nu 500,000 per year. Naturally, big money, from those few hands, will influence politics that much more, defeating the whole purpose of defining a ceiling in the first place.

If increasing the voluntary contribution ceiling is not good for a healthy and vibrant democracy, ECB should reconsider the decision.

Happy world?

2009-01-31T13:37:00.004+06:00

20th August 1987. It was getting dark. I’d reached my university in Pittsburgh earlier that day. I fought to control my jetlag and hide my culture shock. I was tired and hungry.

So I made my way to a MacDonald’s and timidly requested for the set meal that offered a cheese burger, fries and coke. The lady taking my order tried to protest. But I respectfully insisted that that’s what I’d have…I was too nervous and shy to construct a full meal by ordering a la carte.

I understood what the fuss was about as soon as my food arrived. It came in a paper castle. And dinner included a toy. I’d ordered a Happy Meal!

31st January 2009. We’re at Paro Airport. I’m going to Thailand on a short holiday with my family. My children are excited. I’m excited too – it’s been almost two years since traveling out.

I can hear my daughter and her cousin plan their holiday. They are quite thorough. They’ve already decided what they will have for dinner tonight: Happy Meal! And they even know what toy they want – Kung Fu Panda.

Globalisation is real. The world is, as Friedman famously puts it, flat. Even for us, mountain folks. So, like Po, the bungling panda, we’d better learn to negotiate our new terrain – our happiness will depend on it.

Stayin' online

2009-01-30T22:11:00.004+06:00

It happened again. Druknet was down this morning. It was down yesterday too. And I was frustrated – I couldn’t check my emails, or update this blog, or confirm my Druk Air reservations.

But many others must have been even more frustrated. The sudden loss of connectivity with the rest of the world would have prevented them from attending to much more important and urgent work.

We should expect, and demand, higher quality of services. So I called Druknet. And I learned that their internet service was interrupted while they were upgrading their system. Apparently, while installing an advanced back-up power supply unit, an electrical leakage caused their system to short circuit…a small glitch really.

But I also learned that Druknet has improved the reliability of their services considerably since the two major interruptions last year. In January, the fiber optic connection to London was disrupted when submarine cables in the Mediterranean were destroyed by ships anchoring off Alexandria. And in August, landslides above Takti knocked down a power pylon damaging the fiber optic cables it carried.

Since then, Druknet has improved the existing link to London and established a new fiber optic link to Hong Kong. To backup the fiber optic network, it has installed a high capacity microwave radio connection between Phuentsholing and Thimphu. And it continues to use the Satellite Earth Station link to British Telecom, and a VSAT link to Telesat in Hawaii.

Druknet has done a lot of good work. But that’s not good enough. To make full use of the wonders of ICT, we must have quicker and more dependable internet connections. For that, we, customers, must demand for better services. Otherwise, expect more glitches.

A continuing saga

2009-01-29T10:40:00.004+06:00

“A week after the National Assembly approved the civil servant pay hike, the cabinet has revised the scarcity allowance system for teachers and doctors…” ran Kuensel’s main story yesterday (read article).

The cabinet’s decision will bring a little relief to a few civil servants. But it will be a source of growing anxiety to many more. The message, after all, is that the pay revision can still be negotiated; that it is not final.

As a matter of fact, the pay revision has been finalized. It has been debated in parliament. And it has been approved by the National Assembly. Any modifications made to it now will amount to overriding the National Assembly’s resolutions. And that would be illegal.

So if the approved pay revision package must, for whatever reason, be modified, do it during parliament’s next session. And, if needed, propose to apply the modifications retroactively.

Otherwise we risk ignoring the democratic process. And undermining the authority of the legislature.

Doing business isn’t easy anywhere

2009-01-28T17:39:00.009+06:00

But it’s getting even harder in Bhutan!

In “Really hard business” (read blog entry) I had grumbled that doing business in our country was really hard – the World Bank had ranked Bhutan 119th of the 178 countries it had evaluated on ease of doing business in 2008.

Guess what? Doing business in Bhutan has become even harder!

