The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Coinciding with the 110th National Day, His Majesty The King awarded Druk Thuksey (Heart Son of Bhutan) medals to three individuals and one institution, 18 National Order of Merit Gold medals, and meritorious awards to 47 health officials, and 34 forestry officials in recognition of their services to the Tsa-Wa-Sum.
Druk Thuksey
Lyonpo Chenkyab Dorji was awarded the Order of Druk Thuksey in recognition of his dedicated service to the country. He joined the civil service in 1961 as the first graduate forester in the country. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo conferred him red scarf in 1975 and the orange scarf in 1991. He served as the First Bhutanese Secretary General of SAARC. Currently, he is serving as the Chairman of the Royal Privy Council of Bhutan.
“His Majesty has given me recognition, so I am highly honored. Of course I have given 56 years of my services, so I want to rededicate it to the service of Tsa-Wa-Sum with dedication and loyalty,” he said. “I am extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive the award from His Majesty The King.”
Dasho Penjore, 56, was awarded Druk Thuksey in recognition of his dedicated services in his career spanning over 30 years.
Dasho Penjore, is the current Governor of Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). As Governor of RMA he introduced the minimum lending rate, which resulted in lowering of interest rates of loans from financial institutions. RMA under him initiated the priority sector lending guidelines as a result of the vision and inspiration of His Majesty to increase access to finance for youth and farmers in entrepreneurship and commercial farming. He was conferred the Red Scarf by His Majesty The King in 2008.
Dasho Penjore said that RMA also received the same recognition. “I am deeply humbled and overwhelmed,” he said. “It reminds me to serve the country with even higher dedication and sincerity.” He expressed his gratitude to all who contributed to this recognition.
Dasho Penjore also served as the first Gyalpoi Zimpon to His Majesty the King from 2006 to 2013.
Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) was awarded the Druk Thuksey as an institution- for contributing towards improving the financial services in the country and for making capital accessible to the people.
RMA also initiated the Priority Sector Lending Guidelines to increase access to finance for youth and farmers in entrepreneurship and commercial farming.
His Majesty also awarded the Order of Druk Thuksey to Surgeon Dr. Lotay Tshering for tirelessly serving the people in need of medical treatment.
Dr. Lotay, 48, is currently leading His Majesty’s Kidu Mobile Medical Unit. He is also a recipient of the ‘Unsung Hero of Compassion’ award at San Francisco in 2005. He has worked as Consultant Surgeon at the JDWNRH and Mongar hospital.
He also served as the technical coordinator and Chief Surgeon of the Bhutanese earthquake relief team to Nepal in 2015.
Dr Lotay Tshering said that he had done nothing great to receive this prestigious award from the throne but for his profession and team, who put their hard work and dedication in delivering services to the people. “It’s an unforgettable moment not just in this lifetime but the next as well,” he said. “The award will further inspire me to work harder in the service of society.”
National Order of Merit Gold
His Majesty The King awarded the National Order of Merit (NOM) Gold to five individuals during the National Day celebrations.
Einar Kippenes, the first Principal of Muenselling School in Khaling received the National Order of Merit Gold. Norwegian born, Mr. Kippenes worked in Bhutan for nine years, from 1972 to 1981. During those years, he travelled to different parts of the country in search of visually impaired children for admission into the institute. He started integrated educational programme for the blind in 1979, including skills development. Vocational subjects, typewriting, weaving, gardening, basket making, and cooking were gradually included in the activities.
E.Werner Kuelling, 74, was awarded National Order of Merit Gold in appreciation of Helvetas’ assistance extended to Bhutan under his leadership and for his personal love and affection for Bhutan. He served as the Helvetas Resident Coordinator in Bhutan from 2006 to 2008.
Francoise Pommaret, an associate professor at the Takste College for Language and Culture Studies in Trongsa, was awarded the National Order of Merit, Gold for her contribution in the field of education research.
From France, she also holds a Bhutanese citizenship granted by His Majesty. Pommaret, 63, works pro bono (for free) as an associate Professor at the College for Language and Cultural Studies in Taktse, Trongsa.
Michael Ruthland, 79, the British Honorary Consul in Bhutan received the National Order of Merit Gold. He served as the Science and Mathematics tutor to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo when His Majesty was the Crown Prince. His Majesty The King granted him Bhutanese citizenship in 2006.
Dechen Dorji, the Country Representative of WWF Bhutan Programme, was awarded the National Order of Merit Gold for his contribution to Bhutan’s sustainable environment development. Through the project, Bhutan for Life, he managed to accumulate Nu 2.8 billion. The fund will immensely help in preserving Bhutan’s environment.
National Order of Merit
His Majesty The King also awarded the National Order of Merit to 81 individuals from the health, and Agriculture and Forests ministries for their excellent service to the nation.
Six doctors (specialists), 16 nurses, and three medical technicians were awarded the National Order of Merit in categories of excellence in Medical Services.
Likewise, 18 Health Assistants and a Kidu hospital assistant were awarded the National Order of Merit for Excellence in Public Health. The National Order of Merit for Excellence in Emergency Medical Services was awarded to three ambulance drivers.
His Majesty The King awarded National Order of Merit Gold to Dr Kunzang Gyaltshen, eye specialist, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Dr Ugyen Tshomo, Gynecologist of JDWNRH, Dr Duptho Wangmo, Gynecologist at Royal Bhutan Army hospital and Pema Dorji, senior staff nurse, and Jigme Tenzin, senior lab technician, who are both with JDWNRH.
National Order of Merit Silver was awarded to 20, and Bronze to 22 health employees.
His Majesty The King awarded the National Order of Merit to the forestry personnel for their service of excellence to the nation.
The National Order of Merit was awarded in categories for excellence in Forest and Park Services to five Chief Forest Officers, 11 Forest Officers, 15 Rangers and three foresters or general.
Eight received Gold, 10 received silver, and 16 received bronze.
