
Only and stark difference – this show unlike the glitz and glamour-enthused setting switched to galoshes, plastic gloves and trash bins.
Hold that thought, before you start flipping the Encyclopedia or search Google for a strict definition for fashion.
The event deliberately titled ‘fashion show’ sought to drive home the point that there could be nothing more fashionable than clean stink-free surroundings and drains that are not clogged with all the filth and stench in the world.
Some 80 people on the last pedestrian day in Thimphu participated in a clean-up program in 16 different areas as part of the event titled as above.
As part of the cleaning campaign the group took to clean the dirtiest areas particularly the drains where they dressed up uniformly in rubber boots and carted shovels over various places in the capital.
‘Fashion show’ here implies the work done by various people out of their own interest and most importantly showing the people an example of dignity of labor.
The event is not strictly Thimphu-confined and will be seen all over 20 Dzongkhags.
This was possible only after the launch of GNH-based Road show for 20 Dzongkhags which was inaugurated by Agriculture Minister Dr. Pema Gyamtsho coinciding with the first anniversary of the Royal Couple.
The event Organizer from Druk Ecom Ugyen Gyeltshen explained the focus on the focus on drains.
He said it is because it affects both living and non-living as there are various kinds of wastes present in the drains and people throw various wastes in the drains.
“Moreover though so many cleaning campaigns take place they only focus on papers lying on the ground but not on drains,” he said.
Under the GNH-based Road shows, apart from the dignity of labor fashion shows it also has ‘Theme-Based Event’ where face to face communication takes place with people coinciding with festivals and celebrations where huge crowd will gather. This will aid in the effective communication of the issues like health, gender, environment, domestic violence and many more.
Here, different methods of communication are being used to convince the people.
Organizer Ugyen Gyeltshen said the campaign is to educate and inform the people as well as involve them for the cause of society. The theme “Society’s Problem, My Problem” is being promoted across the country.
“It is more of transformation into reality rather than sticking only to theories and moreover it needs to be executed practically,” he added.
The first event of fashion show on dignity of labor has been conducted yesterday, the next place targeted is Gelephu coinciding with the 11 November celebrations which is just around the corner. Also a Wang ceremony will also be in session in the Dungkhag.
At the end of the day, the participants were awarded certificates of appreciation and were paid Nu 200 each. The participants were provided with breakfast and lunch along with refreshments during the day.
A 28 year old monk Penjor who graduated from Sangchenchoekhor Buddhist College, Paro and currently doing his masters in Tango University said he was very happy being part of the event.
Penjor also participated in the cleaning campaign earlier during his orientation days.
He said that even in the religious contexts, cleanliness is top priority.
The first fashion show on dignity of labor was supported by Bhutan postal corporation Ltd, S.T.K Earth Moving Equipments, National Environment Commission (NEC), Ministry of Labor & Human Resources (MoLHR), Thimphu Thromde and the Private sector as well.
This is one example of our priorities gone wrong. While we have enough money to squander away in supporting such fashion shows, we can’t pay our blue colour jobs well. I have, in all my previous posts maintained that as long as we don’t reward our blue colour jobs in terms of remuneration, we can rest assured that there won’t be any takers, irrespective of the number of such fashion shows or flowery speeches by the Ministers.
On the other hand, if the Government is sincerely committed to solving youth employment, to attract many people into blue colour jobs, their slogans must match in action. Our people who take up vocational skilled jobs deserve to be paid much better than they are paid now. We need to do a less of talking and showcasing and pay more attention to impact and action. A country that believes in or at least nourishes a dream of progress through the productivity of its citizens sincerely needs to invest in avenues that awaken a desire in its citizens to strive for best. There is virtually no better motivator than a good remuneration as a reward for such quest. In fact, it is the only factor that determines the morale and therefore productivity of the people. All others are good to hear but they can’t sell for a long time even if they give us a short mileage.
The root of our problems is the in-built hypocrisy in the system where our vision and aims contradict to our actions on ground. We must accept that while we dream to be the happiest nation on earth or even profess about it, the ground reality is that we are not so. Even worse is that we are becoming unhappy by the day. It is the truth that our marriages are breaking more than ever before. It is also a harsh reality that increasing number of our children need help of drugs to carry on their life and the pain of unemployment and broken families kills a million dreams in young hearts. We live in the age where our rivers are drying up yet our bars are flooding with spirits enough to drown the happiness of our joyous families. When people have no motivations, they have no visions and what remains is an idle mind a synonym for devils workshop. Is this a dream we have woven for our country? Do we want our youth to take up jobs that are not enough to pay rents to their landlords?