Doing Business 2009 report now ranks Bhutan 124th out of 181 countries that were investigated (see ranking). And in South Asia, Bhutan, ranked 7 of 8, fares better than only one country, war torn Afghanistan (see ranking).

So what, you may say, our economy has grown rapidly. True, we have enjoyed unprecedented growth – the size of our economy has more or less doubled every 5 years since 1980, and per capita GDP, at US$ 1900, is the highest in our region.

That our economy has grown fast is good news indeed. But the far more important question to ask is: how did it grow fast?

Our economic growth has been fueled by loans, foreign aid and hydropower; not by productivity; and not by the private sector. The private sector has not been able to drive economic growth because it is weak. And it is weak because it so hard to do business in Bhutan.

Meanwhile, our vision of strengthening the private sector and making it the “engine” of growth remains just that – a distant vision. And, in spite of the impressive numbers, our economy is actually very weak, which manifests quite clearly in rising inequalities, youth unemployment and widespread poverty.

So what should we do? Make it easier to do business in Bhutan. Make it easier for our people to realize their full entrepreneurial potential. Make it easier for businessmen and women to contribute to the economy. Review rules and regulations. And make them business friendly.

Only then can we expect Doing Business to declare better results for Bhutan.

That said, Doing Business report is, at best, only a test that provides indicators to the state of our domestic business environment. But we should take these indicators seriously. After all, potential investors all over the world take them very seriously.

Traditional Day of Offering...for the people

2009-01-27T13:45:00.009+06:00

Today, the 1st day of the 12th month, is celebrated as buelwa phuewi nyim – the traditional day of offering. The tradition of people making offerings to the Dratshang on this day seems to have been popularized as an expression of love, devotion and loyalty to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

Today is also celebrated as chunipai losar – a new year. Families and entire communities, especially in Eastern Bhutan, feast and enjoy traditional sports together for several days to welcome the new agricultural season. At the end of these non-stop festivities farmers begin the hard work of preparing their fields for the new farming cycle.

So let’s celebrate. Then get down to hard work. And there’s plenty of that in the new democratic Bhutan where offerings – of services and fulfilled promises – must be made to the people, not by them. Our King and our Constitution demand nothing less.

Chunipai losar-gi tashidelek!

Celebrating India

2009-01-26T13:49:00.001+06:00

India became an independent country on 15 August 1947. But the British monarch, King George VI, continued as India’s head of state till the country was declared a republic. That historic declaration came into effect on 26 January 1950 when India adopted its constitution and became the world’s largest democracy.

As India celebrates its 60th Republic Day, I offer my tashi delek to all the people of India, especially those residing in Bhutan, and thank them for their warm friendship and unwavering support to our king, our country and our people.

I join President Pratibha Patil in wishing Indians everywhere: “Itney Unchey Utho ki Jitna Utha Gagan hai!”

Pema's left foot

2009-01-25T11:49:00.001+06:00

Today I met Pema Tshering. He was born with cerebral palsy and congenital deformities in his spinal column. As a result both his arms are useless. And he has only limited use of his legs. He is 28 years old.

I first met Pema, in Mongar, over four years ago, during an audience granted to him by Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck. He was lively, bright and funny. And he was confident – he eagerly accepted Her Majesty’s offer to train him at the Institute of Zorig Chusum in Thimphu.

Pema can’t walk. But he uses his feet, especially his left foot, to do everything. He picked up line drawing very quickly, so I suggested that he learn to paint. I’d thought that he could make a living selling simple artwork and postcards.

I was wrong...he was capable of much more than simple craft. He chose to learn the more physically challenging patra, traditional woodcarving, and is excelling at it. His carvings of dragons, the eight lucky signs and thuenpa pinzhi are as good as any of his classmates. And he has already sold many of his creations.

Pema has one more year of training before he graduates as a certified patra carver. After that he plans to open his own workshop. Become self sufficient. And support his grandparents. He says that he has been "fortunate", and attributes his good luck to Her Majesty.

