SATURDAY

KUENSEL T H AT T H E P E O P L E S H A L L B E I N F O R M E D

J U N E 1 1 "
( & ' ,
š
D k
' &

BRIEFLY
State visit ends
>> His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf
and Her Majesty Queen Silvia
leave the country today after their
first state visit to Bhutan. They
were in the country for three days.

What
What’s
Inside
Pg.8: Gomphu-Panbang
highway to be completed by
next year

Pg .10: PERSPECTIVE: What

is Gross National Happiness,
really?

Pg.17: Local entrepreneurs

recognised Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Indian ambassador Jaideep Sarkar walk across one of the
first Bhutanese-built bridges at Hejo (Story on Pg. 5)
Pg.19: Book review: 15 Gun
Salute: British reports on
Bhutan from 1905-1945

Law needed on owning

K 2
Flower exhibition:
A perfect weekend assets abroad: NC
getaway Tempa Wangdi chances of funding illegal activities, in light of its economic affairs com-
the house approved the motion for mittee submitting a report with suf-
The National Council (NC) yester- enacting a law to govern Bhutanese ficient anecdotal evidence of Bhuta-

FOCUS
FOCU
day approved the motion for framing owning undisclosed income and as- nese business entities and citizens

Point a law to govern Bhutanese owning

undisclosed income and assets out-
side the country.
“To prevent tax evasion and
NC
sets abroad,” NC deputy chairper-
son, Tshering Dorji said.
“The council will ask the Na-
tional Assembly to present the bill
in the next session,” he said.
The house approved the motion
having accounts and assets abroad.
This is in contravention to Pos-
session of Assets and Properties out-
side Bhutan by Bhutanese Citizens
1993, regulation.
Pg.2

ACC forwards illegal land regularisation case to OAG

Rinzin Wangchuk
Three people, including a lam, and a
former employee and a legal assistant
of Thimphu City Corporation (TCC),
are alleged to have been involved in
bribery and illegal regularisation of
46.88 decimals of government land.
CORRUPTION
The Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC) forwarded the investigation re-
port along with relevant documents
to the Office of the Attorney General
(OAG) for prosecution on May 26.
The ACC investigation estab-
lished a prima-facie case of bribery,
forgery, tampering of public records
and official misconduct on the illegal
regularisation of government land at
Tshalumaphey in Semtokha involving
Chagzam Rinpoche, TCC’s former as-
sistant survey officer Pema Dorji, and
legal assistant Kuenzang.
The investigation found that
sometime in 2005, Chagzam Rinpoche
had purchased 63.12 decimals of land
from Pema at Tshalumaphey, Chang
gewog.
Pg.2
HOME
PAGE 2 KUENSEL | Saturday, June 11, 2016
Law needed on owning assets abroad: NC
From Pg.1
“The existing regulations
are flouted and not being fol-
lowed,” NC’s economic affairs
committee chairperson Sonam
Dorji said. He cautioned that
inaction could compromise the
security of the economy with
a few controlling the nation’s
wealth.
Sonam Dorji also pointed
out that there is blatant disre-
gard of the existing regulation
since neither the Ministry of Fi-
nance nor the Royal Monetary
Authority (RMA) have received
any applications to own assets
and accounts abroad. “The au-
thorities have also neither in-
vestigated nor taken initiatives
to implement the regulations,”
Sonam Dorji said.
As per section 1 and 2 of
the regulation, except for stu-
dents, diplomats and trainees,
Bhutanese citizens should seek
permission of the RMA and
finance ministry to open ac-
counts abroad. The regulation
also mandates Bhutanese indi-
ACC forwards illegal land regularisation case to OAG
From Pg.1
The purchase occurred
during the period when thram
records for the municipal area
was being handled by the
TCC, after being handed over
by the Department of Survey
and Land Records (DSLR).
The ACC investigation
revealed that Pema Dorji had
fraudulently surveyed the
plot as 110 decimals and in
exchange allegedly collected
three payments amount-
ing to Nu 2.05 million from
Chagzam Rinpoche between
May and June 2006. However,
the money was never depos-
ited into the government’s
account.
The investigation also
found that TCC’s legal assist-
ant Kuenzang had knowingly
assisted the parties in fraudu-
lently processing the owner-
ship certificate based on a
false and manipulated record.
The irregularity was later
discovered by the National
Land Commission (NLC)
in 2009 when Chagzam
Rinpoche approached the
commission for a proper Lag-
viduals and companies to seek
the finance ministry’s approval
to own immovable properties
and open businesses abroad.
Even to invest in foreign
securities permission must be
sought from RMA. The Foreign
Exchange Rules and Regula-
tions also bars maintaining
a bank account outside the
country with exception to dip-
lomatic and consular missions,
authorised banks, Bhutanese
stationed outside the coun-
try for studies, training, those
employed abroad, and govern-
ment approved corporations
and trust funds.
The report submitted by
the committee also reiterated
that the need to address this
issue has become critical since
growth in illicit funds is consid-
ered a major challenge globally.
The need to address this
issue stems from a number
of reasons like prevalence of
large-scale non-repatriation
of export earnings in 2006 and
2007, fronting in the border
thram. By then, the authority
to issue such title documents
was reverted to NLC. It was
only when NLC rejected the
excess land registration that
Chagzam Rinpoche brought
up the issue of payments made
to Pema Dorji.
The commission has con-
cluded that this was a collu-
sive bribery deal, which came
to light when the authority to
issue lagthram and the admin-
istrative control over thram
records of municipal jurisdic-
tion switched between TCC
and NLC.
Chagzam Rinpoche sub-
mitted an application request-
ing the thrompon to regular-
ise the excess land of 46.88
decimals under his thram on
March 7, 2006. However, TCC
rejected his request justifying
that the excess land had al-
ready been finalised by DSLR
prior to handing over of land
records and that TCC did not
have authority to regularise
the excess land as per the
standing regulation in force.
Chagzam Rinpoche re-
portedly told the ACC inves-
towns and Rupee shortage.
Illicit transfer of funds from
Bhutan to other countries and
audit reports of ingrained cor-
porate corruption in the min-
ing sector are some of the other
compelling reasons to push for
a motion to frame a proper Act
to address these issues imme-
diately.
“There is high potential for
the problem to assume more
complex dimensions if not ad-
dressed on time,” the report
stated.
As per the committee, for
a small economy with limited
export earnings, even a small
amount of unrecorded export
earnings could have a major
impact on macroeconomic
management. During the eco-
nomic crisis in 2012, it was also
surmised that the Bhutanese
exporters were not repatriat-
ing the earnings back to the
country.
“This leads to the belief
that they may be stashing such
funds in accounts abroad,” the
tigators that he requested for
the regularisation of the excess
land subsequent to Pema Dor-
ji’s information on the excess
land under his thram, and ad-
vised him to apply for the same
during his visit to TCC for plot
mapping.
The commission recom-
mended probable charges of
bribery, forgery and official
misconduct against Pema
Dorji for receiving Nu 2.05
million as a gratification for il-
legally regularising 46.88 deci-
mals of excess land, and fabri-
cating the thram to show 110
decimals. He is also charged
for forging the signature of the
former survey general Ugyen
Takchu.
He is also implicated for
official misconduct. Between
2005 and 2006, with an intent
to illegally regularise 48.66
decimals of excess land in
favour of Chagzam Rinpoche
in consideration for financial
gains, the accused, without
any authority, had surveyed
and demarcated the plot as 110
decimals and subdivided the
plot into two different plots:
report stated.
The reports also pointed
out that though there is no evi-
dence, a joint report by RMA,
finance ministry and economic
affairs ministry found that in
2006, 10 industries did not
repatriate Nu 2.1 billion (B) of
the total exports of Nu 4.98B
excluding hydropower.
In 2007, Nu 1.68B was also
not repatriated amounting to 5
percent of the Gross Domestic
Product that year.
“Therefore, it is critical that
legal measures are in place to
ensure that export proceeds
are repatriated back to Bhutan
and not invested in accounts
outside the country,” the com-
mittee’s report stated.
The report also expressed
doubt about exports earn-
ings being stashed in foreign
accounts through transfer
mis-pricing. The fundamental
principle of transfer pricing is
to keep the price similar to the
price that would be charged if
the product were sold outside.
one measuring 59.8 decimals
and the other 49.9 decimals.
He also surveyed and demar-
cated land for the construction
of a 525m long motor road to
the plot of Chagzam Rinpoche.
Chagzam Rinpoche is
charged for bribery with in-
tent to illegally regularise
46.88 decimals of land under
his thram after his application
was rejected by the TCC.
Kuenzang is accused of
tampering with public records
and to have fraudulently up-
dated the forged thram re-
cording 110 decimals despite
knowing that the approved
note-sheet was for only 63.12
decimals. She is also im-
plicated for defrauding the
thrompon into signing the
ownership certificate for 110
decimals by deliberately mis-
representing that the forged
thram was the one originally
sent by DSLR.
Speaking to Kuensel, Kuen-
zang said that she was wrongly
dragged into the case as she
was the one to discover the dis-
crepancy of figure in the thram.
She admitted to having issued
“However, in the real world
of business the principle is
often ignored by using transfer
mis-pricing to evade tax, mini-
mising dividend payouts to
maximise profits for the parent
company by deliberately hid-
ing, disguising or accumulat-
ing money in another account
often in a foreign jurisdiction,”
it is stated in the report.
“This windfall gain re-
ceived by the private entity
has not benefitted legitimate
Bhutanese shareholders and
also escaped the jurisdiction of
Bhutanese tax authorities.”
The committee also raised
concerns about international
records showing huge outflows
of funds from the country. For
instance, outflow of funds stood
at USD 101 million (M) in 2007,
USD 44M in 2011 and in 2012,
USD 168M.
“The illicit outflows are
probably saved in accounts
abroad,” the report stated.
the ownership certificate for
the 1.10 acre land, based on
the thram record. However,
she claimed that later she dis-
covered the original thram of
63.12 decimals had been re-
placed by 1.10 acres of land.
“Then I immediately informed
my supervisors to take action,”
she said.
ACC officials said that the
evidence obtained during the
investigation is sufficient to
support the proposed charges
against those involved and
there is a public interest di-
mension to this case since it
involves state land and is likely
to create public deterrence for
those considering engaging in
such activities, if prosecuted.
The ACC investigation
began in 2013 based on the
Royal Audit Authority’s report,
which indicated suspected el-
ements of corruption in the
TCC pertaining to the illegal
registration of excess land.
Subsequently, the commission
also received similar referrals
from NLC and TCC requesting
investigation.
 Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL
HOME PAGE 3

NC

Education minister admits

much work remains
… to improve the education sector

Thinley Zangmo and needs. “The ministry has are in need of major renova-
These are grave concerns for the ministry. formed a review committee to tion. These schools are more
The National Council (NC) We are looking at the central school as one of address this issue and look into than 20 years old with a lack of
concluded yesterday's after- the solutions where a student is given enough the teachers' workloads.” proper equipment in place. In
noon question hour session attention and proper nutrition. We are planning Tsirang’s NC member, 38 schools, a teacher manages
with a promise to further de- to achieve 60 new central schools in the 11th Plan Kamal Bahadur Gurung raised everything. If the teacher falls
liberate issues raised by the and another 60 in the 12th Plan the final question on contract sick, students will suffer and
council’s members on educa- teachers. There are 590 teach- the school might shut down,”
tion. “Two female teachers from leave. ers with a contract period of Lyonpo said. “About 199
Three questions were Sinchula primary school came Trongsa NC member, two years. schools are following multi-
asked of the education minis- to teach after taking three Tharchen, pointed out that Kamal Bahadur Gurung grade teachings, which results
ter, Norbu Wangchuk, during months of maternity leave it is because the education questioned how the ministry in some students not even
the hour-long session. despite six months maternity ministry has not been replac- would ensure that these con- knowing the basic alphabets
Gasa’s NC member, San- leave in place.” ing teachers that some have tract teachers deliver the best while there are 25 schools run
gay Khandu, questioned the Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk had to return to work without education to the students and by non-teaching staff.”
prolonged absence from work said the two teacher’s acts are availing the full duration of the whether there were any plans In 398 schools, teachers
of teachers due to maternity commendable and it’s occur- maternity leave. to renew their contracts or re- are teaching other subjects
leave. ring because of a shortage of Samtse NC member, cruit them as regular teachers. apart from their main subject.
Gasa dzongkhag has 160 teachers despite having the Sangay Khandu, questioned Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk So far, 186 teachers are on
employees out of which 33 are six-months maternity leave the acute shortage of non- said one way to address the extraordinary leave and left
females. At the national level, duration in place. teaching staff in rural schools, shortage of teachers is recruit- in mid-academic sessions af-
out of 8,605 teachers, 3,505 are “Shortage of teachers is and pointed out that teachers ing contract teachers. fecting the school's sessions.
females comprising about 40 one of the biggest challenges are taking up other responsi- “I know many teachers Around 100,000 students
percent of the teachers. faced by the ministry today. bilities, which is taking a toll who have been teaching under are walking one hour to and
Sangay Khandu ques- Many teachers are either on on their teaching duties. this scheme for a long time and from school. More than 50 per-
tioned what strategies the study, extra-ordinary or ma- The NC would like to ask who are working hard. With a cent of students are abusing
government had put in place ternity leave, and some are the government the reason focus on teacher development drugs in urban schools where
to address prolonged and tem- retiring mid-session,” he said. for not appointing such non- this year, we are going to train most of them are living as de-
porary empty staff positions, “If a teacher is on study or teaching staff and its plans the contract teachers to further pendents. About 33 percent
particularly of teachers, which extra-ordinary leave for two to address the issue, Sangay improve their teaching skills,” of students are suffering from
affects education services. years, we provide the school Khandu said. Lyonpo said. “We are also dis- stunting due to lack of proper
“A number of staff posi- with another teacher. We are Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk cussing the possibility of ex- diet, Lyonpo added.
tions have remained vacant for working with the Royal Civil replied that non-teaching tending their contract periods “These are grave concerns
a considerable amount of time Service Commission (RCSC) to staff like lab assistants, IT as- with the RCSC.” for the ministry. We are looking
as staff go for further studies, replace teachers on maternity sistants, administration assist- There are still many issues at the central school as one of
postings and leave, as allowed leave.” ants, librarians and account- to tackle besides the issues the solutions where a student
by applicable rules and regu- Around 80 female teach- ants, are appointed according raised, Lyonpo said. is given enough attention and
lations,” Sangay Khandu said. ers are currently on maternity to the school’s requirements “Out of 308 schools, 204 proper nutrition. We are plan-
ning to achieve 60 new central
schools in the 11th Plan and
another 60 in the 12th Plan,”
RTC Training and Professional Services Lyonpo said.
There are a total of 51 cen-
RCSC BCSE 2016 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION COACHING CLASSES tral schools in the country so
far, 24 were established last
RTC Training and Professional Services will be offering preparatory courses for the Preliminary
year and 27 this year.
Examination.The course will cover key skills needed for all four parts of the examination:
Gasa NC member, San-
Dzongkha, English, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation. The classes will be held at the
gay Khandu, said there was
Faculty of Traditional Medicine campus, Kawajangsa in Thimphu in the evenings from
a reduction of recruitment of
5pm-8pm. The following courses are offered:
teachers after the RCSC exami-
r
1SPCMFN
4PMWJOH
BOE
%BUB
*OUFSQSFUBUJPO


