DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

Imagine a magical pillow that ails in hyper-tension and diabetes among other lifestyle diseases. It is not a joke. The humble buckwheat pillow is already popular in Bumthang, Japan and other countries for medicinal purposes and the demand for it has slowly and steadily been increasing in Thimphu, too. Apart from ensuring sound sleep, …

Although there are plans to relocate Phub Dem, a Red Panda rescued from Trongsa by Forest Protection and Surveillance Unit (FPSU) of Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) as a two-month old cub, to Lamperi Botanical Park (RBP), it could not be done till date. This according to officials of the Wildlife Conservation Division (WCD) is due to budget constraints. “Lamperi …

Now, all local packaged foods will be certified by a food testing lab, the first of its kind in Bhutan which is at the last stage of accreditation. The process to certify the lab which is located at Yusipang has come a long way since its initiation in 2008. It  …

  Radio High, the fifth FM radio station in Thimphu, has been ‘off air’ for more than three months for unknown reasons. Radio stations are mandated to notify BICMA in the event of interruption in broadcasting for more than two days. Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authoritys (BICMA) Chief Information and Media Officer, Lakshuman …

Chuzergang gewog in Gelephu which is cut off from the rest of the world during monsoon due to the torrential Mao Khola now has something to rejoice over if not a bridge. Yesterday, Rural Education and Development (READ) and the Chuzergang community signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish …

In the month of February, Social Democratic Party (SDP) submitted nine queries to the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) on legislative rule on political parties, their formation and organization. The first question was  on what is needed for  advance information and approval from “appropriate authorities” before organizing public meetings and …

Thirty-three people whose housing loans were suspended by financial institutions following directives from the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) have filed a petition to the central bank. This situation arose in the aftermath of the rupee crisis. However, the Thimphu Thromde (TCC) has approved the construction of the petitioners’ houses but …

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 …

Many families are unhappy with what they feel is an unfair student loan policy formulated by the National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF). Students who score an aggregate of below 60% are not eligible for the Nu 0.5mn student loan offered by the organization. Apart from this, only students taking …