Look out for Pema: artist, entrepreneur, and an inspiration to us, "normal" people.

Calling young artists

2009-01-24T09:43:00.000+06:00

Asha Karma and his volunteers at VAST are offering a ten-day basic art course for students. The classes start tomorrow. But, so far, only five students have registered. And they need at least ten to make the classes viable.

The art course is a good idea. Most children enjoy working with their hands. They love to create: to draw, to paint and to build. But good instruction on art and craft is not easy to find.

The VAST course is packed with good instruction and healthy fun. Children will enjoy a range of activities from basic drawing, sketching and charcoal to collage, watercolor and still life. They’ll also get to do outdoor activities like rock climbing and cultural visits.

This is exactly the type of activity that our students say they want during their winter holidays. So if you have children, please consider enrolling them for the course. Otherwise tell your relatives and friends about this wonderful opportunity.

To register your child, or to sponsor a student, you can contact a VAST volunteer at 327248 or mail@vast-bhutan.org.

Education for all

2009-01-23T01:12:00.003+06:00

Consider this: Education will get Nu 9,489.130 million for capital investments during the 10th plan. That is almost Nu 9.5 billion to develop the general education system. That works out to almost 13% of the 10th plan’s entire capital budget. That also works out to more than Nu 60,000 for each of the 157,112 students currently in the education system.

I’m happy that the government is investing heavily in education. Education has been drawing a lot of flak lately – standards are perceived to be falling, schools deteriorating, and school enrolment increasing at the expense of quality. So I’m glad that we are set to change our ways. After all, “the future of our country lies in the hands of our youth”.

Now consider this: The Dratshang, our central monk body, will get Nu 23.041 million for capital investments during the 10th plan to improve its education system. That works out to roughly Nu 7,680 for each of the 3000-odd students currently in the monk body. The money is just enough to build the one monastic school, in Mongar, during the 10th plan. And it looks like no other capital work – school repair and expansion, teacher training, curriculum development or the establishment of libraries – is planned for the next five years.

Monastic education has received little attention in the past. And the next five years threatens to be no different. We should reconsider. There are many more students in our monastic schools than we think. And literally all of them come from the poorest of the poor families.

We should also be concerned. If religious schools are sidelined, their students can easily feel left out and become disaffected radicals. This has happened throughout the world, regardless of religion. Let’s learn from their mistakes. Let us develop our monastic schools along with our general schools.

Quality education is important. And it is equally important for young monks. The future of our country lies in their hands too.

First fire

2009-01-22T23:45:00.004+06:00

This forest fire, above YHS and Tandin Nye, was the Thimphu’s first this winter. Thankfully, it was put out quickly.

Book it!

2009-01-21T23:30:00.004+06:00

“Far apart and close together” is an informative book that celebrates the enduring friendship between Switzerland and Bhutan. The book comes with a DVD on GNH.

Every MP was gifted this delightful book.

Did we accept the bag which cost Nu 1,800? Absolutely not, that would be corruption. Did we accept this book, valued at Nu 2,700? Absolutely.

Defining pensions

2009-01-20T21:18:00.004+06:00

Yesterday, the finance minister confirmed what we already knew – that the NPPF pension scheme is sustainable only for about 30 years. What does it mean? It means the pension scheme will not be able to pay benefits to all its pensioners in about 30 years. It means that by 2040, give or take a few years, total benefits payable to pensioners are projected to exceed total contributions of the members plus any income from its investments.

Why? There are a number of reasons. But, the main one is that our (and our employer's) pension contributions are not "saved" for us. They do not stay in our individual account, to be invested to secure our future benefits.

Today's contributions pay today's pension benefits of today's retirees. When we retire, younger ones should do the same for us ... but, that's where the problem is.

Today, the bulk of pension scheme members are young (almost 70% are below 35 years in age; more than 50% are between the age of 26 and 35). Our pension scheme currently has about 38,000 members, of who only about 1700 are the beneficiaries (1200 pensioners plus 500 surviving family beneficiaries). Many members and few beneficiaries: our pension scheme will appear to grow.