+VMZ


+VMZ



EBZT
nation on the one hand and a
r
%[POHLIB
-BOHVBHF


+VMZ


+VMZ



EBZT
shortage of 1,500 teachers on
r
&OHMJTI
-BOHVBHF


+VMZ

+VMZ



EBZT
the other. The issue is a contra-
Graduates can take either the Dzongkha course, or English + PS&DI, or all courses as a package diction in itself, he pointed out.
at a reduced rate. The House decided to fur-
For registration, fees and other details, call the Coordinator at 351801 Ext:145 /77672933 or email ther deliberate on these issues
bdo@rtc.bt/ visit www.rtc.bt for full details. after a unanimous decision by
the members.
PERSPECTIVES
PAGE 4 KUENSEL | Saturday, June 11, 2016

MY COUNTRY, MY TOWN
Illegal immigration,
a national concern

T
he National Council’s (NC) con-
cern on the rising number of il-
legal immigrants based on the
Legislative Committee’s report
must receive attention and pri-
ority of the relevant authorities. It will have
huge repercussions on the country’s sover-
eignty and security if left unattended.
It is reported that an estimated 20,000 day-
workers such as maids and babysitters are
working in the border towns everyday without
work permits. The report also estimates that
DANTAK employs 3,000 illegal immigrants
while IMTRAT is estimated to hold 2,000 work-
ers without work permits.
However, these figures are only estimates
and it is believed that the total figure could
be higher.
The preamble of the Immigration Act states:
“To ensure that the Kingdom remains free
from illegal immigrants and to retain control
on the immigration of foreigners for the secu- Bovine warning: A can works as well as a bell on a cow Photo by Nima Wangdi,
Kuensel, Bumthang
rity and prosperity of the nation…”. This clearly
resonates with the legislative intention. And
adequate provisions were incorporated in the
Act.
And yet, nine years after the implementa- MY SAY
tion of the Act, which was enacted to address
this very issue, we see this grievous problem

The stray dog menace

on the rise. It’s time to do some serious inner
soul searching on why we are failing. The an-
swer may yet again be weak implementation,
which over the years has been pointed out by
Sir, foreigner who had been 32 dogs near the Mandala
observers.
People can’t walk around going for a walk was bit- meat shop. Soon there’ll
It has become urgent to implement the rule Thimphu city alone these ten. When she showed me be more than that as I
of law without exceptions in the country. And days because of so many her wounds, I didn’t have could also see puppies. I
this applies even more so when it concerns strays dogs. I’m talking any words to say. I just put don’t hate dogs but chil-
immigration. most about the following some anti-septic on her dren, tourists, and elder
During the opening ceremony of the 7th areas: Norzin Lam, Near wounds and told her to go citizens are particularly at
session of the first Parliament on May 20, 2011, Mandala meat shop and the to the hospital. risk. They could and are
His Majesty The King said: “Today, as I have Clock Tower area. There used to be dog being bitten. I would like
said before, our immediate and foremost duty If one dog barks than pound before but now I to request the Thimphu
is the success of democracy. That is our foun- all of them come barking don’t think it exists. The thromde to remove these
dation for the future success of Bhutan. But and even bite. I stay nearby dogs don’t let people sleep stray dogs.
democracy can only flourish if all Bhutanese and can see everyday that at night. And we have a
one or two people are get- hard time chasing them S Tamang
uphold the rule of law...”.
ting bitten. I can see in the away. Now it has become a Thimphu
As a small nation, we must get our priorities morning students going regular affair. I was threat-
right and addressing the illegal immigration to school and because of ened thrice while walking
issue is priority number one. An increase in the dogs they are scared to around the city.
the population as a result of illegal immigra- walk on the footpath. The last time I did a
tion puts more pressure on our public services In a recent incident, a count and found there were
and can also increase the rate of unemploy-
ment, among others.
We must address this issue now before it is
too late. Send your letters and pictures to
editor@kuensel.com.bt
Letters will be edited for space and clarity
MANAGING DIRECTOR - Bachu Phub Dorji, EDITOR IN-CHARGE - Gyalsten K Dorji,
PRINTING GM - Karma Nima, CIRCULATION MANAGER - Ugyen Norbu, KANGLUNG REGIONAL MANAGER - Ugyen Wangdi

State visit
Sweden’s King gifts water pump to villagers
Tshering Palden
His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf
and Her Majesty Queen Silvia
gifted a water pump for irri-
gation to Bjara village under
Toewang gewog in Punakha.
Bjara, Khawakha, and
Tsephu villages have been ex-
periencing acute shortage of
water for irrigation. The farm-
ers cultivate paddy in more
than 168 acres.
The villages lie along the
Phochhu, and is around a
10km drive from Punakha
town.
The water pump is ex-
pected to directly benefit eight
households in Bjara village
and would benefit about 50
households indirectly.
Handing over the pump to
the gup, His Majesty Carl XVI
Gustaf said, “You should call
me if it doesn’t work.”
The water shortage has
worsened in recent years,
farmer Shenga said.
“When we were young, we
had adequate water for paddy
cultivation. But now water
scarcity gives us nightmares
every year, especially dur-
ing paddy transplantation,”
Infrastructure
First Bhutanese-built bridge inaugurated
Dechen Tshomo
Prime Minister Tshering To-
bgay inaugurated the Hejo
zam and Dechencholing zam
in Thimphu yesterday. The
government of India funded
the construction of both the
bridges.
The Construction De-
velopment Corporation Ltd
(CDCL) designed and con-
structed the two bridges in
February last year.
Lyonchoen said that all
Bhutanese should be proud
that the bridges were com-
pleted in time and within the
approved budget. Bhutanese
should be more proud since
both the bridges were de-
signed and constructed by
Bhutanese workers using lo-
cally produced construction
Their Majesties
were on a three-
day first state visit
to the country at
the invitation of
His Majesty The
King. Bhutan and
Sweden established
diplomatic relations
in 1985. Their
Majesties visited
Bhutan in 1993
43-year-old Kado from Tsephu
said.
The farmers have to wait
for 15 days for their turn to ir-
rigate their fields as three vil-
lages share one water source.
“If some of them can de-
pend on the pump for continu-
ous water supply, then the rest
of us need not wait for long,”
Kado said.
The pump has to be tied to
a pole anchored in the river.
The river current pushes water
through the pump towards the
fields.
Their Majesties visited
Sangchen Dorji Lhendrup
nunnery in Wolokha yesterday
and later lighted butter lamps
materials.
More than 60 Bhutanese
workers including Vocational
Training Institute (VTI) and
Apprenticeship Training Pro-
gramme (ATP) graduates con-
structed the bridges.
A soft-spoken VTI gradu-
ate from Trashigang, Tashi
Zangmo, 21, said that if Bhu-
tanese youth are willing to do
something, there is nothing
that they cannot do. She said
some question her choice and
look down on her for working
at a construction site but there
are also many who praise her
for being willing to work as
a construction worker, she
added.
“It’s an opportunity for me
to get to construct the bridge
and I enjoy my work,” Tashi
Zangmo said. “I will continue
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Their Majesties with the villagers of Bjara yesterday
at the kuenrey of Punakha
Dzong.
The Swedish National
Committee for UNICEF con-
tributed USD 2.1 million
for improving the quality of
education in Bhutan and for
establishing early childhood
care and development centres.
Their Majesties were on
to work at the construction
site.”
Thimphu Thrompon
Kinlay Dorjee said that the
thromde had awarded the
work to construct a perma-
nent double lane arch bridge
between Pamtsho and lower
Taba to CDCL because the
corporation had done a good
job in constructing the two
bridges and also for making
Bhutanese youth workers ca-
pable by providing them with
training in various construc-
tion skills besides employing
them.
The approved budget for
the Hejo zam was Nu 49 mil-
lion (M) while the bridge was
completed in February this
year at a cost of Nu 48.86M.
Meanwhile, Nu 38.6M was
approved for a road rigid pave-
HOME
a three-day state visit to the
country at the invitation of His
Majesty The King. Bhutan and
Sweden established diplomatic
relations in 1985. Their Majes-
ties visited Bhutan in 1993.
Their Majesties were ac-
companied by Sweden’s
minister for social security,
Annika Strandhall, Sweden’s
ment, resurfacing and replace-
ment of the bailey bridge near
the Wood Craft Centre.
The construction of the
Dechencholing zam was
completed in May this year at
a cost of Nu 45.58M while the
approved budget was Nu 46M.
The span of the steel plate
girder bridge in Hejo and pre-
stressed concrete bridge in
Dechencholing are 40 and 30
metres respectively.
Lyonchoen explained
that the completion of the
two bridges is indicative that
Bhutanese know how to build
bridges. Therefore, it is impor-
tant that such works by Bhu-
tanese continue and expand.
Lyonchoen urged con-
tractors to employ Bhuta-
nese youths for construction
works like building of bridges
| KUENSEL PAGE 5
ambassador to Bhutan, Harald
Sandberg, senior Swedish gov-
ernment officials, a business
delegation and media.
The visit is expected to
further strengthen the long-
standing relationship between
Bhutan and Sweden.
Their Majesties will leave
Bhutan today.
and houses. Lyonchoen also
promised that the government
would contract work to com-
panies employing Bhutanese
youth.
The Tsugla Lopen of the
Zhung Dratshang, Samten
Dorji; India’s ambassador to
Bhutan, Jaideep Sarkar; works
and human settlement min-
ister Dorji Choden, members
of parliament; officials from
various organisations and
Hejo and Dechencholing resi-
dents attended the inaugural
ceremony.
Following the inaugu-
ration, Lyonchoen and the
guests planted around 216 tree
saplings near the bridges.
Lyonchoen also awarded
certificates of appreciation to
those involved in the construc-
tion of the bridges.
ADVERTISEMENT
PAGE 6 Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL

