Thursday, December 31, 2009
Enroute Gasa
A 2 hour drive to Punakha and a few kilometers from there (about 2-3 hours drive) Goen Damji will be my stop for this time. I am roughly packed for the next two days. Will be celebrating Nyelo with my people there.
Nyelo eve
It's Nyelo tomorrow (a Bhutanese new year form celebrated in the western parts of the country coinciding with winter solstice) and a festive for the people to celebrate. The day would begin with thupe (stew)and grand meals. Archery, Khuru still are played on this day, while others put on their fine wear and picnic in urban areas and in the villages, gatherings and time for fine dining and meetings with members of family who have been away from home working or for other reasons.
An interesting activity that precedes Nyelo is the Nyelo eve. On this eve of Nyelo, people get into groups and carry out the "Lolay" procession. They go from house to house and sing the Lolay. The Lolay is sung to bless the house and it's members and the occupants, in return for their good wishes and prayers, gift them (in kind and cash). This collection becomes the resource for the festive for the actual Nyelo in the next day.
This is Nyelo eve and a few Lolay groups can be expected.
An interesting activity that precedes Nyelo is the Nyelo eve. On this eve of Nyelo, people get into groups and carry out the "Lolay" procession. They go from house to house and sing the Lolay. The Lolay is sung to bless the house and it's members and the occupants, in return for their good wishes and prayers, gift them (in kind and cash). This collection becomes the resource for the festive for the actual Nyelo in the next day.
This is Nyelo eve and a few Lolay groups can be expected.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thimphu gets its first SNOWFALL on the last day of the year
Awakened to a morning with snowfall; it's been a while for winters with no real snow falls in Thimphu and so it came as a surprise to find white flakes twirling down from the skies and the ground carpeted with snow.
Its the last day of the year and Thimphu received it's first snow fall. Most of the snow has now melted away but the damp soil and the moist ground still reminds one of the snowfall in the morning.
The day after is Nyelo and will be heading for Gasa in the afternoon tomorrow for a game of archery with the people there. The game is planned out for two days.
Its the last day of the year and Thimphu received it's first snow fall. Most of the snow has now melted away but the damp soil and the moist ground still reminds one of the snowfall in the morning.
The day after is Nyelo and will be heading for Gasa in the afternoon tomorrow for a game of archery with the people there. The game is planned out for two days.
1st Annual Nomads Festival
Attended the 3 day annual Nomads festival in Bumthang at Choekortse. Represented by participants from 8 dzongkhags, the programme consisted of dances and stalls set up from the different nomadic communities. The venue was about an hour and half drive from Chamkhar, towards Dur tsachu.
The Hon. Minister for Agriculture was the Chief guest and several disnitiaries of the Government had joined. Members of Parliament from Wangduephodrang (Sephu), Bumthang (Chumey), Bumthang Dzongkhag and Gasa Dzongkhag also attended the event.
The Programme concluded on the December 28, 2009
The Hon. Minister for Agriculture was the Chief guest and several disnitiaries of the Government had joined. Members of Parliament from Wangduephodrang (Sephu), Bumthang (Chumey), Bumthang Dzongkhag and Gasa Dzongkhag also attended the event.
The Programme concluded on the December 28, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
read somewhere
All action is for the sake of some end, and rules of action, it seems natural to suppose, must take their whole character and colour from the end to which they are subservient.
Friday, December 11, 2009
A new blog : www.NationalHappiness.blogpost.com
My attempt to understand the relationship between Social Justice and Happiness is one out of curiosity and concern primarily.
As a law-maker, I have begun to understand the profound influence of Statutes and other instruments though which a State is Governed. It has come to my understanding that as a citizen, happiness cannot be absolute and therefore, is dependent and relative. The non-absolute nature of Happiness then leads one to question if Happiness is about Adam Smith's invisible hand and his economic theory. Much can be understood if not almost everything )for someone like me )in referring to Smith's great works. Yet, today in Bhutan and in many other countries, ideas are developing about GDP is being replaced with some other index sensitive to human happiness.
In this great accumulating body of work, I am quite certain by now there is are huge number of work already studying different aspects of Happiness in particular and various other disciplines and cross-disciplines.
In my own understanding of GNH in Bhutan, the State tries endeavours to create a conducive environment for socio-economic development. The Executive, carrying out it's mandate(s) tries to set policies which would make possible that environment and execute plans and programmes to bring about socio-economic development and delivers public services and accessibility. The Legislature enacts Statutes which allow for the State to be Governed and the Judiciary exercises control over the Statues.