But, this is not likely to continue, because we do not expect the eligible employees (of the civil service, public corporations and armed forces) to grow in numbers. By the time this young group retires, pensioners will outnumber members by a big margin. Few members and many beneficiaries: our pension scheme will collapse.

The problem, however, is not that most of the pension scheme’s members are young. The real problem is that the way the pension benefits are defined is not sustainable. What we have is a defined-benefit plan that determines pension rates according to a formula, which is based on the salaries of its members. So, all things considered, benefits have not much to do with actual contributions, especially if the final salary is used.

What we should consider is a defined-contribution plan that will determine pension rates based on the actual contributions of individual members. And if higher pension levels are desired, members or their employers would make bigger contributions. A fully defined-contribution plan should be sustainable, simply because pensioners will get only what they and their employers set aside for retirement.

The good news is that we aren't the only one with this problem. Many countries and companies have made exactly the same mistakes, and are now reforming. We can learn from their mistakes and successes.

The NPPF have been doing a lot of good work, especially after the Pay Commission was established. And the government’s decision to base pensions on 40% of the final salary will, no doubt, make them even more nervous. I hope the government will reconsider its decision. And I hope that the government will support the major reforms that will be needed to make our pension scheme sustainable.

And what should we do? Inform ourselves. For now, it’s important that all of us understand how our pension scheme works and what options we have. I’m learning. And, believe me, there’s a lot to learn. Wikipedia has a quick explanation on various pension plans and some international comparisons. And the NPPF website has information on our pension plan.

Postponing a problem won't make it go away. It will only get bigger and uglier.

Pension is for our peace of mind. It gives us that precious sense of security. More security means greater happiness for us, our families and our communities. That's got to be good for GNH. Let's practice what we preach!

Brand Bhutan?

2009-01-19T22:15:00.006+06:00

Branding matters. Our country is seen as Shangri-la; our environment pristine; and our people preoccupied with GNH. We enjoy a premium brand.

But what’s happening to the environment in Shangri-la is definitely not GNH.

I took this photograph of Thimphu on my way to work this morning. What we breathe is not good for our health. And not good for our image.

Branding is difficult. And expensive. Let’s protect what we have.

Pay increase broadcast

2009-01-19T21:33:00.010+06:00

A lot of people followed the pay revision debate today. According to BBS, people throughout the country watched it live.

Well I saw this group of people right outside the National Assembly following the proceedings on live TV. The group was gathered around BBS’s OB Van – outdoor broadcasting van – to keep track of how their representatives were serving them. They didn't look too excited.

Assemble in the Assembly

2009-01-18T19:55:00.006+06:00

A lot of people called me today. They were mainly civil servants expressing their frustration over the government’s pay revision report. They must be really frustrated. After all, by now they would know that a two-member opposition can hardly influence important discussions.

So I hope they’re calling the DPT MPs too.

And I hope they turn up to watch the debate. The visitors’ gallery is normally empty – it would be good to have it packed once in a while. At the least, it would remind us, politicians, to serve our masters, the people of Bhutan.

Treasure hunting

2009-01-18T17:50:00.003+06:00

I met Tobgay today. He’s nine years old and has just completed Class II in Dechechencholing MSS. He was rummaging through my negibour’s waste.

In fact, Tobgay was recycling garbage. He was collecting various tins and bottles, and plastics and metals to sell to a scrap dealer in town. His part-time work would fetch him Nu 5 per kg for iron, steel and certain plastics; Nu 1 for every beer bottle; and Nu 30 per kg for aluminum cans. That’s easy money, he confided, because there’s always plenty of recyclable garbage.

Yesterday he and his friends earned Nu 130. They spent most of that money playing video games and eating. But today he plans to be a bit more cautious – he wants to buy a pair of jeans.

Thimphu’s garbage is screaming for better waste management. And the message is loud and clear: reduce, reuse, and recycle – we can’t afford not to!

Scheming pensions

2009-01-17T23:42:00.005+06:00

Would you set aside a portion of your salary if, after you retire, you receive a comfortable pension every month? You probably would. Would you do so if the government matched what you contributed, and you received a bigger pension when you retired? You probably should.