For hire: Kobelco
excavator SK115 &
wheel excavator within
Thimphu. Contact
17690384.
Sale: Grand Vitara
one hand driven in
good condition. Serious
buyers may contact
17665407.
Required for hire:
DCM. Contact
17496610.
Sale: Honda Civic ‘10.
37,000km. Contact
77360209.
Sale: Alto ‘10
(negotiable). Contact
17840353.
Sale: Hiace bus
‘02. Contact
17645560/77251507.
Sale: Prado full option
‘98. Contact 77671663.
Sale: Gift shop at
Motithang. Contact
17584003.
Sale: Shop at Norzin
Lam, Thimphu.
Contact 17991399.
Sale: Grocery shop
at Pamtsho. Contact
77298024.
Rent: Shop
CLASSIFIEDS
office building, walled Sale: 4.65 acres
compound behind wetland at Ghumauney,
Norgay near crocodile Samtse accessible by
farm. Interested parties farm road. Serious
can either take entire buyers may contact at
premises or just office 02-339591/17604627.
or godown. Contact
17541625/16905445.
Sale: Salon at Sunday Vacancy: 1 chemist &
market immediately. 1 assistant chemist for
Contact 17603445. Water Bottling Factory
in Punakha. Drop off
Sale: Shop cum
residence at Babesa. application at Hotel
Contact 17756508. Riverview Reception,
Thimphu or call
Sale: Bar cum
17117299.
restaurant at main
town, Thimphu and Vacancy: Chef/helper
snooker hall. Contact at Relish. Contact
77320767. 17600866.
Sale: Two storeyed Vacancy: Experienced
building and a flat for F&B supervisor for
rent above Semtokha Thimphu tourist
Dzong. Contact restaurant. Must have
17603112. a minimum of 3-4
years experience in a
Rent: Bungalow near
supervisory position,
memorial chorten with
excellent spoken
big compound garden
& written english.
and parking. Contact
Only serious qualified
17956592.
applicants need apply.
Contact 17117801.
Vacancy: Experienced
Sale: 1.19 acre dryland
waitress/waiter for
in Tamshing, Bumthang
Thimphu tourist
below Kencho Sum
Lhakhang, Nu. 55,000 restaurant. Spoken &
written english essential.
per decimal. Property is
Contact 17117801.
plain flat land with black
topped road access. Vacancy: Office
Vacancy: JCB backhoe 328262/328272.
operator & store Vacancy: One Sales
incharge for immediate Executive for Bhutan
recruitment. Contact Hyundai Motors,
17180389/ 05-253785. Thimphu. Apply at
Vacancy: Caretaker BHM, Thimphu or call
(free housing will be 77770000/17412098.
provided). Contact Vacancy: The Zone
17665407. Executive Suites is
Vacancy: One looking for honest,
electrician VTI pass out hard working, healthy
in Thimphu. Contact staff in house keeping,
333377. F&B and front desk
Department. Only
Vacancy: For an
serious individual
experienced yathra
should apply. Contact
weaver. Contact 02-
338683/17470960. 17111444/77111444.
Vacancy: Sales
Vacancy: Sales boy/
executive and helper
girl for bakery. Contact
77447000/17638050. (male) for loading and
unloading. Contact
Vacancy: Cook for
17839961.
Tushita Cafe at Rukhubji.
Contact 17608153.
Vacancy: Immediately
Announcement:
wanted 1 sweeper.
Khey Rig Institute
Contact 17910340.
of Accounts and
Vacancy: 10 wheeler Management will be
driver-1. Contact providing evening
17617077. tuition classes for school
Vacancy: Helper for a going children from 5:30
mobile sawmil. Contact pm to 7:30 pm. Contact
17496610. 17305389 for further
Vacancy: Immediately details. Also available
required a cook or a short term courses on
dishwasher for a popular Tally and accounting.
restaurant at Hejo,
Thimphu. Salary will be NU. PER UNITS OF FOREIGN CURRENCY

space available at Contact 17113661. assistant for Bhutan based on commitment. as of yesterday

Changzamtok near Yodsel Tours and Contact 17422712. NOTES

Sale: 30 decimal land
Police Community. Treks at Yarkay Plaza Buy Sell
in Gelephu Thromde. Vacancy: 1
Contact 17643352. opposite old taxi parking. US $ 65.70 67.85
Price Nu. one lakh ten receptionist (male),
Contact 323912/email: POUND 95.00 97.65
Rent: Fully furnished per decimal. Contact qualification: class XII.
yodseltours@hotmail. EURO 74.60 76.65
apartment available 17672720. Serious candidates may
com. YEN (100) 61.70 63.45
at Upper Motithang, Sale: Eighteen submit their documents
rent thirty thousand. Required: Office to Khamsum Inn, HK $ 8.45 8.70
decimal (after pooling)
Contact 17783006. caretaker with free Thimphu latest by June AUS $ 48.85 50.15
with loan, in Depsi
accommodation at 18, 2016. For more SING $ 48.55 49.95
Rent: Large godown & Babesa. Contact
Babesa. Contact details please contact: Courtesy BNB
with single storeyed 17829635.
17643352/321749.

ANNOUNCEMENT INVITATION FOR BIDS

KUENSEL Corporation Ltd.
This is to inform all our valued readers that in view of
high operations cost and inflation, the cover price of
English edition of Kuensel will be increased to Nu. 15
per copy w.e.f July 1, 2016.
The Management
TO ADVERTISE IN KUENSEL:
Call 326191, Fax 326638; or email us at
advertisement@kuensel.com.bt;
kuenseladvertisement@gmail.com
DUNGKHAG ADMINISTRATION WAMRONG
Engineering Sector
WD/ENG-01/2015-2016/2567
The Dungkhag Administration, Wamrong hereby invites sealed item rate bids from
eligible bidders registered with CDB for execution of:
1. Maintenance of mule trek at Danglingtsho under Khaling Gewog.
For details please visit our Dzongkhag wesbite: www.trashigang.gov.bt or contact
Dungkhag Administration, Wamrong during office hours.
Chairman
 Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL

isdom wise
BHUTAN
YEARS
AGO
Thun zam-” Bridge of
He that is giddy thinks
the world turns round.
friendship” opend
Ashi Sonam Choden Wangchuck
inaugurated the Thun Zam or
the Bridge of Friendship, which
William Shakespeare
A WORD a day spans across the confluence of the
Wangchu and the Pachu (Thimphu
Premeditated. and Paro river) as a symbol of Indo-
v. Think out or plan (an action, esp. a crime) Bhutan friendship. One of the main
beforehand. bridges in the country, the Thun
Premeditated murder. Zam connects Paro and Haa valleys
with Thimphu and Phuntsholing.

REBUS
Bridge over troubled

Tech Tricks
A Late Walk Photoshop CS3
ANSWER:

Slice Tool
water

WHEN I go up through the

mowing field, Used to cut images into slices,
The headless aftermath, which can be exported to a web
page.
Health
Smooth-laid like thatch with the
heavy dew,
Half closes the garden path. Healing Brush
Capsule And when I come to the garden
ground,
Corrects small blemishes in
scanned photos.
The whir of sober birds Select the tool, hold down the
Up from the tangle of withered ALT key and left-click on the base
weeds color you need to heal. Then left-
Is sadder than any words. click over the blemish.
A tree beside the wall stands
bare,
But a leaf that lingered brown,
Disturbed, I doubt not, by my
Medical
Terminologies
thought,
Comes softly rattling down.
I end not far from my going forth
By picking the faded blue
Of the last remaining aster Gauze
flower
To carry again to you. Gay

Robert Frost Gelosis

Genal
If you would like to contribute
poems please email them to
p e m a d ku e n s e l @ g m a i l .co m .
Gender
Contributions focusing on
local issues and culture will
To be continued...
be preferred. Contributions
will be edited if required.
ecotip:
Wizard
Recycle aluminum and glass

T
wenty recycled aluminium cans can
be made with the energy it takes to
manufacture one brand new one.
Every ton of glass recycled saves the
equivalent of nine gallons of fuel oil
needed to make glass from virgin materials.
DZONGKHAG
PAGE 8 KUENSEL | Saturday, June 11, 2016
Roads
Gomphu-Panbang highway to
be completed by next year
Nima Wangdi | Panbang
The Gomphu-Panbang high-
way is expected to be com-
pleted by early next year with
work on an 8km stretch from
Gramlang to Chengazam in
full swing.
Chengazam is 9.2km from
Panbang.
  The work was awarded
to the contractor on January
2 this year and it is expected
to be complete by January
next year.
 Light vehicles could not
ply this stretch especially
when it rained. Trucks car-
rying cement for the Mang-
dechhu hydroelectric project
authority have created deep
tyre tracks on this stretch.
Resource
Dispute over water source
Dawa Gyelmo | Wangdue
Bjop, a resident of Tsangzam
in Thedtsho has accused the
gewog’s gup of depriving him
of drinking water from a stream
below Rinchengang village.
Bjop, said it was sometime
in 2002 that he bought the
water source from a villager of
Rinchengang and that he had
been using it until 2012.
However, that same source
had already been sold to two
other residents of Tsangzam in
2000. Both residents had also
been using the source until
2012.
Following a dispute be-
tween Bjop and the other two
residents in 2012, they ap-
proached the gewog seeking
intervention.
However, after an investi-
gation, the gup decided that
Bjop would not be allowed to
use the source.
Bjop claimed that since
then, the other two owners
have completely cut off his
water connection citing the
present gup’s decision.
  Department of Roads
junior engineer Kelzang
Chophel, working on the
Bjoka section under the
Panbang sub-division said
the work progress as of now
is impressive. The contrac-
tor has laid hume pipes along
with other ongoing works.
“But we are worried about
the monsoon,” he said.
  Kelzang Chophel said
they are also constructing a
steel arch bridge at the site
of the twin waterfalls. This is
because the road gets sub-
merged during monsoons.
“We have already construct-
ed walls, and erecting the
steel arch will be done by this
June,” he said.
  Kelzang said the stretch
Bjop purchased the water source in 2002
Bjop then approached the
dzongkhag and another inves-
tigation followed. The dzong-
khag decided that all three
should be provided through a
rural water supply from Nahi.
Bjop said while the gewog
has provided him with drink-
ing water through the Nahi
rural water supply catering
to residents of Tsangzam, the
quantity is not adequate and
the connection frequently gets
disconnected.
The twin waterfalls where steel arch bridge will be
constructed
is a problem for light vehicles quently, especially after rain.
and machines have to be de- The road was supposed to
ployed to clear the road fre- have been completed by this
Nu 5,000 per year for annual
maintenance,” Bjop’s wife said.
Bjop added: “I feel the gup’s
decision is biased because
although all three of us were
provided water from the Nahi
source they are still allowed to
drink from the disputed source,
while I am not.”
He said that as the disputed
source has an adequate quan-
tity of water, the gewog should
consider sharing it among all
three who had purchased the
source, rather than only two of
them.
“I have been running from
pillar to post for several years
“We hardly get water twice but it was all futile,” Bjop said.
a month from the Nahi source,” “Our local leaders have no ears
he said. This makes it difficult to listen to our concerns and
for not just his family but also problems,” he added.
his 10 tenants, of which three Thedtsho Gup, Phurba,
have already left following the who is also the thrizeen of the
water shortage. Wangdue dzongkhag tshogdu
Having to pay monthly for refuted Bjop’s allegations of
a housing loan and losing ten- making a biased decision.
ants has put him in a difficult “Every decision was taken by
financial situation, he said. a committee and I never told
“When the rural water him that he is not allowed to
connection works started, we drink from the disputed area,”
paid Nu 20,000 and now pay he claimed.
year but was delayed follow-
ing delayed release of funds.
  Construction of the Nu
1.8 billion 44km Gomphu-
Pangbang highway began in
2008. This highway connects
the lower Kheng gewogs of
Ngangla, Goshing, Phang-
khar and Bjoka to Zhemgang.
  Before the construction
of the highway, road connec-
tivity existed only until Gom-
phu, which is around 36km
from Tingtibi. Residents of
lower Kheng have already
started reaping the benefits
of this highway.
  The highway has also
enabled the construction of a
gewog centre road to Phang-
khar, Goshing, Ngangla and
Bjoka.
He said as per the dzong-
khag’s decision they were pro-
vided with water from the Nahi
source.
However, the gup said that
Bjop had never raised the issue
of water shortage at any gewog
meeting and that he had not
even put up the issue with the
gewog or even shared it with
his tshogpa. “This is the first
time I am hearing about the
water shortage problems he is
faced with,” said Gup Phurba.
“If any villagers or residents
of the gewog approaches us
about any issues, we try to
look out for ways to resolve it
through the gewog committee,”
said Gup Phurba.
Meanwhile, as per the
water Act 2011, water resources
are the property of the State,
and rights over water resources,
including the bed and banks
of watercourses shall vest in
the State. However, even with
the existence of an Act, there
are many cases in rural villages
where a few villagers still claim
traditional water rights and
some even sell water.

