A 2010 GNH survey found that around 21,000 people are obese in Bhutan with 100,000 being overweight. There is also Ministry of Health data to show the rapid rise in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and even cancer. It is also significant to note that the percentage of people obese …
Read More »Rising Inflation
Though the government through official figures has shown high GDP growth rates and lower poverty rates there has not been adequate focus on inflation which can negatively impact both of the above. A troubling overall trend in the last five years is the strong rise of inflation in Bhutan which …
Read More »Voting intelligently in 2013
Bhutanese audiences are being bombed on a daily basis with information and pledges by aspiring candidates, political parties, party workers, etc. The platform being used is the media, social media, informal campaigning by party workers, and ultimately as the D-Day approaches it will culminate in face to face debates in …
Read More »Conflict of Interest
For a country and society where ‘everyone is related’ or where ‘everybody knows everybody’, conflict of interest becomes an important and pertinent issue. While it is good that family and other social ties in Bhutan are strong, it is also important to see that these ties are not misused to …
Read More »Public Information is Public Property
The MoIC minister in an interview with regard to the RAA’s report on the Domestic Airways questioned how this paper got the information or the report. Now, though some may dismiss the minister’s defamatory insinuations as an attempt to divert attention from the real issues, the minister’s flawed logic on …
Read More »The National Council
While the National Council elections slated in April 2013 may not generate the same level of enthusiasm as the National Assembly elections, it has established itself as an important Parliamentary institution. Soon after the euphoric elections results of March 2008 for the ruling government, there were concerns expressed not only …
Read More »Unchecked corruption in government projects
At a time when austerity and rupee crisis are the catchwords, the RAA’s draft report on the construction of Domestic Airports by the Ministry of Information and Communication comes as a major disappointment. The report highlights how more than 50 percent of the Nu 435 mn project was either lost …
Read More »Opening a Pandora’s Box of political activism
News of 50 Druk Phuensum Tshogpa supporters planning a trip to the capital on behalf of the Speaker and the Home Minister in regard to the Gyelpozhing verdict caused some disquiet in a country not used to political activism. Though the DPT members withdrew their petition as of yesterday the …
Read More »A lesson for the Civil Service from the Gyelpozhing verdict
The harshest blow from the Gyelpozhing verdict falls on the 14 Committee members who are all long serving civil servants, and except for one who is retired, all 13 stand to be terminated without any benefits. This is because both the Civil Service Act and Rules list out termination for …
Read More »The Gyelpozhing Verdict
The conviction of the Speaker and Home Minister along with 14 other plot allotment committee members in the Gyelpozhing land case has generated a lot of public interest and reaction. The verdict in its entirety does credit not only to the Anti Corruption Commission but also to the institution of …
Read More »