An interesting tale with an intricate plot and questionable motives is the campaigning that is going on reportedly in Punakha for the next round of elections prematurely. While sources said that other constituencies too are facing the same situation, Punakha’s three would-be contestants are in really aggressive mode. This …
Read More »RMA partially loosens its grip on rupee payments
The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), at a meeting with the private sector yesterday, announced a host of changes to its earlier circular on the issuance of Indian rupee (INR). One of the major changes was instructions to the private sector to open a rupee account for every manufacturing industry …
Read More »Five epidemic break outs within four months
Five epidemics have been reported so far this year. The latest on 12 April was at the Nyenzergang Lhakhang at Rubesa, Wangduephodrang, when 30 people attending the ritual were infected with Acute Gastroenteritis (commonly referred to as stomach flu or gastric flu). The disease has been contained since then. The …
Read More »Toxin in kharang and ara possibly related to liver diseases
While reports indicate that aflotoxin can directly cause liver cancer, more studies need to be conducted to confirm that the chronic liver diseases in Bhutan are caused by the toxin. Maize products like ara (alcohol) and kharang (beaten maize) were found to contain Aflotoxin, a deadly chemical which caused the …
Read More »The boy who was sold for 27 CGI sheets
Twenty-seven second – hand CGI sheets, 50 kilograms of rice, three bed sheets, one school bag and a Tiffin-box. This was the cost of 14-year-old Sunil Limbu from Tendruk gewog, Samtse whose mother allowed 40-year old Phub Nidup originally from Haa but now resettled in Samtse to hire her son. …
Read More »Army planning to get rid of orderly system, Goongloen says it will take time
The orderly system in Bhutan was a topic much discussed after an officer at Paro manhandled and beat up his orderly. The Bhutanese which received a call from the orderlies to highlight their problems talked to the Goongloen (Army General) Dasho Batoo Tshering who said, “To be honest, we are …
Read More »Bhutan faces domestic credit crisis as banks freeze loans
Financial Institutions say they may not be able to issue any new loans for months and even years under RMA’s latest liquidity or borrowing restrictions. This comes in the backdrop of the already existing housing and transport loan restrictions. Bhutan’s Financial Institutions are heading for a deep freeze as a …
Read More »Indian ambassador assures government of GoI’s support during rupee crisis
The Indian ambassador to Bhutan, Pavan K Varma, said that the Government of India (GoI) will standby Bhutan to help tide over the rupee crisis. This, the Indian ambassador highlighted in an interview with The Bhutanese. The Ambassador said “Bhutan enjoys bipartisan support across political parties in India and India …
Read More »Education City Project bid ratified by Cabinet
Bhutan’s Education City Project, an ambitious scheme incepted two years back is finally moving forward with the project bid further ratified by the Cabinet as per the Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) framework policy. The bid has been awarded to the consortium bidders, Infinity Infotech Parks ltd and ILFS (Infrastructure …
Read More »Guilty officials go scot-free and land recovery still at large
The High Level Committee report of 2003 brought to the forefront 45 cases involving influential people and hundreds of acres of grabbed land in Thimphu. However, an investigation by The Bhutanese has shown that no serious action has been taken against the land officials, Dzongdas and Drangpons involved. This paper …
Read More »
The Bhutanese Leading the way.