LG
Only one incumbent gup to
not re-contest in Kheng
The other seven have chosen to contest for various reasons
Nima Wangdi | Kheng
Except for one, seven incum-
bent gups in Zhemgang have
decided to re-contest.
Most of them said they
have decided to re-contest
because of unfinished works
and people’s insistence in
their respective gewogs.
Goshing Gup, Sangay
Letho, 42, from Budashi chi-
wog said he is re-contesting.
“Some people insisted that
I re-contest as I have some
incomplete works for the
gewog,” he said. He has served
as gup for 11 years.
He said all five chiwogs in
his gewog have a contestant
each. “Who to choose is the
people’s right and I would not
regret if I lose,” he said.
Gup Sangay Lethro said he
has connected all five chiwogs
in his gewog with farm roads
in two and half years after the
Panbang-Nganglam highway
was constructed. He added
LG
Almost all incumbent gups to re-contest
Yangchen C Rinzin |
Pemagatshel
Pemagatshel will see almost
all their incumbent gups
re-contest in the upcoming
Local Government (LG) elec-
tions.
Most of the gups said if
they are to complete unfin-
ished developmental activi-
ties of the 11th Plan, they will
have to re-contest.
Some said the people’s
support, encouragement and
experience were some of the
other reasons to re-contest.
A few local leaders shared
that although they had de-
cided not to re-contest but as
the LG elections have been
that should he be elected he
will construct a farm road
between Kaktong in Ngangla
and Lichibi in Goshing.
Gup Sangay said Goshing
gewog was categorised as the
most poverty stricken area of
Zhemgang and that Lamtang
village is the poorest. “I have
worked hard in improving the
livelihoods of the people here
and raised their poverty rank-
ing from 64 percent to about
12 today,” he said.
Ngangla Gup, Dorji Wang-
chuk, 55, said some people
have expressed their support
for him but he does not know
the ground realities.
He said farm road con-
struction for the poverty
stricken villages of Dunmang
and Kamjong are ongoing and
people want him to re-contest
so that he can completed un-
finished work. This was Dorji
Wangchuk’s first term as gup.
Trong Gup, also named
Dorji Wangchuk, has a slightly
postponed, it would provide
them with time to consider
re-contesting.
Having served as gup
for more than 10 years, Shu-
mar Gup Lepo said he had
planned to leave for a reli-
gious retreat but because of
the people’s faith and trust in
him given his experience, he
is likely to re-contest.
“I believe whether it’s a
new or old gup, it’s all about
carrying out your responsi-
bilities. People had insisted I
re-contest in the last election
and this time too,” he said. “If
I don’t take part it might not
look good.”
Decheling Gup, Sonam
Rinchen, will re-contest
DZONGKHAG
Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL
Who to choose is the
people’s right and I
would not regret if I
lose
different reason for re-con-
testing. “I have gained a lot of
experience and I think I am
competent to be gup,” he said.
Dorji Wangchuk has served as
gup for four terms.
Dorji Wangchuk said he
should not back off with so
many years of experience. I
don’t know if the people will
opt for me but I can still be
an option for them. “I feel I
should be able to serve the
people better,” he said. Gup
Dorji Wangchuk, 46, is con-
testing from Tshanglajong
Zurphey chiwog.
Ngangla Gup, Rinchen
Wangdi, 51, from Sonamthang
chiwog, has also served as a
chimi in the past. He said
he is re-contesting given the
against four new gup candi-
dates. But he is confident. He
intends to ensure six devel-
opmental activities that are
important for the gewog are
included in the next Plan.
Similarly, the Nanong
Gup, Sonam Jamtsho, said
more than a hundred activi-
ties have been completed but
a few villagers are yet to get
road connection. This is the
sole reason that is driving him
to re-contest.
Many said five years is not
enough to implement all the
developmental activities and
fulfil pledges made earlier.
“We’ve to attend to differ-
ent meetings, trainings and
workshops that sometimes
people’s insistence. He has 10
farm roads under construc-
tion and wants to complete
them in the next term.   Gup Kunzang Gurmey, 43,
He claims to have set up
some 54 biogas plants which
was not in the plan. This is
Rinchen Wangdi’s first term
as gup.
Bjoka Gup Tshering
Wangchuk also wants to re-
contest to complete unfin-
ished works and because of
the people’s insistence.
He said there are no other
contestants from his own
chiwog, Barphong although
there is another former gup
contesting from another chi-
wog. The 41-year-old gup
also served as gup from 2002
to 2005.
Bardo Gup, Kunzang
Jurmey, said while initially
reluctant, the people ap-
proached him given that the
Chamkharchu hydroelectric
power project was coming up
in the gewog.
we hardly get to work on the
activities,” Chimoong Gup,
Sonam Tshewang, said. “So,
if old gups are re-elected we
would get enough time to
implement the on-going ac-
tivities.”
Khar Gup, Chedup, said if
new candidates are contest-
ing, it is a challenge but it
doesn’t mean the incumbent
FOR NEWS, VIEWS AND
FEEDBACK
Call 324684 or mail to
editor@kuensel.com.bt
PAGE 9
“With encouragement
from the people, I also now
feel that I should re-contest,”
said. He added he is confident
that he can serve the people
even better than before.
At 51-years, Shingkhar
Gup Nidup, a retired soldier
said the post of gup is an
important one and should
be held by someone capable
and experienced. “Although
I have served only one term,
I feel I am competent enough
in terms of experience.”
But Phangkhar Gup
Rinchen Lungten will miss
the upcoming elections on
health grounds. He is on
regular medication as he had
fallen off a cliff while on of-
ficial duty.
“I am resigning with no re-
grets but great satisfaction as
I have been able to serve the
country as a gup since 2005,”
the 45-year old said.
gups should give up. 
With almost all the ge-
wogs having at least three
aspiring gups each, Yurung
Gup, Sonam Dhendup, will
re-contest because more can-
didates means more choices
for the people.
Pemagatshel has 11
gewogs including three in
Nganglam dungkhag. 
PERSPECTIVE KUENSEL | Saturday, June 11, 2016
PAGE 10

What is Gross National

Happiness, really?
C
oncepts
like happi-
ness and
freedom
pose
problems when it comes
to defining them. Abstract
words like these are open
to interpretation. For some,
happiness is based solely on
being part of a loving family
that is safe and contented.
For others, happiness is
rooted in material posses-
sions or acquisition of power.
Although we may have quite
different interpretations of
concepts like these, in our
everyday conversations, we
seem to be content with a
general understanding of the
meaning.
To put it briefly, though,
there are two types of hap-
piness: temporary and
permanent. But, really, hap-
piness is something that is
transient. There is nothing
called permanent or absolute
happiness. Happiness is the
accumulation of many good
activities with which one
feels sufficiently gratified.
Why are we not happy?
As we grow, different aspects
of live shape us – religion,
culture, tradition and societal
norms, among others. We al-
most cease to be human and
begin acting like a machine.
Religion is the first obstruc-
tion towards achieving
happiness. Some will agree,
I am sure, that deeper under-
standing of spiritual world
brings greater unhappiness.
In its entire entirety, more
or less, religion talks about
sufferings, sins and sorrows.
It has a special power to cor-
rupt our mind by creating
fear. It doesn’t allow a person alone in the compartments cators so that we can create ate an environment within
to live fully, so to speak, be- of tall buildings does not an enabling environment which people can strive to
cause it seeks conformity. bring happiness. How well within which citizens strive attain happiness.
Society, which is largely you know your neighbours for happiness. It sound well In the words of Bertrand
shaped by religion, plays a and how often you meet with and good in theory, but how Russell: “A man who has
big role is shaping one’s hap- your friends and family is are we actually doing with once perceived, however
piness. We feel compelled important so. the creation of the so-called temporarily and however
to live our lives according to enabling environment? In briefly, what makes great-
the control of others, rely on So, what is Gross Na- the urban centres, elderly ness of soul, can no longer
others opinions, conform to tional Happiness, really? people are left to eke out liv- be happy if he allows him-
their ideas and wishes, and Happiness is the state ing by begging even as their self to be petty, self-seeking,
subscribe to their beliefs. of being that can come only children live in posh houses troubled by trivial misfor-
One is made to feel too small, from being kind and loving and drive expensive cars. tunes, dreading what fate
and there is hardly any space to others and being true In the rural pockets of the may have in store for him.
for individualism. When a to oneself. But how could country, family and societal The man capable of great-
person cannot do what he we be kind, long, and true structures are fast breaking ness of soul will open wide
or she wishes to do, when he to oneself and all when so down. the windows of his mind,
or she cannot pursue their many factors come in the But then, surveys con- letting the winds blow freely
dreams and aspirations, way? There ought be an en- tinue to show us that our upon it from every portion
there can be no happiness. vironment within which all people are happy. There is of the universe.”
True happiness can come these virtues can flourish. certainly something curi-
only when a person can lis- Until this happens, there ous that is going on in our Contributed by
ten to the wishes and inner can be no happiness. We society as we endeavour to Saacha Dorji
voice of the self. have GNH pillars and indi- define happiness and cre- Chukha
Also, true happiness can
exist only where there is little
or no material development. FLIGHTS
Material development is the
other form of greed. Where
DrukAir
greed rules, nothing will
Date Route Flight No. Departure Arrival
be enough, and that is the June 12 Bangkok to Paro via Guwahati KB 141 09:20 am 12:55 pm
very source of unhappiness. June 12 Paro to Bangkok via Kolkata KB 120 01:35 pm 06:40 pm
If happiness must be had, June 12 Paro to Mumbai KB 206 11:30 am 02:10 pm
we should have no desire June 12 Mumbai to Paro KB 207 02:50 pm 06:10 pm
whatsoever. But who has ever June 12 Singapore to Paro via Kolkata KB 501 06:30 am 10:50 am
been able to banish desire
altogether? So long as there June 13 Paro to Bangkok via Bagdogra KB 130 06:00 pm 11:10 pm
is life, there will be desire in June 13 Bangkok to Paro via Kolkata KB 121 06:35 am 09:40 am
June 13 Paro to Delhi KB 204 10:30 am 12:20 pm
men. Religious philosophies
June 13 Delhi to Paro KB 205 01:10 pm 04:00 pm
can sound grand but they are
June 13 Paro to Kathmandu KB 400 07:00 am 08:05 am
often not practical. Develop-
June 13 Kathmandu to Paro KB 401 08:45 am 10:05 am
ment and technology make June 13 Paro to Ahmedabad KB 208 06:00 am 08:45 am
people reclusive, which lead June 13 Ahmedabad to Paro KB 209 09:45 am 01:30 pm
to depression. Already in our June 13 Paro to Kolkata KB 210 10:45 am 11:45 am
society, depression is becom- June 13 Kolkata to Paro KB 211 12:25 pm 02:25 pm
ing a major health concern. June 13 Paro to Dhaka KB 300 02:00 pm 03:00 pm
Number of people taking June 13 Dhaka to Paro KB 301 04:00 pm 05:00 pm
their own lives is growing by
the year. Domestic
June 12 Bumthang to Paro KB 1002 09:00 am 09:35 am
Happiness comes from
June 12 Paro to Bumthang KB 1003 10:00 am 10:35 am
good relationship. Living
Note : All timings in local. Timings are subject to change. Call Drukair toll free No. 1300 for latest flight information.

Bhutan Airlines (Tashi Air)

FOR NEWS, VIEWS AND June 12
June 12
Bangkok to Paro via Kolkata
Paro to Bangkok via Kolkata
B3701
B3700
06:30 am
10:35 am
09:55 am
04:05 pm
FEEDBACK June 13 Bangkok to Paro via Kolkata B3701 06:30 am 09:55 am
June 13 Paro to Bangkok via Kolkata B3700 10:35 am 04:05 pm
Call 324684 or mail to June 13 Paro to Delhi via Kathmandu B3773 08:30 am 11:35 am
editor@kuensel.com.bt June 13 Delhi to Paro B3774 12:35 pm 03:15 pm
Note : All timings in local. Timings are subject to change. Call Bhutan Airlines toll free No. 1234 for latest flight information.

Child labour rife in Nepal in
absence of strict law
There are 1.6 million child
labours in Nepal out of which
around 20 per cent are involved
in hazardous works.
Five years ago, the govern-
ment had announced to come
up with a master plan to end
child labour in Nepal.   lem of child labour. Unless the
The goal was to end worst
forms of child labour by 2016
and all its other forms by 2020.
The proposed master plan
never took off.
There are 1.6 million child
labour in Nepal out of which
around 20 per cent are in-
volved in hazardous work.
Their number is expected to
Big push in India to switch to LED bulbs
The government’s promotion of
energy-saving bulbs are vital as
India’s demand for power surges.
A government programme
to distribute LED bulbs to every
Indian household and replace
streetlights with them in cities
is an important step for energy
conservation in a country where
demand for power is expected
to double in the next five years.
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi in January last year
launched the Domestic Efficient
Lighting Programme, and de-
scribed the shift to LED (light-
emitting diode) as “an act of
patriotism” and “social service”
to save the environment
Since then, the government
has distributed more than 100
million LED bulbs, and hopes
to replace 770 million in all.
That would help India free up
20,000MW, which is 7 per cent
of the country’s installed capacity
and nearly four times the peak
power demand for New Delhi.
LEDs are 10 times more
expensive than normal bulbs
but the government has so far
been providing bulbs at a sub-
sidised rate of below 100 rupees
(US$1.50) each when actual
costs can exceed 250 rupees.
Rahul Srivastava bought four
LED lights after paying 10 rupees
upfront followed by instalments
increase in absence of a con-
crete regulations and their
strict implementation.
“A master plan with a
specific date to get rid of the
social harmful practice would
have helped solve the prob-
government comes up with
a specific plan to curb it, the
problem of child labour will
continue to grow,” warns Milan
Dharel, an expert on children’s
rights.
Nepal has Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation)
Act which prohibits employing
the children below 14 years in
of 10 rupees added to his elec-
tricity bill for each bulb over eight
months. He has since replaced
three other bulbs with LED lights.
“I used to get a bill of around
650 to 700 rupees. Now I get a
bill of around 500 rupees,” said
Srivastava, who works for a non-
profit organisation in Delhi. “But
I don’t know if it is just because
of the LED bulbs. I haven’t done
an analysis.”
India’s power consumption
is expected to increase as more
and more villages get electric-
ity and its population continues
to grow. About 300 million In-
dians do not even have access
to electricity, more than 60 per
cent of which is generated by
coal plants.
But the government also
Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL
any kind of labour and children
below 18 years in hazardous
works. The Act states that per-
sons found forcing children
up to 16 years in labour could
face a jail term up to one year
and a maximum fine of 50,000
rupees (US$461).
Children rights defenders
say the law is too lenient and
sadder than it is that it is not
even implemented.
Weak monitoring and im-
plementation of the existing
law has resulted in children,
especially from poor back-
ground, getting into labour
market and being exploited.
faces the challenge of protecting
the environment at a time when
climate change has become a
reality.
Last year, Modi called the
floods in Tamil Nadu, in which
470 people lost their lives, “cli-
mate change’s fast-growing
impact”. This year the country is
facing its worst drought in recent
times
India is the third-largest
greenhouse gas polluter after
China and the US. The switch to
LED bulbs and greater renewa-
ble energy investment are crucial
for India to meet its Paris climate
agreement commitments.
The LED project, officials
said, is part of efforts to cut India’s
carbon footprint, which includes
boosting the share of renewables
REGION
The ambitious master plan
had envisioned, among other
things, identifying child labour,
setting a criteria for hazard-
ous work, offering economic
assistance and scholarship to
the children of the poor. It had
also proposed rehabilitation
programme for rescued child
labourers and a building cross-
border network to combat chil-
dren trafficking.   authorities should try to fight
Government officials say
the proposed master plan will
be developed as it is the only
way to protect over a million
and increasing number of chil-
dren who are being forced into
and other low-carbon sources
from 13 per cent to 40 per cent
in 13 years.
Still, the programme has
faced some challenges.
“The biggest barrier to
adoption of LED bulbs was the
cost. The second challenge was
educating the consumer about
the savings. It is difficult to as-
sess the cost and environmen-
tal savings and showcase the
benefits to the consumer,” said
Saurabh Kumar, head of Energy
Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL),
the government-owned body
behind the programme.
“Therefore, unique methods
like avoidance of capacity and
reduction in carbon emissions
were woven into the campaign,
which helped EESL to make
consumers relate to the larger
narrative, which is the future of
the country.”
Since the project started,
FOR NEWS, VIEWS AND
FEEDBACK
Call: 324684
or mail to
editor@kuensel.com.bt
PAGE 11
labour.
“We were unable to come
up with the master plan so far
because we got sidetracked by
the constitution writing proc-
ess and other national issues,”
said Udaya Gupta at the Minis-
try of Labour and Employment.
He assured that the mas-
ter plan will be developed
and until then, the concerned
child labour by enforcing the
existing law.
The Kathmandu Post
ANN
Kumar said, government pro-
curement of LED bulbs in bulk
has brought down costs from
204 rupees in 2014 to 104 rupees
last year and 54.90 rupees this
year.
Two weeks ago, the south-
ern state of Goa, a tourist des-
tination, became the latest
of around a dozen states to
launch the LED bulb scheme.
It is also looking at converting
all 160,000 streetlights to LED in
two months. A part of the federal
plan includes retrofitting the
country’s 35 million streetlights.
“Goa will be the only state
to be entirely covered by LED.
Whatever the consumption is
now, we will save 50 per cent,”
said Dipak Bhajekar, Chief
Electrical Engineer of the Goa
Electricity Department.
The Straits Times
ANn
ASIA
PAGE 12 KUENSEL | Saturday, June 11, 2016

