Tshering Tobgay

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…

Happy Losar!

February 25, 2009Miscellaneous

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

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

Weathering poverty

February 24, 2009Nature, Villages

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…

Inspiring Bhutan

February 24, 2009Education

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…

Rhythm of the falling rain

February 23, 2009Nature, Villages

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…

Party convention

February 22, 2009Political parties

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

February 21, 2009Monarchy

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…

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.

Committed vision

February 20, 2009Education, Monarchy

“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…

Teaching differently

February 19, 2009Education

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.…

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…

Addressing addresses

February 16, 2009Towns

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;…

Road to nowhere

February 15, 2009Towns

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…