To me, any number of speeches on dignity of labour without addressing the hardships faced by the people who strive to earn their livelihood through dignity and hard work would be an attempt to hoodwink people. It is to cheat those lots who sweat day and night in the hope that their children can live in a better place among those masters that they now serve. A true and dedicated leadership should work for bridging the income gap between the ivory-tower dwelling white collar officials and the people who work hard to make their ends meet. For instance, a Minister or a Secretary earns DSA for delivering a eulogy about the nobility of blue collar jobs which is more than a month’s salary of a poor worker who actually gets his hands dirty living up to the words spoken by his master. As long as this continues, our graduates will always dream of being that master rather than being a hard working person who believes in the power of one’s creativity. Sycophancy and corruption will creep into the society that will eventually head for downfall and decadence. Such signs are already visible in the horizon and God forbid that the cancer doesn’t spread any further.
This is why we need people, who can deliver in action, who actually go to grass roots and make the life meaningful for the people. We need policy makers who can not only teach people how to fish but also keep our rivers full of fishes. This is a tough job for leaders but this is the only way forward for a prosperous and Happy Bhutan. A little sincerity, a bit of an attitude of sharing, a sense of solidarity and brotherhood would pave a dream road to Gross National Happiness.
This is one example of our priorities gone wrong. While we have enough money to squander away in supporting such fashion shows, we can’t pay our blue colour jobs well. I have, in all my previous posts maintained that as long as we don’t reward our blue colour jobs in terms of remuneration, we can rest assured that there won’t be any takers, irrespective of the number of such fashion shows or flowery speeches by the Ministers.
On the other hand, if the Government is sincerely committed to solving youth employment, to attract many people into blue colour jobs, their slogans must match in action. Our people who take up vocational skilled jobs deserve to be paid much better than they are paid now. We need to do a less of talking and showcasing and pay more attention to impact and action. A country that believes in or at least nourishes a dream of progress through the productivity of its citizens sincerely needs to invest in avenues that awaken a desire in its citizens to strive for best. There is virtually no better motivator than a good remuneration as a reward for such quest. In fact, it is the only factor that determines the morale and therefore productivity of the people. All others are good to hear but they can’t sell for a long time even if they give us a short mileage.
The root of our problems is the in-built hypocrisy in the system where our vision and aims contradict to our actions on ground. We must accept that while we dream to be the happiest nation on earth or even profess about it, the ground reality is that we are not so. Even worse is that we are becoming unhappy by the day. It is the truth that our marriages are breaking more than ever before. It is also a harsh reality that increasing number of our children need help of drugs to carry on their life and the pain of unemployment and broken families kills a million dreams in young hearts. We live in the age where our rivers are drying up yet our bars are flooding with spirits enough to drown the happiness of our joyous families. When people have no motivations, they have no visions and what remains is an idle mind a synonym for devils workshop. Is this a dream we have woven for our country? Do we want our youth to take up jobs that are not enough to pay rents to their landlords?
To me, any number of speeches on dignity of labour without addressing the hardships faced by the people who strive to earn their livelihood through dignity and hard work would be an attempt to hoodwink people. It is to cheat those lots who sweat day and night in the hope that their children can live in a better place among those masters that they now serve. A true and dedicated leadership should work for bridging the income gap between the ivory-tower dwelling white collar officials and the people who work hard to make their ends meet. For instance, a Minister or a Secretary earns DSA for delivering a eulogy about the nobility of blue collar jobs which is more than a month’s salary of a poor worker who actually gets his hands dirty living up to the words spoken by his master. As long as this continues, our graduates will always dream of being that master rather than being a hard working person who believes in the power of one’s creativity. Sycophancy and corruption will creep into the society that will eventually head for downfall and decadence. Such signs are already visible in the horizon and God forbid that the cancer doesn’t spread any further.
This is why we need people, who can deliver in action, who actually go to grass roots and make the life meaningful for the people. We need policy makers who can not only teach people how to fish but also keep our rivers full of fishes. This is a tough job for leaders but this is the only way forward for a prosperous and Happy Bhutan. A little sincerity, a bit of an attitude of sharing, a sense of solidarity and brotherhood would pave a dream road to Gross National Happiness.