WHO

Thailand recognised for eliminating mother

to child transmission of HIV and syphilis
It is the first country in the Asia Pacific region to do so
Staff reporter ing commitment to core achieved when science and chance of transmitting the newly infected with HIV fell
public health principles that medicine are underpinned by virus to their children during from 15,000 to 1,900, a drop
Thailand is the first country made elimination of mother sustained political commit- pregnancy, labour, delivery or of 87 percent. Thailand’s
in Asia and the Pacific region to child transmission of HIV ment.” breastfeeding. However, that Universal Health Coverage
to eliminate mother to child and syphilis a reality, a critical “By investing in strong risk drops to just over one framework ensured essential
transmission of HIV and step for rolling back the HIV maternal and child health percent if antiretroviral medi- health services were avail-
syphilis. epidemic. care and national AIDS pre- cines are given to both moth- able to both rich and poor.
Thailand’s health minister Dr Poonam Khetrapal also vention measures, Thailand ers and children throughout The country’s commitment to
received the certificate of vali- said that it’s a remarkable has demonstrated there are the stages when infection can equitable access has ensured
dation from the World Health achievement for a country ways to protect children from occur. that both Thai citizens and
Organisation (WHO) during a where thousands of people the global AIDS pandemic According to Thailand’s migrants are covered for HIV
ceremony, which took place live with HIV. “Thailand has response,” said UNICEF East public health ministry 98 per- treatment.
in New York on the eve of the demonstrated to the world Asia-Pacific Region’s regional cent of all pregnant women In 2014, WHO and key
United Nations General As- that HIV can be defeated,” director Karin Hulshof. “Thai- living with HIV have access partners published the guid-
sembly High-Level Meeting she said, while presenting land’s achievement inspires to antiretroviral therapy and ance on global processes and
on Ending AIDS. the certificate of validation in its neighbours to greater ac- the rate of mother to child criteria for the validation of
According to WHO, Thai- New York. tion. There are still 21,000 in- transmission of HIV has the elimination of mother to
land is also the first country “Thailand has turned fants who are born with HIV been reduced to less than child transmission of HIV and
in the region with a large HIV around its epidemic and each year in the Asia-Pacific two percent. In 2000, an es- syphilis, which outlines the
epidemic to ensure an AIDS- transformed the lives of thou- region, and more than 200,000 timated 1,000 children be- validation process and the
free generation.   sands of women and children children who are growing up came infected with HIV. In different indicators countries
WHO South-East Asia affected by HIV,” UNAIDS ex- with HIV.” 2015, the number of children need to meet.
Region’s regional director ecutive director, Michel Sidibé According to WHO, if un- who became infected with According to WHO,
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said. “Thailand’s progress treated, women living with HIV through mother to child treatment for prevention of
lauded Thailand’s unwaver- shows how much can be HIV have a 15 to 45 percent transmission was reduced to mother to child transmission
85, a decline of more than 90 is not 100 percent effective,
percent, a significant achieve- elimination of transmission
NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL ment in a country where an is defined as a reduction of
estimated 450,000 people transmission to such a low
SAND SUPPLY NOTIFICATION were living with HIV in 2014. level that it no longer consti-
At the same time, sus- tutes a public health problem.
NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT tained efforts and success in “An international expert mis-
CORPORATION LIMITED, THIMPHU preventing new HIV infec- sion convened by WHO vis-
NRDCL/HO/Adm-4/2016/1175 tions have helped reduce ited Thailand in April 2016 to
HIV among women of child- validate the progress toward
In view of the increasing number of construction activities in the western
bearing age. According to the elimination of mother-to-
Dzongkhags, the supply of sand from Sha this year had surpassed the past year
Thailand’s health authorities, child transmission of HIV and
record.
between 2000 and 2014, the syphilis,” a press release from
The management is seriously exploring measures to improve supply through
annual number of women WHO stated.
proper monitoring in the distribution front for all needy customers. To facilitate
smooth supply, we would like to inform the following to our valued customers;
r
The sand supply from both quarries and stocks at Sha is stopped for this
season in view of the submergence of sand due to early rise in water level. LIMITED TENDER
r
These days, sand is being supplied from the sand dredging site at
Rinchengang for which the supply is limited due to the capacity of the MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
machines at work and adverse working condition with frequent change in
water level.
AND FORESTS
r
As an alternative arrangement, customers can avail sand from either Department of Agriculture
Phuentsholing or Gelephu. National Soil Services Centre
In view of the above, we would like to request our valued customers to bear NSSC/ADMIN-07/2013-18/816
with us for any inconvenience caused. All our valued customers are requested
not to panic and avoid buying sand from unscrupulous sources at hefty prices Sealed bids are invited from the registered contractors
without checking our rates. for their rates for ‘‘Repair & Maintenance of Water
Supply’’ as detailed in the bidding document available
For any enquiry, please call our PABX No.02-323834
for sale from June 13 - 17, 2016.
(extensions-139/111) or 02-481272 at Sha Regional Office.
For Phuentsholing, please contact at 17611083/17636070 and Gelephu at The last date for submission of the tender is June 17,
17691285 2016 before 1:30PM and will be opened on the sale
Management day at 2 PM.
NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL NRDCL Program Director

AMENDMENT NOTIFICATION
MINISTRY OF WORKS & HUMAN
SETTLEMENT
Department of Roads
DoR/RoS/PL-9/2015-2016/1358
DOR, RO, Sarpang hereby issues amendment to
the NIT bid reference No. DoR/ROS/2016-2017/
GOODS (01) which was published in Kuensel issue
of 8/06/2016 for the Supply of Local Construction
Materials for Financial Year 2016-2017. Under Section
II: Bid Data Sheet; ITB clause No. 12.1 (j) should
be read as “The bidder shall submit a signed
Integrity Pact: Yes instead of No”
All prospective bidders are requested to take note of
the amendment and this will form part of the biding
Inconvenience caused is regretted.
Offtg. Chief Engineer
SCHEDULE FOR THE BHUTAN
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION
(BCSE) 2016
ROYAL CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION
RCSC/EXAM-2/2016/01
Royal Civil Service Commission is pleased to announce
the schedule for the Bhutan Civil Service Examination
(BCSE) 2016 for recruitment of University Graduates
in Professional & Management position category in
the Civil Service.
For details, please visit the RCSC website at www.
rcsc.gov.bt or bcse.rcsc.gov.bt
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BHUTAN
RUB/HRMD/01/2016/3430
Royal University of Bhutan is pleased to announce the
following vacancies for immediate recruitment:
Position Place of posting
Dean of Academic Samtse College of
Affairs Education
Dean of Research & Institute of Language
Industrial Linkages & Culture Studies
Interested candidates fulfilling the criteria may submit
applications to the Human Resource Division, Office
of the Vice Chancellor, Royal University of Bhutan,
Lower Motithang, latest by June 30, 2016. For
details on eligibility criteria and terms of appointment,
please visit our website at www.rub.edu.bt.
Human Resource Division
TO ADVERTISE IN KUENSEL:
Call 326191 or fax 326638; E-mail us at: advertisement@kuensel.com.
bt; kuenseladvertisement@gmail.com
ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL PAGE 13
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Department of Cottage and Small Industry
MoEA/DCSI/PD-32/2016/493
The Programming Division of Department of Cottage and Small Industry (DCSI)
would like to invite Expression of Interest (EoI) from national consultancy firms for
the following work:
r
4UVEZ
UP
EFUFSNJOF
UIF
GFBTJCJMJUZ
PG
EFWFMPQJOH
DPUUBHF
BOE
TNBMM
JOEVTUSZ

(CSI) infrastructure through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The interested fi rms should provide information demonstrating that they have the
required qualifications and relevant experiences to perform the service. EoI should
include a copy of the business license, tax clearance certificate, CV of the key staffs,
and an assignment related experience of the key personnel. The short listing criteria
are a) overall experience of the firm in the field of assignments; b) General qualification
of key personnel; and c) an assignment related experience of key personnel.
On the basis of the information obtained through the EoI, five most appropriate firms
will be invited to submit the detailed technical and financial proposals. The ToR for
this assignment can be downloaded from the website www.moea.gov.bt
Interested national consultancy firms should submit their EoI in a sealed envelope to
the Chief Industries Officer, Programming Division, DCSI, MoEA, Thimphu on or
before 1500 HRS, 27th June, 2016.
Chief Industries Officer
NOTICE INVITING QUOTATION
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & HUMAN RESOURCES
TTIC/CS-9/15-16/257
Technical Training Institute, Chumey would like to invite sealed quotations from
eligible Bhutanese suppliers having valid trade licence for the supply of following items.
Sl.No Pakage EMD
1 Hardware Tools & Equipment Nu:20,000/
2 Stationery & Office supplies Nu:10,000/
MISD
3 Uniforms & Extension Kits Nu:15,000/
The detailed specification and terms condition may download from Institutes web
site: www.ttichumey.bt. Downloaded documents should be submitted with proper
compilation and binding.
The sealed quotation should be submitted along with earnest money as per the
above details in the form of Demand Draft or Bank Guarantee in favor of Principal
Technical Training Institute Chumey, Bumthang. The last date for submission
of quotation documents is on July 11, 2016 at 10:00AM and will open on same day
at 10:30AM. For further details please contact the Administration Section at Tel. #
03-641301/03641302 or fax # 03-641181.
Principal
No. of
slots
1
ANNOUNCEMENT
TOURISM COUNCIL OF BHUTAN
1
Tourism Council of Bhutan will be conducting 3rd Induction Course for Tourist Vehicle
Drivers from July 11, 2016 during the week days. Therefore, all the eligible Tourist
Vehicle Drivers may register for the course with Services Division under TCB latest
by June 24, 2016 from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Application form and other details are
available on our website www.tourism.gov.bt
The list of shortlisted candidates will be available on our website and also we will
inform through email to the concerned Tour Operators. For further information you
may contact Mr. Thinley Gyeltshen at tgyeltshen@tourism.gov.bt or call +975-2-
323251/ +975-2-323252 (Extn. 210) during office hour.
HEAD
SERVICES DIVISION
ADVERTISEMENT
PAGE 14 Saturday, June 11, 2016| KUENSEL
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Department of Trade
MoEA/DT/EPD-21/2015-16/6265
Public Hearing for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study for
the proposed Dry Port /Inland Clearance Facility at Pasakha.
Department of Trade (DoT), Ministry of Economic Affairs, is proposing to develop
Dry Port at Chengmari, Pasakha (near the Industrial Estate) with financial assistance
from the World Bank. As part of the Environmental Impact assessment for the
project, it is intended to undertake a Public Hearing on the proposed project with
local people residing in vicinity of the project, Phuentsholing Thromde and Chukha
Dzongkhag along with the representatives of the industries in the Industrial Estate
at Pasakha and other relevant stakeholders.The public hearing will be held on June
17, 2016 at 10:00 AM in conference room of Phuntsholing Thromde. Any person
or groups who might be locally affected from the proposed project or activity may
participate in the public hearing. They may make verbal or written suggestions/
objections on the matter in the public hearing meeting. Any other concerned persons
having a plausible stake in the environmental and social aspects of the project or
activity may make suggestions/objections in writing to the Department of Trade.
Below is the location map of the proposed project site:
Offtg. Director
ANNOUNCEMENT
NATIONAL PENSION AND PROVIDENT FUND
NPPF/Adm-31/2016/10521
NPPF is pleased to notify that the Books of Accounts for the financial year 2015-
2016 shall be closed on June 30, 2016. All the Ministries/Agencies and Members are
hereby requested to kindly settle the following transactions with NPPF on or before
June 15, 2016 positively.
1. Remit pension and provident fund contributions for the month of June 2016
with the respective banks and forward invoices and recovery schedule to
NPPF in correct order.
2. Settle penal interest levied for late remittance of contributions and arrear
contributions of the prior months, if any.
3. Claim excess contributions remitted during the year 2015-2016.
4. Forward Pension and Provident Fund Claims of those members who have
resigned before June 30, 2016.
5. Remit the monthly repayment of member loans for the month of June 2016
and repayment dues.
6. Remit house rent and dues, if any, for those tenants residing in NPPF Housing
Colony in Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Samtse and Samdrup Jongkhar and
7. Furnish bank deposit slips for deposit of cash/cheque to NPPF’s Current
Account maintained with Bank of Bhutan and Bhutan National Bank to enable
NPPF to resolve the unknown deposits.
Please visit our website www.nppf.org.bt/announcement for more details. For
further clarification, please contact Mr. Thinley Dorji (thinley.dorji@nppf.org.bt),
Customer Care Centre, Tele: 324140/325758/325638.
Management
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
THE ROYAL ACADEMY
His Majesty’s Secretariat, Pangbisa,
Paro
TRA HR-13/2016/1897
Royal Academy announces the immediate requirement
of one Librarian and Procurement Officer at the Royal
Academy, Pangbisa, Paro. Interested candidates can
visit the website: www.academy.bt for details or
contact HR Officer at # 17627355/08-270414.
Head of Administration
ANNOUNCEMENT
KUENSEL Corporation Ltd.
Kuensel Corporation Ltd. is pleased to announce that
we recently received 4th phase of library books from
Singapore with support and cooperation of our close
friends of Bhutan. Kuensel has initiated this library
project for the welfare of the children of Bhutan.
In addition to the donation of about 8,000 library books
dedicated to national reading year last year, this year
Kuensel Corporation Ltd. would like to donate another
lot of about 3,000 library books to remote schools of
Bhutan as a part of celebrations of birth of His Royal
Highness The Gyalsey.
Therefore, interested remote schools of Bhutan are
requested to contact us and collect these library books
from the premises of Kuensel Corporation Ltd., head
office Thimphu and regional office in Kanglung. Since we
have limited number of books it will be donated on the
basis of first come first serve to remote schools of Bhutan.
For further information, please contact manager,
research and publishing department at mobile No.
17609496 or email manager_library@kuensel.
com.bt. or regional manager at 17602006 or email
kanglung_rm@kuensel.com.bt.
Management
NOTICE INVITING QUOTATION
BHUTAN POWER CORPORATION
LIMITED
Central Maintenance & Training Division
Distribution & Customer Services
Department, Begana, Thimphu
CMTD/BPC/Acc-08/257
CMTD, BPC, Begana invites sealed quotations for
the supply of Mild steel sheet and miscellaneous
items. Bidding documents can be purchased from
the office of General Manager, Renewable Energy
Department, BPC, Thimphu from June 14, 2016
during office hours on payment of Nu. 500 (non-
refundable) addressed to Deputy Finance Officer,
Finance and Accounts Section, BPC, Thimphu.
Completed sealed bid must be submitted to the office
of GM, RED, BPC, Thimphu latest by July 14, 2016
at 3:00 pm and will be opened on the same day at
3:30 pm. For more information contact Senior
Manager, CMTD, BPC, Begana at phone: 00975-2-
361075.
Manager
 ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL PAGE 15

