Health Ministry made the pledge during World Toilet Day in 2020 By Phurpa Wangmo Coinciding with the observation of World Toilet Day 2021, three more dzongkhags and 26 additional gewogs achieved 100% improved sanitation coverage in 2021 and have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). With 129 gewogs and eight dzongkhags achieving ODF status, Bhutan has reached the 62 percent …

The FM and GRF – abuse, accountability, civil service reform I do not know if it is the same case. During the question answer session of the Finance Minister in the National Council (NC) in the last session of the parliament, NC member from Trashigang, Lhatu, asked the Finance Minister about more funds given to Paro. Before even answering the …

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has blatantly accused the finance minister of ‘siphoning money and political gratification’ over the Nu 19 million General Reserve Fund issue By Tashi Namgyal People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a press release this week drew nationwide attention and stated that the finance minister has recklessly misused Nu 19 million (M) from the General Reserve (GR) …

By Tashi Namgyal Thimphu The finance ministry transferred Nu 19 million (M) from the General Reserve (GR) Fund of the Local Government Election budget to fund capital works under various gewogs in Paro Dzongkhag during the last financial year, according to the Annual Audit Report 2020-2021. Dogar, Naja and Shaba gewogs which fall under the finance minister’s constituency got Nu …

The police also undertake investigatory as well as prosecutory role, potentially a conflicting role By Tashi Namgyal In what could be one of the milestone reforms to be made to the Royal Bhutan Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 during this winter session, the Social and Cultural Committee of the National Assembly has proposed doing away with the police’s role as a …

A jewel in the crown, His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck turns 66 years-old this November 11.  Compiled by Tashi Namgyal Thimphu “The measure of a King’s worth is gauged by his actions as a monarch and the effects of his reign on the history of his nation. The world, in its many centuries of history, has seen …

By Phurpa Wangmo His Majesty The King arrived in Thimphu on October 21 after a Royal Tour of the South, and entered quarantine. During the Royal tour of the South, which also coincided with the Hindu festival of Dassai, His Majesty visited Gelephu, Samtse, Lhamoyzhingkha and Phuentsholing, while also stopping at Tencholing and Tsirang to meet De-suups and Dzongkhag civil …

The recent catastrophe lashed by the retreating monsoons has become a cause of concern as the country battles changing weather patterns and freak weather reports By Rinchen Dorji The recent trail of destruction left by the sudden and untimely downpour has left the country reeling as we scramble for answers to fight natural calamities that is becoming a regular phenomenon …

However, some farmers have refused help stating His Majesty is already burdened by the pandemic By Phurpa Wangmo In the aftermath of the rains that has put a huge dent on the year’s paddy yields, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, upon Royal command, met with the affected farmers of Paro, Punakha and Wangdiphodrang this week. Lyonchhen conveyed that His Majesty …

The Weekly Editorial The recent trail of destruction wreaked by the untimely rains has left a flood of afterthoughts, as thousands of farmers across the country were caught off-guard by this freak natural calamity. Reports of hundreds of acres of paddy fields being inundated across the country reveals the vulnerability of our farmers to such freak weather conditions which, according …