Imagine a community with lots of resources. Production, distribution and consumption would be a natural step. With Statutes, this community would be governed. The kind of implication a Statute can have on people may be easier to understand using this as a model. A free-enterprise economy also uses these Statutes and the others also uses Statutes. This is not different at all. What differs is then the philosophy with which the contents of these Statutes make all the difference. If Bhutan should decide to embrace GNH as a philosophy for socio-economic development. Then is it not logical perhaps then to have Judiciary operate in such a manner? After all justice is also a commodity that citizenry consumes and can play a vital role in creating happiness in a society. Should the Legislature not approach legislation and law-making with that philosophy? Would simply a philosophy suffice? Would bringing clear ways of law-making help in brining Happiness to where it all begins?
It is with these questions that I start this blog. I hope to be able to learn a great deal through this endeavour.
As a law-maker, I have begun to understand the profound influence of Statutes and other instruments though which a State is Governed. It has come to my understanding that as a citizen, happiness cannot be absolute and therefore, is dependent and relative. The non-absolute nature of Happiness then leads one to question if Happiness is about Adam Smith's invisible hand and his economic theory. Much can be understood if not almost everything )for someone like me )in referring to Smith's great works. Yet, today in Bhutan and in many other countries, ideas are developing about GDP is being replaced with some other index sensitive to human happiness.
In this great accumulating body of work, I am quite certain by now there is are huge number of work already studying different aspects of Happiness in particular and various other disciplines and cross-disciplines.
In my own understanding of GNH in Bhutan, the State tries endeavours to create a conducive environment for socio-economic development. The Executive, carrying out it's mandate(s) tries to set policies which would make possible that environment and execute plans and programmes to bring about socio-economic development and delivers public services and accessibility. The Legislature enacts Statutes which allow for the State to be Governed and the Judiciary exercises control over the Statues.
Imagine a community with lots of resources. Production, distribution and consumption would be a natural step. With Statutes, this community would be governed. The kind of implication a Statute can have on people may be easier to understand using this as a model. A free-enterprise economy also uses these Statutes and the others also uses Statutes. This is not different at all. What differs is then the philosophy with which the contents of these Statutes make all the difference. If Bhutan should decide to embrace GNH as a philosophy for socio-economic development. Then is it not logical perhaps then to have Judiciary operate in such a manner? After all justice is also a commodity that citizenry consumes and can play a vital role in creating happiness in a society. Should the Legislature not approach legislation and law-making with that philosophy? Would simply a philosophy suffice? Would bringing clear ways of law-making help in brining Happiness to where it all begins?
It is with these questions that I start this blog. I hope to be able to learn a great deal through this endeavour.
Parliament concludes it' s fourth session
His Majesty graced the concluding ceremony of the 4th session of the Parliament. Members from the affected districts expressed gratitude on behalf of the people to His Majesty. Appreciation was also expressed for the Government's efforts. Others included the International Communtiy, friends of Bhutan and the ordinary Bhutanese who came forward with what ever little help they could offer for the cause.
On this day of the conclusion of the 4th session I was thinking that we now only have 6 more sessions under normal circumstances and to think how much we could really do from now till then considering that we have been caught up several times in mannerisms and interpretations of business. However, I suppose this was expected as the first ones, to be able to spent time in making sure these be clearer. I am quite certain we will still engage more time in clarifying similar issues but vital to it is also to carry alongside legislations. Perhaps if one were to assess the performance of the legislature in terms of Laws and amendments or reviews, we have a long way to go but maybe, in clarifying procedural aspects, legislative business would become more effective and efficient in the times to come.
The National Council resolved during the 4th sesssion (an outcome of the Paro Declaration of the Council) to aim to achive atleast two review works each session by a committee; this would mean 10 topics for deliberation in the House in addition to possibly other issues that may require attention.
Here's to a benchmarked and systemic approach towards legislating; a first one for us.
On this day of the conclusion of the 4th session I was thinking that we now only have 6 more sessions under normal circumstances and to think how much we could really do from now till then considering that we have been caught up several times in mannerisms and interpretations of business. However, I suppose this was expected as the first ones, to be able to spent time in making sure these be clearer. I am quite certain we will still engage more time in clarifying similar issues but vital to it is also to carry alongside legislations. Perhaps if one were to assess the performance of the legislature in terms of Laws and amendments or reviews, we have a long way to go but maybe, in clarifying procedural aspects, legislative business would become more effective and efficient in the times to come.
The National Council resolved during the 4th sesssion (an outcome of the Paro Declaration of the Council) to aim to achive atleast two review works each session by a committee; this would mean 10 topics for deliberation in the House in addition to possibly other issues that may require attention.