NOTICE INVITING QUOTATION

BHUTAN ARGO INDUSTRIES LIMITED, THIMPHU
BAI/ADM-11/2016/854

Sealed quotations are invited from interested Bhutanese Contractors holding valid CDB certificate and contract licence for the following works:-
Name of the work Class Sale of tender Date of submission Date of opening
Construction of packaging store, water
Medium 11/06/2016 - 01/07/2016 02/07/2016 at 10 AM 02/07/2016 at 2:00 PM
tank & toilet
Tender document may be purchased from the Office by paying Nu. 300 (non-refundable) on or before above mentioned date.
For further enquiry, please contact at phone 02-351078.
Management

NOTICE INVITING QUOTATION

DZONGKHAG ADMINISTRATION, PEMAGATSHEL
PG/PROC-04/2015-2016/5645

The Dzongkhag Administration, Pemagatshel would like invite following sealed bids from the eligible and qualified bidders for the Financial year
2016-2017.
Sale date for tender Last date for submission
Bid No. Name of the bid
Documents and opening
Package I Computers, Printers and Toner cartridges
Package II Office and school furniture
Package III Office stationery ( local bidders from Samdrup Jongkhar and Pemagatshel )
Package IV RWSS items
Package V Hardware and construction materials 11th July 2016 before 11:00
June 11, 2016 till July AM and will be opened
Package VI Electrical items
11, 2016 on same day at 2:00 PM
Package VII Vehicle spare parts (BST) at DYT hall.
Package VIII Vehicle Hiring (Transportation)
Package IX Running of Dzongkhag canteen and catering
Package X Running of District Hospital canteen
Package XII Dairy, poultry and nursery equipment
Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive bidding procedures and are open to all bidders.
A complete set of bidding documents ( in English) containing detailed terms and conditions can be downloaded from Dzongkhag website
www.pemagatshel.gov.bt. The bid should be accompanied by bid security and must be addressed to Chairman, Dzongkhag Tender committee.
P/Gatshel. The bid may be submitted to Procurement section and for further information / clarification contact # 07-471170 (O).
CHAIRMAN, DZONGKHAG TENDER COMMITTEE

NOTICE INVITATION FOR VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE POST OF

QUOTATION
BHUTAN POWER CORPORATION
LIMITED
Distribution & Customer Services Department
BPC/DCSD/RED/ADA/2016/03
Bhutan Power Corporation Limited would like to
invite sealed quotations from interested suppliers to
supply the Camping equipment for high altitude.
The bidding document can be purchased from the
office of Sr. Manager, RED. DCSD, BPC, Thimphu
from June 13, 2016 till July 13, 2016 and the sealed
bids should be submitted on or before 3:00PM of
July 14, 2016 and will be opened on the same day.
The complete set of bidding document can be viewed
from BPC’s website www.bpc.bt.
For further information, contact at 02-333820
GM, DCSD
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER IN THE EMBASSY OF
INDIA, THIMPHU.
EMBASSY OF INDIA
THIMPHU
The Embassy of India in Thimphu is looking for a qualified individual to fill the post
of Public Relations Officer. The PRO is required to maintain links and build contacts
across Bhutanese civil society, including think-tanks, opinion makers and others. He
or she will also be required to keep abreast of developments in Bhutanese society
and to analyze and research on important trends and current events. The job
responsibilities will also include monitoring of the local media.
The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree with good communication skills in
English and Dzongkha. The candidate should have an outgoing personality required
for public relations and networking.
Approximate salary for the post of PRO would be Nu.35,000/-. Interested
candidates may apply by June 22, 2016 with complete Bio-Data and recent passport
size photograph.
For further information, please contact:
Office of Head of Chancery, Embassy of India,Thimphu
Tel No. 00975-2-323227,e-mail: hoc.thimphu@mea.gov.in
ADVERTISEMENT
PAGE 16 Saturday, June 11, 2016| KUENSEL

SAARC CONFERENCE AND CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY NOTICE INVITING TENDER
OF PADMASAMBHAVA, 14-15 JUNE, 2016, IN PARO, BHUTAN
ORGANIZED BY CENTRE FOR ESCALATION OF PEACE, DELHI AND DZONGKHAG ADMINISTRATION,
CENTRE FOR BHUTAN STUDIES, THIMPHU TRASHIYANGTSE
OPEN TO PUBLIC Yangdzong/dag(33)/2015-16/7330

Program on Tuesday afternoon, June 14, 2016, in Hotel Olathang, Paro Dzongkhag Administration, Trashiyangtse invites
Starting sealed bids from eligible and qualified National Firms
Presenter Title of Presentation
time having valid trade licence for the supply and delivery of
Registration goods and services for the FY 2016-2017:-
1:30 Marchang Ceremony
1. Office stationery
1:40 Dasho Karma Ura, President, CBS & GNHR, Bhutan Welcome Note
2. Computer and peripheral
Lam Neten Sonam Tenzin, Chief Abbot, District
1:50 Inaugural Address 3. AMC
Monastic Body, Paro, Bhutan
Chair: Venerable Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, Vice Chancellor, Central University for Higher 4. Toner Cartridge
2:10
Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, India 5. Office furniture
Prof. Dinesh Singh, Mathematical Sciences 6. School stationery and sports good
Proclaiming the Truth: The Way of the
2:15 Foundation; Former Vice Chancellor of Delhi 7. School furniture
Buddha
University, India
8. Electrical materials
Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye, Former Chief Justice of
2:45 Guru Rinpoche and Law 9. Hardware materials
Bhutan
Guru Padmasambhava in Context: 10. RWSS
Dr Luca M Olivieri, Director, Italian Archeological 11. Municipal water supply materials
3:05 Archaeological and Historical Evidence
Mission to Pakistan
from Swat/Uddiyana (8th century CE) 12. Vehicle spare parts
3:35 DISCUSSION 13. Catering services
Chair: Prof. Dinesh Singh, Mathematical Sciences Foundation; Former Vice Chancellor
4:25
of Delhi University 14. Dzongkhag canteen
Prof. Dr. Dukhisyama Pattanayak, Visiting
Uddian (Odisha) of Padmasambhava
Bidding will be conducted through the National
4:30 Professor, Utkal University of Culture, Competitive bidding procedures specified in the RGoB
and his Saadhana: A Retrospect
Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India Procurement Rules and Regulations. Interested bidders
Dr. Sourendra Kumar Mohapatra, Trustee & Searching for Uddiyana: An
4:50
Governing Body Member, Maha Bodhi Society of India Archaelogical Perspective from Odisha may obtain further information from Dzongkhag
Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty, Vice President, Maha Procurement Office.
5:10 Guru Padmasambhava of Uddiyana A complete set of bidding documents in (English
Bodhi Society of India
5:30
Mr. Arya Kumar Jnanendra, Governing Body Guru Padmasambhava and His Mission Language) may be purchased upon cash payment of
Member, Maha Bodhi Society of India in the Himalayan Region a non-refundable fee of Nu.350 (Three Hundred
5:50 DISCUSSION Fifty) only or can be downloaded from the Dzongkhag
Program on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2016, in Paro Rinpung Dzong
website www.trashiyangtse.gov.bt.
7:30 All the conference participants should be gathered at Paro Rinpung Dzong
Procession reception of HE Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay and His Sealed quotations of the interested bidders should
7:30
Eminence Tsuglag Lopen Samten Dorji Rinpoche, Central Monastic Body, Bhutan reach this office on or before 10:30 AM of July 11,
Paro Dratshang will commence rituals for the Guru Dragmar Feast Offering from 7:40 AM 2016 and will be opened on the same day.
Participants will lit butter lamps before the Thongdrel and enter into the courtyard of Paro
7:40
Rabdey
For further enquiries, contact us at
8:20 Address of His Eminence Tsuglag Lopen Samten Dorji Rinpoche Tele # 04-781109/781252 during office hours.
Address by HE Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay Dzongdag
Vote of Thanks by Mr. Vijay Chhibber, Representative, Centre for Escalation of Peace,
8:40
Delhi, India
8:50 Zhengshi Pema mask dance by Paro Rabdey in the courtyard
9:05 Bhutanese folk dance by Public of Paro in the courtyard while serving suja desi NOTICE INVITING TENDER
9:10 Guru Tshengye (Eight Manifestations) mask dance by Paro Rabdey in the courtyard
9:25 Bhutanese folk dance by Public of Paro in the courtyard of Paro Rabdey NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
9:30 Zhanag Nga Cham (Black Hat Dance) by Paro Rabdey in the courtyard
9:45 Bhutanese folk dance by Public of Paro in the courtyard of Paro Rabdey COMMISSION
9:50 Return to the conference venue in Hotel Olathang NEC/ADM/ADV/2016-2017/1224
Program on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2016, in Hotel Olathang, Paro
10:05 Chair: Dr Luca M Olivieri, Director, Italian Archeological Mission to Pakistan National Environment Commission, Thimphu invites
Venerable Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, Vice sealed tenders from eligible suppliers for the supply of
10:10 Chancellor, Central University for Higher Tibetan Guru Rinpoche in Tibet following items for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
Studies, Sarnath, India
Dolpo Tulku Sherab Zangpo Rinpoche, Dolpo Tulku How the teachings of Guru Rinpoche
a) Office stationery/electrical items/general items
10:30 b) Vehicle spare parts (Toyota Hilux, Toyota
Charitable Foundation in Switzerland, Nepal relate to mental difficulties?
Prof. Punya Prasad Parajuli, Buddhism and Himalayan Power Places of Padmasambhava in Fortuner, Santafee, Bkk Hilux)
10:50
Studies, Lumbini Buddhist University, Nepal Nepal c) Annual maintenance of vehicles (Toyota Hilux,
Lopon Tenpo Gyatsho, Chief, Sangchen Toyota Fortuner, Santafee, Bkk Hilux)
11:20 Guru Rinpoche in Sikkim
Pemayangtse Monastery, Sikkim, India d) Tyres and tubes (Toyota Hilux,Toyota Fortuner,
Terton Namkha Drimed, Founder of Santafee, Bkk Hilux)
Khenpo Wangyal Dorjee Bhutia, Principal,
11:40 Drejong Zogchen, and Guru Rinpoche
Sangchen Pemayangtse Shedra, Sikkim, India
in Sikkim
e) Catering (Lunch, dinner, tea/snacks)
f) General printing items
Lopen Gembo, Advisor to Central Monastic Padmasambhava’s Journey to the
12:00 The tender document will be sold from Procurement
Body, Bhutan Hidden Land
12:20
Khenpo Karma Lhendrup, Researcher, Research Guru Rinpoche in the Life of Zhabdrung Unit w.e.f June 13, 2016 at Nu.500/- (non-
Division, Central Monastic Body, Bhutan Ngawang Namgyel refundable) each, during office hours.
Lopen Kunzang Thinley, Research Head, KMT
12:40 Holy Sites of Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan The sealed quotations should be submitted on or
Printing Press, Thimphu, Bhutan
13:00 DISCUSSION before July 13, 2016 at 12 noon and will be opened
Venerable Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, Vice on the same day at 2 PM. For further information,
13:30 Chancellor, Central University for Higher Tibetan Vote of Thanks please contact at 02-323384.
Studies, Sarnath, India NECS

