Stayin’ online

Posted inEconomy
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…

A continuing saga

Posted inGovernment
“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…

Doing business isn’t easy anywhere

Posted inEconomy8 Comments
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…

Traditional Day of Offering…for the people

Posted inCulture
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…

Celebrating India

Posted inInternational
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…

Pema’s left foot

Posted inPeople
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…

Calling young artists

Posted inCivil society
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…

Education for all

Posted inEducation, Religion
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…

First fire

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

Book it!

Posted inMiscellaneous
“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

Posted inGovernment11 Comments
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…

Brand Bhutan?

Posted inNature
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

Posted inGovernment
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

Posted inGovernment
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

Posted inNature, People, Youth
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.…