Here's to a benchmarked and systemic approach towards legislating; a first one for us.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
On the concluding day of the 4th National Council session
The 4th National Council session concluded yesterday in the evening after passing the amendment bill (2009) Marriage Act of 1980.
The amendment bill originated in the National Council and sponsored by the Social and Cultural Affairs committee during the 3rd it's session and forwarded to the Natioal Assembly. Returning to the National Council for it's finaly deliberation (under normal circumstances), no acceptable reasons had been provided for non-acceptance of the amendment bill. It was also observed that we did not have a clear cut procedure on the withdrawal of bills in the Parliament in Bhutan. Keeping this in mind, the House decided, keeping in mind the importance of not committing a mistake by going out of conventional practise until the procedures were well defined to allowing the National Assembly work on it before re-presenting it to the National Council owing to doubts to the procedural requirements while returning from the National Assembly to the National Council. The joint committee of the 2 Houses managed to present a more comprehensive and detailed bill for re-deliberation in the National Council and thus, it was passed.
Three bills namely the Royal Monetary Authority Amendment Bill (2009), the Standards Bill (2009) and the Tobacco Control Bill (2009) remain to be deliberated in the Joint Sitting of the Parliament, for which necessary protocols have been set into motion.
Slated out for the next session for the National Council are the Penal Code of Bhutan, the Civil and Criminal Procedural Codes and the Anti-Corruption Act which have already been assigned to the Legislative Committee for the former two and the Good Governance Committee for the latter.
The amendment bill originated in the National Council and sponsored by the Social and Cultural Affairs committee during the 3rd it's session and forwarded to the Natioal Assembly. Returning to the National Council for it's finaly deliberation (under normal circumstances), no acceptable reasons had been provided for non-acceptance of the amendment bill. It was also observed that we did not have a clear cut procedure on the withdrawal of bills in the Parliament in Bhutan. Keeping this in mind, the House decided, keeping in mind the importance of not committing a mistake by going out of conventional practise until the procedures were well defined to allowing the National Assembly work on it before re-presenting it to the National Council owing to doubts to the procedural requirements while returning from the National Assembly to the National Council. The joint committee of the 2 Houses managed to present a more comprehensive and detailed bill for re-deliberation in the National Council and thus, it was passed.
Three bills namely the Royal Monetary Authority Amendment Bill (2009), the Standards Bill (2009) and the Tobacco Control Bill (2009) remain to be deliberated in the Joint Sitting of the Parliament, for which necessary protocols have been set into motion.
Slated out for the next session for the National Council are the Penal Code of Bhutan, the Civil and Criminal Procedural Codes and the Anti-Corruption Act which have already been assigned to the Legislative Committee for the former two and the Good Governance Committee for the latter.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Interesting article on demand for labour by 2010
While going through some old kuensel newspapers after the brief by the Hon. Labour Minister during the National Council Question Time it was interesting to note that a previous story by Phuntsho Namgay on June 23, 2009 in Kuensel actually lets one to believe that the demand for labour would actually drop by 80% by the year 2012 based on a survey by the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (first establishment census, 2008). The census had surveyed 7162 private sector establishments, government agencies, corporations, joint ventures and FDI companies, out of which only 4962 planned to expland their operations leaving 2200 (31%) without expansion plans.
This means not only does the government have to take that dip of 80% in the demand for labour by 2012 and correct it but also create an additional 75,000 jobs to be able to bring down the unemployment rate to 2.5% from the current rate of 4%. I do not want to think and conclude prematurely that the Ministry didnot refer back to it's report and if so, then the 75,000 jobs would be inclusive of the incremental 80% correction. Some interesting developments in a related manner are the BPOs. BPOs typically presents one with a picture of a massive hall with lots of computers and young people busy making calls or taking calls and other things but the visibly failing BPO unit (the first one to start in Bhutan) sends out a signal that something is gone wrong somewhere. This would not only hurt the increasing unemployment rate but needless to say that it would potential dissuade others from investing in such projects. The Job Fair organized by the Ministry in October this year pictures a somewhat concurring picture with only 287 jobs with about 9000 youth looking for employment avenues. This all points towards the 80% dip that demand for labour would take over the next few years.
On the other hand there is an apparent domestic market for babysitters and domestic helps and with illegal sweepers being removed from the market, there would definitely be a demand not fulfilled. Perhaps, making these occupations/professions more desirable would be a good strategy. At the moment, much hope seems to be pivoted around the McKinsey formula which appears to be very positive and not to forget an ambitious one at that.
I am not trying to make any point here, I was thinking this habit of writing down my thoughts would help with continuity with my thought process and as simply an exercise I do this.