But what if such a scheme is sustainable for only 30 years? Would you participate? I probably would – I’m 43 years old and I can expect to enjoy a pension till I reach 73. Naturally, anyone older than me would find the scheme even more attractive.

What if you are 35 years old and you retire at 60? You’d get returns for only five years before the scheme collapses. So you probably would not join. And if you are only 30 years old? You should not join. If you did, your monthly contributions would pay for my pension, and you wouldn’t receive any when you retire, because the scheme would have collapsed by then.

This is the reality of our pension scheme. It is sustainable for only 30 years (read Bhutan Times article). And it can get worse if the government dictates the conditions of the scheme. As, indeed, it already has by deciding to base pensions on final salaries (see the pay commission’s report and the government’s pay revision report, both published by the ministry of finance).

What the government should do is strengthen NPPF and give it independence. And then support the pension scheme to make it fully-funded. For that, members and their employers will need to contribute more; the retirement age will need to be increased; pensions will need to be more realistic; and the government will need to make big subsidies to pay for earlier excesses and to achieve desired pension levels.

Correcting our pension scheme won’t be easy. But it can be done. And must be done. Now. Otherwise our pension fund will be nothing more than a pyramid scheme that benefits the initial few at the expense of the rest.

Pay expectations

2009-01-16T21:00:00.009+06:00

We were given the government’s pay revision report today. Finally. And the speaker announced that we would debate it this Monday. Good.

I am happy that the government has decided not to increase the salaries of the prime minister, cabinet ministers and other ranks equivalent to ministers. The pay commission had recommended salary increases of 130% for the PM and 66% for cabinet ministers.

And I’m satisfied, more or less, that the government has decided to increase the salaries of MPs by only 20%. The pay commission had recommended a 100% increase.

But I’m left wondering why the government has decided to increase civil service salaries by only 35%.

For now, I am happy – happy and proud – that our government has decided against hefty pay increases for politicians. Good job.

Really hard business

2009-01-15T22:41:00.014+06:00

We may have lost the elections. But I still read our manifesto every now and then. It reminds me of our promises. Reminds me to serve with humility. And to walk the talk.

The following article is a “box” from our manifesto. Enjoy.

Doing business isn’t easy anywhere
But, it’s really hard in Bhutan!

The World Bank has been looking into how easy it is to do business in 178 countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Laws, regulations and their enforcements are evaluated in each of the following 10 stages of business companies’ life:

1. starting a business
2. dealing with licenses
3. employing workers
4. registering property
5. getting credit
6. protecting investors
7. paying taxes
8. trading across borders
9. enforcing contracts
10. closing a business

Doing Business 2008, the fifth annual report on this investigation, ranks 178 countries on the ease of doing business. Singapore is at the top, followed by New Zealand, USA, and other industrialized countries. No surprise. Democratic Republic of Congo is at the bottom, along with a number of other African countries. No surprise there, either.

Bhutan is ranked the 119th out of 178. You might say “no surprise!” But, we do worse than some African countries (Zambia, Uganda), parts of the world badly affected by war and internal conflicts (Pakistan, West Bank and Gaza, Sri Lanka), and distinctly worse than Bangladesh and Nepal. Surprised? We should be.

It is really hard doing business in our country, especially if you are small or self-employed. No wonder the private sector is not flourishing. No wonder the young people are having a hard time finding jobs.

Bhutan is particularly weak in areas such as trading across borders where we are ranked 149th compared to India (79th) and Bangladesh (112th); and in access to credit where we are 158th compared to India (36th), Bangladesh (48th) and Nepal (97th).

These statistics beg the questions: why is government standing in the way of Bhutanese doing honest business, generating income and creating jobs? And how can we expect the private sector be the “engine of growth” in such a hostile environment?

Doing Business 2008 including its country results is available to anyone at http://www.doingbusiness.org/. Reportedly, it is taken seriously by investors looking for business-friendly countries.