Entrepreneurship
Local entrepreneurs recognised
Younten Tshedup
Seventy-three-year-old Nado
has been making incense sticks
for the last 43 years. He started
with a government owned firm
in 1974.
In 1991, Nado decided to
start his own incense-making
business in Thimphu. He called
it Nado Poizokhang. It is today a
popular brand among the Bhu-
tanese.
Nado Poizokhang started as
a small family business with only
three employees. They could
make only about a hundred in-
cense sticks a month.
Nado was recognised for
his role as an entrepreneur by
the Department of Cottage and
Small Industry (DCSI) under
Ministry of Economic Affairs
yesterday.
“It’s a good coincidence to
be recognised on my 25 years of
working independently as a in-
cense manufacturer,” said Nado.
“It’s not an easy job; it requires
heavy physical labour. But I’ve
enjoyed every bit of my 43 years
as a incense producer in the
HOME
Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL PAGE 17
country.”
Nado said that during the
late 70s and early 80s, almost 80
percent of the incense was im-
ported from the neighbouring
states of Kalimpong. “We used
to produce very little incense by
ourselves,” he said. “But, today,
we produce enough that we
are exporting 80 percent of our
product.”
Nado Poizokhang produces
about 30,000 sticks of incense
in a month with a turnover of
around Nu 6 million. Nado has
also employed 18 Bhutanese at
his factory.
“It feels great to see some
of my apprentices starting their
own incense business. I first
The winning products included incense sticks, natural soaps, essential oil sprays, organic
learned to make incense in
honey and pickles
1974 from late nyerchen (Store
in-charge) Tshering Dorji,” said
Nado. tory, Tenzin Penjor Incense, was not very popular with the locals, nual turnover is around Nu 20
Along with Nado, the de- awarded the certificate for BDBL the company has its market in million.
partment also recognised three rural entrepreneur, and Natural Germany. DCSI officials said that the
more entrepreneurs. They were and Organic Food Processing “We target high-end mar- competition was conducted to
awarded certificates and cash Unit was awarded the certificate kets and tourist hotels,” said create awareness and interest
prizes. for women entrepreneur. Ugyen. “We work closely with for self-employment and also to
Bio-Bhutan was awarded Bio-Bhutan’s general man- the local communities for our recognise the role and contri-
the certificate for small-scale en- ager, Ugyen, said that although raw materials. We are the only butions of entrepreneurs to the
trepreneur. Another incense fac- the products of the company are specialised company that pro- socio-economic development
duces natural and organic certi- of the country.
fied products from Bhutan.” The department received
Bio-Bhutan produces hand- 25 applicants this year for the
made natural soaps, grounded competition. This is the third
spices, herbal teas and essential competition conducted by the
oil sprays. The company’s an- department.
HOME
PAGE 18 Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL
Infrastructure
Pheluma’s wait for a road continues
… to improve the education sector
Yangchen C Rinzin |
Samdrupjongkhar
A difference in what route a
farm road should take to reach
Pheluma chiwog in Orong
gewog, has left residents of
the area worried that they may
never get a road.
Villagers of Pheluma are
worried that if they don’t reach
a general consensus on wheth-
er their farm road should be
constructed from the point
where they have suggested or
from where the dzongkhag ad-
ministration and gewog have
suggested, the road may never
materialise.
Located almost a five-hour
walk from the gewog centre,
Pheluma is the only chiwog
in the gewog that still doesn’t
have road connectivity.
The road for the chiwog
never made it to gewog’s
developmental planning or
Gewog Development Grant
Discussion
Filling the bureaucratic void
Tshering Dorji
Of some 2,468 civil servants,
147 are in the executive level,
and are classified as leaders in
the bureaucracy.
However, 78 of them will
superannuate in the next
decade, excluding those who
would opt to retire prema-
turely.
Talking about leader-
ship in bureaucracy, the
chairman of the Royal Civil
Service Commission (RCSC)
Dasho Karma Tshiteem said
the commission has already
planned for succession, at a
talk organised by QED group
in Thimphu yesterday.
An executive manage-
ment division, he said, has
been formed in the commis-
sion to develop leadership
capabilities and to manage
executive performance. The
Royal Institute of Governance
and Strategic Studies (RIGGS)
(GDG) according to the few
villagers Kuensel spoke with.
And now that the dzong-
khag administration and
gewog office are trying to build
a road, the differences have
emerged, villagers said.
Pheluma Tshogpa, Rinzin,
said it is not clear if the gewog
has allocated budget because
the road is not included in the
11th Plan. He is also not sure
if budget for the road is being
arranged from other sources.
Rinzin said that villagers
want the road to connect via a
village called Tershari.
He said if the road is con-
structed from Tershari the
distance to reach the chiwog
would be a short one. The
same route is used to walk to
the chiwog today.
However, he said gewog
officials suggested it would be
better if the road is construct-
ed from Jangchubling village
in Wooling chiwog.
has also initiated programmes
for those in the executive lev-
els.
However, statistics show
that only 11 of the 147 civil
servants in the executive level
are females.
He said that the country
did not invest much on lead-
ership. The RCSC however, he
said has come up with various
appraisals and feedback sys-
tems to review the perform-
ance of civil servants.
Through these reforms, he
said citizens would be able to
reap the benefit of a compact
and efficient civil service.
For instance, the feed
back system, he said has been
fragmented to personal traits
a leader should possess and
based on the feedback from
civil servants, senior bureau-
crats could build on their
weaknesses.
To manage the perform-
ance of the executives or the
“But having a road from
Jangchubling is as equal as not
having a road because the dis-
tance would be longer,” Rin-
zin said. “It would be almost
70km from Samdrupjongkhar
and the taxi charge would be
higher,” he added. “Whether
the road comes from Jang-
chubling or Tershari, both the
roads need a bridge to connect
with the village but going by
the distance, Tershari is more
convenient.”
The chiwog today grows
vegetables and maize as cash
crops. Once a road is built to
the chiwog, a shorter road
would enable exploration and
would make it easier, a resi-
dent said. It was also pointed
out that the chances of vegeta-
bles spoiling would be higher
if it has to be carried for a
longer distance.
“We will soon be writing
a petition to the gewog office
and provide our suggestion
RCSC’s Dasho Karma Tshiteem spoke about the civil service at a QED’s brown bag seminar
leaders in civil service, he
said the achievement of the
annual performance of a gov-
ernment agency would serve
as the basis for evaluating the
head’s performance.
“For an executive to be
considered excellent, the ex-
ecutive must cross the thresh-
requesting a reconsideration
of their decision so that it is not
delayed,” the tshogpa added.
“We also hope we can form a
cooperative, that is if the road
can be built without any ob-
stacles.”
A few said that while they
may not have the technical
or geographical knowledge,
going by their experience,
Tershari is the shortest route
to the chiwog.
“For decades, different
gups have filled the post but
our request for road reached
nowhere including the past
five years,” Cheku, a farmer
said. “And now when we finally
see some hope, it’s not ben-
efitting the people directly,”
he said.
Meanwhile, Gup Khawjey
said it was just a suggestion
that the road be constructed
via Jangchubling as it would
be easier and more convenient
to survey the feasibility of the
old for both performance ap-
praisal and feedback,” he said
The executive manage-
ment division, he said would
ensure timely movement of
the civil servants. This is be-
cause if some civil servant are
straight away promoted to a
post he or she is not familiar
road from that area.
“But right now it’s just a
plan and no budget has been
allocated or approved for the
farm road. We’re just trying to
mobilise the fund if possible
through different projects be-
cause we cannot use the GDG
budget as it’s already allocated
for other activity.”
The gup said if they fail to
arrange budget they cannot
make a proposal and if this
happens, they plan to propose
for a road in the next Plan.
“We’ll have to depend on
experts to comment on which
area would be better but we
cannot have a survey unless
villagers come up with a con-
crete decision,” said the gup.
“They’ll have to understand
we are just trying to plan a pro-
posal and not guaranteeing the
road would come this year.”
If the plan is successful,
the road will benefit 52 house-
holds.
with, it would create a hole in
service delivery.
He said the once an ex-
ecutive is appointed, strict
monitoring would be in place
especially in the first year of
appointment to ensure that
there are no non-perform-
ance due to unsuitability.

Book review
15 Gun Salutes: British reports
on Bhutan from 1905-1945
A
fter the British
take-over of
the Himalayan
state of Sikkim
in 1888-89, the
imperial government ap-
pointed a representative to
Gangtok with responsibility
for administering British
Indian relations with the in-
digenous state as well as with
Tibet to the north.
The officer appointed to
Gangtok was John Claude
White, who was designated
as the political officer for Sik-
kim and Tibet. In 1903-04 the
Younghusband mission in-
vaded Tibet and brought that
state under British influence.
Along with White, who was
deputy head of the mission,
its staff included a Bhutanese
aristocrat, Ugyen Wangchuck,
who was then serving as the
Trongsa Penlop (Governor).
Relations between Bhu-
tan and British India had
improved after clashes in the
mid-19th century, and the
Trongsa Penlop served on the
mission as an intermediary
with the Tibetan authorities.
He was well-regarded by the
British, and after the mission
when the Bhutanese sought
to solve internal discord by
agreeing on a suitable indi-
vidual to serve as monarch,
Ugyen Wangchuck was ap-
pointed to the position, a
choice which the British sup-
ported. John Claude White’s
role was meanwhile expand-
ed to include Bhutan among
his areas of responsibility.
White retired in 1908 and
he was succeeded by a line-
age of political officers - not
least Sir Charles Bell - who
served in Gangtok during the
British colonial period. These
Officers filed annual reports
to their government on each
of the states for which they
were responsible: Sikkim,
Bhutan, and Tibet.
Those reports outlined
events and conditions in
each state, including matters
Tshering Tashi (Compiler)
Thimphu: Bhutan Publishing House,
2015.
ISBN: 978-99936-918-1-5
383pp., maps & illustrations.
pertaining to the ruling local
elites, European visitors,
trade relations and legal
issues with British India,
health conditions, educa-
tional and agricultural or
industrial developments,
along with a wealth of mis-
cellaneous details related to
the events of the year.
The annual reports
submitted by the Gangtok
political officer are thus a
major primary source for the
study of the Himalayan states
during the colonial period.
Most of them are preserved
in the original and on micro-
film among the Oriental and
India Office Collections of
the British Library.
The Bhutanese histo-
Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL
rian Tshering Tashi has now
brought together the annual
reports on Bhutan drawn
from the British Library
L/P&S/12 collection and
reproduced them in book
form, thus rendering a con-
siderable service to anyone
interested in the history and
culture of Bhutan - not least
in regard to the Wangchuck
dynasty - who does not have
easy access to the British
Library.
British Library policies
in regard to enquiries into
their former colonial states
are thankfully enlightened
and these reports are pub-
lished with their permission,
although the work is stated
to be “For circulation only in
HOME
Bhutan”. Those interested in
the region should certainly
endeavour to obtain a copy
from Thimphu, for in ad-
dition to the reports, the
work is well-illustrated with
historical photographs and
related details that make it
an indispensable resource
for the study of Bhutan.
The annual reports
included date from 1905-
06 to 1944-45. Reports for
the years 1906-07, 1907-08,
1908-09, 1916-17, 1918-19,
and 1936-37 were not lo-
cated by the editor among
the OIOC records and are
missing here.
While he expresses
the hope that these will be
located and included in a
future edition, whether they
all exist or not is a moot
point. Sikkim and particu-
larly Tibet were of far more
concern to the political of-
ficers than Bhutan, for the
former offered a possible
invasion route into India for
powers to the north and Brit-
ish influence in Tibet was
contested with China and
at least theoretically with
Russia. With Bhutan being
of no strategic or economic
importance to the empire it
was neglected by the British
and the absence of the re-
ports may be a result of this
neglect.
Certainly White was pre-
occupied with Tibet during
his last years in Gangtok and
record-keeping was never
his strong suit so the first
two may not exist. Personnel
shortages meant that during
the First World War many re-
ports from outlying regions
were either not submitted or
were improperly filed, and in
1936-37 British Indian inter-
ests were again focussed on
Tibet, with the political of-
ficer and his highest-ranking
assistants all visiting Lhasa
as part of a British mission
that evolved into a perma-
nent presence in the Tibetan
PAGE 19
capital.
Some reports from
Gangtok survive only in the
personal records of political
officers or their assistants,
but if the missing reports are
not located there we may
have to simply accept that
they were either not filed, or
are now lost.
In addition to the annual
reports on Bhutan, certain
related material is included
in 15 Gun Salutes, notably
extracts from the diaries
of the botanist and some-
time political officer Frank
Ludlow, and correspond-
ence relating to the visit to
England by Her Majesty Ashi
Kesang Choeden Wangchuck
in 1948.
Ludlow was a particu-
larly perceptive observer and
his notes are always of value,
while the correspondence
concerning the royal visit
provides additional evidence
of the British acceptance
that Bhutan was effectively
an independent state. In-
deed the independent status
of Bhutan is made clear
throughout this work, as is
not only British neglect of
Bhutan but also the nation’s
steady progress under the
Wangchuck dynasty.
The publication of these
primary sources is of consid-
erable value to scholarship
and will be particularly wel-
come to local scholars in the
Himalayan regions. There
is a wealth of detail here on
contemporary social, eco-
nomic and political history
and the author - who typed
out the reports by hand [!]
- is to be congratulated on
his labours and his contribu-
tion. Similar volumes on
Sikkim and Tibet would be
more than welcome, but in
the meantime this volume is
an essential resource for the
study of Bhutan.
Contributed by
A.C. McKay
 SPORTS
PAGE 20 Saturday, June 11, 2016 | KUENSEL

