The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Her Royal Highness Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck, the President of the Bhutan Paralympic Committee, officially launched the Bhutan SDG Partnership Week at the Royal University of Bhutan’s Convention Hall in Thimphu.
Agenda Chikha is being recognized as an innovative strategy to unite people, and enhance efforts to create meaningful opportunities for Persons with Disabilities to thrive and actively contribute to the shared pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative is designed to encourage cooperation and ensure that no one is excluded, with the United Nations taking on the role of bringing together the right partners, gathering necessary information, and identifying areas where strengthening capabilities is required.
This collective approach will focus on addressing gaps in data, building necessary skills, and moving forward with solutions as a cohesive unit. The launch of Agenda Chikha supports Bhutan’s commitment to its National Policy for Persons with Disabilities and aligns with the findings from the National Council’s report on the status of Persons with Disabilities.
The initiative prioritizes the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities voices in every decision, policy, and action.
The four primary pillars of Agenda Chikha is empowering individuals, enhancing institutional capacity, challenging preconceived notions, and improving data collection which are intended to address the significant obstacles Persons with Disabilities face and contribute to a more inclusive and fair society.
Tandin Wangchuk, who is visually impaired expressed his excitement at the launch of Agenda Chikha.
Tandin emphasized how the initiative’s focus on accessibility, particularly for persons with physical disabilities. He said, “This kind of initiative excites me because it is mindful of the needs of Persons with Disabilities, especially those with physical disabilities.”
Tandin also said, “Such efforts can make a real difference in the lives of people like me.”
A key aspect of the Agenda Chikha launch was the focus on improving education and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Tandin highlighted a critical challenge faced by many students with disabilities in Bhutan, particularly those who are visually impaired or have hearing disabilities. According to him, these students often face limited educational options, which restrict their ability to pursue a diverse range of academic paths.
He said, “Inwardly, Persons with Disabilities, especially visually impaired and those with hearing disabilities, often have no choice but to take the Arts Stream from grade 11,” and he further explained. “This is because the Science Stream’s diagrams and resources are not accessible to us. So, we are left with limited options. This initiative, however, brings hope by suggesting alternatives to these educational shortcomings.”
Tandin believes that Agenda Chikha’s focus on accessible learning materials and its broader efforts to make education inclusive will ultimately enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. “Accessible education is not just about learning; it is directly tied to better employment prospects,” he noted. “If we have the tools and resources to learn, we can better contribute to society.”
Despite his optimism about the potential of such initiatives, Tandin expressed concern about the gap between policy and action. He pointed out that, while there are numerous policies written to support Persons with Disabilities, these policies often lack real-world impact.
“At the end of the day, no matter how many policies related to Persons with Disabilities are being made, there is no impact. The policies are just written on paper. They aren’t being effectively implemented,” Tandin said. “That’s why, despite all the promises, we don’t see the tangible changes we need.”
For initiatives like Agenda Chikha to succeed, it will require sustained commitment, not only from the government and policymakers but also from society as a whole to bridge the gap between good intentions and meaningful outcomes for Persons with Disabilities.
This initiative is part of a broader movement toward achieving the SDGs by 2030, with support from various government bodies, international organizations, and local NGOs.
