The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Dorji Choden, a woman known for her integrity and high morals, has the mark of honor and distinction of being the first woman engineer of Bhutan, and today, she has been elected as Bhutan’s first female minister. The news came as no surprise to many as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), during the campaign period, stated that she will be awarded a minister’s portfolio should the party win the elections.
She will take charge as the minister for Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS), considered to be one of the biggest ministry.
Talking to The Bhutanese, Dorji Choden said that she was privileged and honored to be bestowed the title of a minister.
The first thing on her list would be to acquire an in-depth knowledge about the ministry.
She said she never dreamt of becoming a minister. “I never aimed to be first woman to be an engineer or minister, but the opportunity just came,” she said. Honesty is what she likes and dislikes hypocrisy.
Back at home, with no work and away from politics for the time being, she indulges in gardening and baking though she says she is not good at it, but loves to experiment.
More than her, it is her relatives, fans, and family members who were happy about her becoming the first female minister in the country.
Being the lone female minister, she said she would bring out issues related to woman in the Parliament session.
“There are certain issues related to woman that needs to be addressed, and I want to make difference in the lives of the women,” she said.
She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, India, and a master’s degree in arts in public administration from Syracuse University in the United States of America.
She has served in the government for over 20 years as the director of Standards & Quality Control Authority and as a commissioner to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Before joining politics, she worked as the assistant resident representative with the United Nations Development Programme, Bhutan. While in the United Nations, she handled the poverty portfolio, with special emphasis on addressing youth employment and women’s empowerment.
Dorji Choden represents Thrimshing-Kangpara constituency of Trashigang.
