Gross National un-Happiness It has been four years since 2012 and there is now a growing concern about the path that Bhutanese democracy is taking. This is especially so as constitutional bodies and the media is coming under increasing pressure from an increasingly sensitive government. The latest example is statements …

Come June Thimphu residents will have their mails, parcels and utility bills  delivered promptly at their doorsteps. This will be enabled by a proper city address system implemented as a pilot project by the Thimphu Thromde (TCC) and Bhutan Postal Corporation Limited (BPCL) to facilitate fast access to all kinds …

In a move to adopt Gross National Happiness (GNH)-inspired education, all the colleges under the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB), have started to to conduct “mindfulness practice” classes which see a large number of students and teachers on a regular basis. “I feel calm and stress-free, and I can focus …

Residents of Dakarla who till now were facing water shortage will have a continuous supply of water after around 20 days when pipes and construction materials reach the village.. Dakarla Gup, Gado stated that the present water source is too small and insufficient for 115 households.On top of that, the …

The suspension bridge over the Mangde chhu connecting the villages of Nimshong, Korphu and Nabji to the Trongsa-Gelephu highway will be replaced by a bailey bridge by June next year. The bridge will benefit 215 households and three primary schools. It’s been five months since the project which is being …

Gasa dzongkhag conducted Mani Droendrup on 5 April and it will  end tomorrow.Though it was conducted last year for the nation’s welfare and to prevent natural disasters, it was initiated this year, too for the aged people who cannot travel to far-away places to practice dharma.  It was consecrated by …

A fence and a wall around the gup’s office  are under construction for almost two months now and 70% of the work is completed. Recently, the construction of a meeting hall was also completed.  Currently, a Lam’s residence is being built in the same gewog.  “A new Lam will soon …

The decades-old problem of water shortage in Monggar will now be combated with the new rain water harvesting technology to be implemented soon. Additionally, the dzongkhag will have its first water reservoir to meet the growing water demand. “Presently it’s being designed and will be funded by the UN,” said …

It’s the same old story again. Teaching, the so-called “noble” profession does not have many takers in Bhutan with most university graduates placing the vocation last in their list of preferences. Almost every teacher agrees that there is a huge incentive mismatch with the work load they have. “We don’t get …

While fitness experts advise health zealots to have a “balanced diet,” the Bhutanese traditional medicine system (soba rigpa) redefines what a healthy diet and lifestyle entails. In soba rigpa, the fundamental healing philosophy revolves around the concept of three somatic humors (basic types of energy or functional principles): lung ( …