Tshering Tobgay

Performance in India

March 22, 2010Government

Dr Prajapati Trivedi recently talked about the performance appraisal system he’s developing in India. Our civil servants, some of who have already signed performance compacts, may find his insights useful. On the importance of implementation: The big difference between the developed country and developing ones is not so much about strategising and planning but implementation. On how performance contracts are prepared: The document is prepared with internal consultations within specific ministries, aligned with government’s annual and five-yearly plans and is vetted and approved by a high power committee on government performance led by the cabinet secretary. On who judges…

Spring art exhibition

March 21, 2010Culture

“Everything in life is watched and seen beyond the strength of the naked eye,” says Passang Tobgay describing his painting “Under the Watchful Eye”. Passang, who graduated in traditional painting from the Institute for Zorig Chusum, is a member of VAST. He taught traditional painting before exploring modern art to communicate his ideas and emotions. “Under the Watchful Eye” is currently on display at VAST’s Spring Art Exhibition. The exhibition, which is at the Tarayana Centre, runs through April.

Most popular posts

March 21, 2010General

You might have noticed a new panel in the sidebar. The new feature automatically identifies the most popular posts in this blog. The idea is to draw attention to topics that have received the greatest number of your comments. And I’m already thinking of adding another panel, one that will highlight some of the important issues that we discuss in this blog.

Where’s Justice?

March 17, 2010Government

Exactly one month ago, I called on the Royal Civil Service Commission requesting them to reverse their decision to terminate (without retirement benefits) seven education officials from their jobs. The basis of my request was that the RCSC had violated Section 10.2 of the Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations 2006.
Section 10.2 declares that: “Only one penalty shall be imposed in each case.”
I haven’t heard from the RCSC yet. But in the meantime, I’ve learnt about another case, this time involving three officials of the Paro NIE.
They too had been caught “adjusting” their accounts, supposedly to meet workshop expenses. They were penalized. Then they were taken to court. And after the court’s verdict, the RCSC reinstated all three of them in their earlier jobs.
One of them decided to resign. He applied for, and received his retirement benefits.
The other two decided to continue in their jobs. But the RCSC reversed their earlier decision and terminated them both. They didn’t receive their retirement benefits.
Where is Section 10.2? Where is justice?
This is their story:

Public policies

March 17, 2010Economy, Government

Several multinational companies, like Tata, Airtel, Lafarge, and Infinity, have shown interest in investing in Bhutan. And others, like Mountain Hazelnut Venture, have already started doing business in our country. So it’s time the government finalized its foreign direct investment policy. But before finalizing the policy, the government should hold thorough consultations with all stakeholders, particularly the private sector, to ensure that they understand the policy and, more importantly, that they commit to supporting it. And once the FDI policy is finalized, it should be made public. Incidentally, the cabinet approved the Economic Development Policy last year. But it…

CDG – MPs = LG

March 16, 2010Government

The Constituency Development Grant: The National Council has declared it as unconstitutional; The Election Commission of Bhutan has complained that it will compromise the conduct of free and fair elections; citizens have called it a political tool; and the opposition party has denounced it. And still, the controversial CDG prevails. But faced with increasing questions on the legitimacy, intent and usage of the CDG, the prime minister has agreed to consider revoking the grant after two years of his government. The plan, apparently, is to scrap the CDG: Provided that majority of the Gewog Tshogde (GT) submits that it…

Mineral development policy

March 15, 2010Economy

According to the DGM director general the draft mineral development policy “… is for the development of the mining sector in a equitable, safe, more value added and environment friendly way.” Good. The draft mineral development policy proposes to allow only “one mining lease to an individual or to a company”. Very good. I’m all for a healthy reduction in the number of mines in our country. But wait a second, what about the Punatshangchu Hydropower Project Authority? Didn’t they recently apply for “three large quarries”? And what about Penden Cement? Surely they operate more than one mine. And…

Big picture – 9

March 14, 2010General

Jigme Tshewang won the last Big Picture. But Jigme didn't claim the prize. So it goes to the first one who correctly figures out this picture.

Headline news!

March 13, 2010Media

The latest comment on my post about the prime minister’s office influencing Bhutan Today was by “mediawatch” who challenged: Mr OL You got to do some explaining here! We are not convinced. TR has given his explanation and made his stand clear. Now Mr OL you need to put a brave face and give your reasons. otherwise we are going to take this as one of your several political gimmicks! And the comment before that was by “Guest” who pleaded: I am still pleading with the OL to explain to me how he sees that issue which escapes me…

Our garbage

March 13, 2010Towns

Residents in the capital will have welcomed the government’s announcement that “A massive clean-up campaign of the town and the river bank will begin shortly involving Thimphu’s residents” in preparation for the SAARC summit next month.
Thimphu will look presentable by this time next month. And our visitors will be duly impressed. But we, residents, must ask ourselves if our city really is as clean as it might look. And, if not, what we, residents, should do about it.
I took the following pictures a few days ago while walking to town from Taba.

Controlling influence

March 9, 2010Media

There’s something strange going on. I have already expressed my concerns that the prime minister’s office may be influencing the media. But what has recently been happening is worse: one newspaper, Bhutan Today, has started carrying every press release that comes out of the prime minister’s office as their own story, word for word, but with their own byline. Compare the following stories: “Bigger responsibility for NSB, better data for nation” by the Cabinet; and “Statistics and GNH Statistics” by Bhutan Today “SAARC summit: preparations in full swing” by the Cabinet; and “450 Delegates to Attend SAARC Summit” by…

GNH is …

March 9, 2010General

Do you have a favorite GNH quote? Or an anecdote on Gross National Happiness? If so, please share them here. It will help me prepare for an upcoming conference.

Doubtful PM

March 6, 2010Economy, Government

More than decade has already passed since the start of Bhutan’s accession process to the WTO. And many of our current ministers have been involved throughout the process. So I find it strange that, after all these years, one of them, the prime minister, is “still unsure” about joining the WTO. What do you think? Should we join or not? Or are you also “still unsure”? Take our poll that asks, “Should Bhutan join the WTO?” Caricature by Bhutan Observer

Namrita Khandelwal

March 4, 2010Government

Chhophyel, commenting on my previous post: “OL, I am glad that McKinsey’s proposal to liberalize tourist tariff is finally out the window.” McKinsey and Company is charging the government 9.1 million dollars in consulting fees. Add to that travel, living, per diem and other expenses, and the final tab, by some estimates, could exceed 14 million dollars! That’s a lot of money. So it’s amazing that we must feel a sense of relief every time their proposals get shot down. Their first proposal to go was about increasing annual tourist arrivals to 250,000. Then it was tourist tariff liberalization.…

Accountability matters

March 4, 2010Government

The government is yet to issue an official statement rescinding the prime minister’s executive order of 13 November 2009 that liberalized tourist tariffs. Meanwhile, a big majority of the people (57%) who took our poll think that the prime minister should be held accountable for trying to liberalize the tourist tariff. 26% held TCB accountable. And only 17% blamed McKinsey. I agree with the results of our poll. No matter what, if any, consultations led to the big shift in tourism policy, ultimately it was the cabinet, particularly the prime minister, who approved the tariff liberalization. And who signed…