Government – Page 12 – Tshering Tobgay

A bold scheme

March 17, 2009Education, Government

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…

Returned rightfully?

March 17, 2009Government, Monarchy

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…

Medical grants

March 16, 2009Education, Government

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.

Zeko’s dream

February 27, 2009Government, Nature

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…

Free media’s ace

February 24, 2009Government, Media

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

Effectively changed

February 20, 2009Government

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.

Major pension change

February 17, 2009Government6 Comments

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…

Effectively different

February 16, 2009Government

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…

Working online … securely

February 14, 2009Government

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…

Working online

February 13, 2009Government

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%…

A continuing saga

January 29, 2009Government

“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…

Defining pensions

January 20, 2009Government11 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…

Pay increase broadcast

January 19, 2009Government

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

January 18, 2009Government

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.

Scheming pensions

January 17, 2009Government8 Comments

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…