This means not only does the government have to take that dip of 80% in the demand for labour by 2012 and correct it but also create an additional 75,000 jobs to be able to bring down the unemployment rate to 2.5% from the current rate of 4%. I do not want to think and conclude prematurely that the Ministry didnot refer back to it's report and if so, then the 75,000 jobs would be inclusive of the incremental 80% correction. Some interesting developments in a related manner are the BPOs. BPOs typically presents one with a picture of a massive hall with lots of computers and young people busy making calls or taking calls and other things but the visibly failing BPO unit (the first one to start in Bhutan) sends out a signal that something is gone wrong somewhere. This would not only hurt the increasing unemployment rate but needless to say that it would potential dissuade others from investing in such projects. The Job Fair organized by the Ministry in October this year pictures a somewhat concurring picture with only 287 jobs with about 9000 youth looking for employment avenues. This all points towards the 80% dip that demand for labour would take over the next few years.
On the other hand there is an apparent domestic market for babysitters and domestic helps and with illegal sweepers being removed from the market, there would definitely be a demand not fulfilled. Perhaps, making these occupations/professions more desirable would be a good strategy. At the moment, much hope seems to be pivoted around the McKinsey formula which appears to be very positive and not to forget an ambitious one at that.
I am not trying to make any point here, I was thinking this habit of writing down my thoughts would help with continuity with my thought process and as simply an exercise I do this.
Friday, December 4, 2009
One for Democracy
At around 0930 hrs today, the National Council began it's proceedings and admitted the Hon. Minister for Labour and Human Resources for Question Time. In his reply, he mentioned cognizance of the tremendous worry and hence, concern of the Government on the issue of unemployment. Outlining the Government's plans, he mentioned that the Government planned on reducing the unemployment rate of 4% to 2.5% by the end of the 10th FYP.
The Hon. Minister for Finance was later admitted for questions related to balance of payment and long term sustainability with emphasis on current standing on the donor dependence for capital works and also issue regarding more specifically liberazation of trading license and imposition of tax on small businesses.
Both the Ministers made references to policies and programmes to enhance and expedite economic development. They also made reference to work being done by the Mckinsey group in the country.
What perhaps one needs to understand is that today, an institutional system has been carved. The 4th session of the 1st Parliament has successfully been able to bring in a Good Governance mechanism in the form of Question time in it's Parliamentary workings. The significance of the institution of Question Time, far out weighs the content of the questions and replies to that, which will no doubt progressively mean much more in the future.
One for Democracy!
The Hon. Minister for Finance was later admitted for questions related to balance of payment and long term sustainability with emphasis on current standing on the donor dependence for capital works and also issue regarding more specifically liberazation of trading license and imposition of tax on small businesses.
Both the Ministers made references to policies and programmes to enhance and expedite economic development. They also made reference to work being done by the Mckinsey group in the country.
What perhaps one needs to understand is that today, an institutional system has been carved. The 4th session of the 1st Parliament has successfully been able to bring in a Good Governance mechanism in the form of Question time in it's Parliamentary workings. The significance of the institution of Question Time, far out weighs the content of the questions and replies to that, which will no doubt progressively mean much more in the future.
One for Democracy!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Council Question's to be answered in PERSON
A letter confirming the participation of the Government (Cabinet ministers) in the Question time of the National Council has arrived today from the Office of the Hon. Prime Minister. The 4th session of the 1st Parliament of Bhutan will be receiving the Government formally for Question time for the first time tomorrow.
It took several informal meetings and consultations before arriving at this juncture and this is a great step towards institution builing and institutionalizing and instituting good governance systems which is at the heart of Democracy.
An agreed draft guideline have been the final basis and in the months to come, a finalization on the guideline is expected to be worked upon.
It took several informal meetings and consultations before arriving at this juncture and this is a great step towards institution builing and institutionalizing and instituting good governance systems which is at the heart of Democracy.
An agreed draft guideline have been the final basis and in the months to come, a finalization on the guideline is expected to be worked upon.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
An earnest prayer with the students of Laya and beyond
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My recent visit to Laya lent me a very peaceful moment with the students during the morning assembly. For these students, to continue after primary schooling means coming down to Bjizhong High, Damji - lower gasa. This according to the parents meant being cut off from the family for the winter season as travelling to Laya or beyond is rendered difficult if not impossible. Another problem was also to do with climatic conditions; they say the younger children find it difficult to adapt to the warmer conditions. Change in the status of the school at Goen-Khatoe back to primary level has made the process diificult as the earlier status of a middle secondary school allowed for a gradual adaptation before proceeding beyond. This holds true even for children from Lunana. The Government's policy on pre-requisite numbers seem very logical but given Gasa's expansive area and the unquie nature of it, the People are looking forward to some concession.
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