Awareness

Riding for empowerment

Younten Tshedup
A four-women biking group
called the Biking Queens, ar-
rived in Thimphu yesterday.
Based in Surat in Gu-
jarat, India, the group is on a
10-nation tour in which they
will cover over 10,000km to
promote awareness on educa-
tion for girls in the South East
Asian countries.
As a part of their cam-
paign: “Beti Bachao, Beti Pad-
hao” the four bikers set out on
a bike journey of 10 countries:
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myan-
mar, Thailand, Laos, Cambo-
dia, Vietnam, Malaysia and
Singapore.
Riding their KMT 390
bikes, the Biking Queens will
visit six dzongkhags in the
country. At the same time
the group will also visit a few
monasteries and meet up
with some of the NGOs in the
country to highlight the im-
portance of education for girls
and women empowerment.
The founder of the group,
Dr Sarika Mehta said that
the bike ride is a medium to
spread the social message of
the government’s campaign of
saving and promoting educa-
tion for girls.
“Women are already em-
powered but because of the
societal pressures in many
countries, women fail to come
out of their comfort zone,”
said Dr Sarika Mehta, who
is also a keen mountaineer. The group is on a 10-nation tour (Photo-Biking Queens, Facebook)
“Biking is a men dominated
area but if we have a passion
for it, even we women can do a meaning to our passion.”
it. If women come out of their
comfort zones, they can work
The journey started from
Surat on June 4 where over
ZAKAR
wonders.” 15,000 riders accompanied
TOMORROW’S
She added that different the group for some 50km
Good day
people will have different during the flag off.
passions. “Our passion is to The group will ride to-
bike and this campaign gives wards Trongsa today. Bad day

lhasung

laza
sogza

JUNE 13, MONDAY

Good day

Bad day

lhasung

laza

sogza

shedza

Picture story: A two-day Bhutan-Nepal friendship golf game is underway at the Royal JUNE 11 SUNRISE : 5:06 am

Thimphu Golf Club. A total of 44 golfers from the two countries are taking part in the friendly 2016 SUNSET : 6:56 pm

competition. This is the third edition of the competition.

Max Min

TO ADVERTISE IN KUENSEL:
Call 326191 or fax 326638;
or email us at advertisement@kuensel.com.bt;
TO SUBSCRIBE: call 327463;
FOR NEWS: call 324684/322483 Source: Meteorology Division, DHMS, MOEA | For any weather information: Call hotline 339673

Printed and published by Kuensel Corporation Limited, PO Box 204, Tel: 975-2-322483/324688, Fax: 975-2-322975, www.kuenselonline.com BICMA Lic no. 303000005, ISSN 0259 1499
 Saturday

K
June 11, 2016 K2 | PAGE 1
2

Flower exhibition
A perfect weekend getaway

I
Thinley Zangmo

t’s Sunday morning. The sky is over-

cast. Tshering Wangmo, a mother of
two, looked outside her apartment. The
prospect of rain worried her. She’s got
plans for the day.
Despite the gloomy weather, Tshering went
ahead with her plan. She woke her children up and
told them that they are heading to Paro for the sec-
ond Royal Flower Exhibition. The children shrieked
with excitement.
Tshering made sure she carried her DSLR
camera. There was a thin drizzle as they started the
journey.
Tshering recalled the childhood days she spent
in Paro some three decades ago. Paro was a quaint
little town back then. She remembered every nook
and corner of the town like the back of her hand.
Hundreds of people had thronged. Cars were
parked in every little space; it was hard to find a
spot. At Ugyen Pelri Palace, the venue of the flower
exhibition, was packed with people and vehicles.
Tshering and her children slowly made their
way towards the exhibition among the crowd.
As they entered the palace grounds spanning 18
acres, the crowd overwhelmed Tshering, but more
than that, it was the variety of exotic flowers and
plants that excited her. Tshering took out her cam-
era and started clicking pictures. The children were
equally engrossed by the various entertainments at
the exhibition.
The stall that captured Tshering’s attention was
the bonsai tree displayed by the citizens of Miharu,
Japan. Some of the trees were 120 years old.
A Japanese bonsai expert, Masashi Hirao, ex-
plained to the observers what bonsai meant. Bonsai
is a Japanese art form of using an ornamental tree
or shrub grown in a pot, artificially preventing it
from reaching its normal size. This Japanese tradi-
tion dates back over a thousand years, Masashi
Hirao said.
Pg.4
 Saturday
PAGE 2 | K2 June 11, 2016
RECIPE

Serves: Four

Ingredient
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped
dark palm sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoon finely grated fresh
ginger
1 garlic clove, crushed
150 gms beef tenderloin
1 tomato, halved
1 cucumber, halved lengthways,
thinly sliced diagonally
1 red onion, halved, cut into thin
wedges
2 long fresh red chillies,
halved, deseeded, thinly sliced
lengthways
1 bunch fresh mint, leaves
picked, large leaves torn
1 bunch fresh coriander, leaves
picked
1 bunch fresh Thai basil, leaves
picked, large leaves torn
55gm toasted peanuts, coarsely
chopped
4 kaffir lime leaves, centre veins
removed, finely shredded

Method:
y Whisk together lime juice, palm sugar,
fish sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger
and garlic in a jug. Place the tenderloin in
a glass or ceramic dish. Drizzle with half
the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and
place in the fridge, turning occasionally,
for 2 hours to develop the flavours.
y Preheat a barbecue grill or chargrill
pan on high. Cook steak on grill for 2-3
minutes each side for medium or until
cooked to your liking. Transfer to a
plate. Cover with foil and set aside for 10
minutes to rest.
y Place the tomato, cucumber, onion,
chilli, mint, coriander, basil, peanuts
and lime leaves in a large bowl. Thinly
slice steak across the grain and add
to the salad. Drizzle with remaining
dressing and gently toss to combine.
Please call: Le Meridien, Thimphu at
Divide salad among bowls and serve
+975 2 337788 for more information
immediately.

YOUTH IN FOCUS

Understanding is the key to opening your mind

I am a trainee medical staff (brother) in a hospital, but my parents are against me working In this respect, perhaps As it is impossible to
here. They think that the work is tough and the salary not so high and they want me to contemplating this simple adequately discuss how to develop
do something else. However, I somehow feel that there is value in the job and so I want to example will help make your work qualities such as generosity,
continue. What does Lam think? sustainable: When you travel patience etc in a short article like

Y
our parents are
correct in their
assessment
of hospital
work – it is very
demanding and the salaries are not
high when compared to many other
careers. However, you need to think
what is important in your life – is
it money or satisfaction? In this
respect, you should consider the
role of money with regard to human
life. If wealth equals contentment,
then every rich person would be
content, but that is not the case,
right?
There is certainly no denying
that a good salary can bring
material benefits, but it is only part
of the equation. Even if you are the
richest person in the world, you
will not be at peace if, for example,
there is mistrust within your family
or you suffer ill health. Also, when
you are old and dying will it really
matter how much property you
once owned or that you had an
expensive car?
Definitely, working in a
hospital is tough, but it can also
be very rewarding and a means to
inspire others. However, to uncover
the positive aspects of the job, you
need to have the right mindset.
In this regard it would be helpful
if you could start each day by
contemplating advice such as this
from HH Dalai Lama:
“Every day, think as you wake
up, today I am fortunate to be alive,
I have a precious human life, I am
not going to waste it. I am going
to use all my energies to develop
myself, to expand my heart out to
others; to achieve enlightenment for
the benefit of all beings. I am going
to have kind thoughts towards
others, I am not going to get angry
or think badly about others. I am
going to benefit others as much as
I can.”
While these words represent
the noblest of intentions, they are
difficult to implement immediately
and so we need a means to
gradually transform our minds.
While there are many ways to
accomplish this, in the context of
hospital work perhaps cultivating
these six altruistic and wisdom-
based qualities is appropriate:
generosity, discipline, patience,
ST, Tashigang
diligence, focus and wisdom.
To start, let’s examine
generosity and compassion.
When you are inundated with
people needing your attention
day after day, many of whom are
in a bad mood due to illness, it is
easy to lose touch with reality and
become harsh. To prevent this
from occurring, you can repeatedly
remind yourself that every patient
you meet is someone’s mother,
father or child. Further to this,
you can consider how you would
like your own family members to
be treated if they visit a hospital.
Would you like them to be treated
with indifference and spoken to
harshly or would you hope that
they are dealt with kindly and with
respect.
Discipline, diligence and
perseverance should also be
cultivated based on understanding
– otherwise there is a strong
possibility that instead of leading
to a positive result, it will actually
be the cause of a self-righteous
and cold attitude. Likewise, if you
merely tough out the bad days, you
are very likely to burn out quickly.
from Thimphu to Bumthang you this, I recommend that you read
will pass over bright mountain these teachings:
passes and through dark valleys. www.lionsroar.com/the-
With introspection, you realise bodhisattva/"
that you cannot have mountains www.lionsroar.com/the-
without valleys and that everything bodhisattva/
you encounter is equally part of www.rinpoche.com/teachings/
the journey. Similarly, you can paramitas.htm
understand that inspired days
cannot exist without tough days.
If you can think like this, you will
be more willing to accept that both
tough and pleasant situations are
equally part of your work and that
it is your job to kindly and skillfully
deal with every single patient who
walks through the hospital door,
not only the peaceful, co-operative
ones.
Anyway, you basically need Shenphen Zangpo was
to consider what you want from born in Swansea, UK, but
life. If you conclude that money spent more than 28 years
is important, then you should ask practicing and studying
Buddhism in Taiwan
yourself why you desire money.
and Japan. Currently, he
Maybe it is because you believe works with the youth
that it can be exchanged for goods and substance abusers
and services that will lead to a in Bhutan, teaching
more enjoyable and content life. meditation and organizing
drug outreach programmes.
However, if your job and daily-life
already bring you contentment
and mental peace, then you have Email to :
already achieved your goal. Money thinleyzangmo24@gmail.com
will just be a bonus. for any queries

K
Junior
ADOPT A DOG!
Kuzu!
My friends call me Caramel. I got my
French name because of my beautiful coat
colour—a golden brown that looks just like
sweet caramel candy. My temporary family
at my foster home says I am cute as a but-
ton. I promise I'm not showing off; that's
really what people say! I am only five months
old, but I am already a lady. I am a well-
behaved and well-mannered dog. Don't get
me wrong; I love to play, too, but I love the
finer things in life. I would love to find an
owner who shares my sophisticated sensi-
bilities. Together, we can do girly things such
as combing our hair, painting our nails, and
sudoku
having a nice promenade. If you're looking
for a sweet, well-mannered gal pal, look no
further.
All you have to do is call 17603516, Email:
dogadoptionbhutan@gmail.com and
ask for Caramel. We can meet over after-
noon tea if you like. As you can see, I'm
already wearing my finest white gloves.
Colour me
pemadkuensel@gmail.com or thinleyzangmo24@gmail.com
Saturday
June 11, 2016 K2 | PAGE 3
r y
Maze
ra
L ite
After Apple Picking
My long two-pointed ladder's sticking through a
tree
Toward heaven still.
And there's a barrel that I didn't fill
Beside it, and there may be two or three
Apples I didn't pick upon some bough.
But I am done with apple-picking now.
Essence of winter sleep is on the night,
The scent of apples; I am drowsing off.
I cannot shake the shimmer from my sight
I got from looking through a pane of glass
I skimmed this morning from the water-trough,
And held against the world of hoary grass.
It melted, and I let it fall and break.
But I was well
Upon my way to sleep before it fell,
And I could tell
What form my dreaming was about to take.
Magnified apples appear and reappear,
Stem end and blossom end,
And every fleck of russet showing clear.
Count down, V. 4.1
My instep arch not only keeps the ache,
SPRING SUMMER
It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round.
And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin
That rumbling sound
Of load on load of apples coming in.
AUTUMN WINTER For I have had too much
Answer Of apple-picking; I am overtired
Of the great harvest I myself desired.
There were ten thousand thousand fruit to touch,
Cherish in hand, lift down, and not let fall,
For all
That struck the earth,
No matter if not bruised, or spiked with stubble,
Went surely to the cider-apple heap
As of no worth.
SP OT t h e d i f fe re n ce One can see what will trouble
This sleep of mine, whatever sleep it is.
Were he not gone,
The woodchuck could say whether it's like his
Long sleep, as I describe its coming on,
Or just some human sleep.
Robert Frost
Zhungked
Sum drel
Triangle
Send greetings to your loved ones
FOR FREE!
Write to us a week before at:
 Saturday
PAGE 4 | K2 June 11, 2016

Flower
exhibition...
From Pg.1 The exhibition
There was also a was a perfect
100-year-old juniper. place for nature
“Many Bhutanese I’ve
met so far are interested in lovers, gardening
the art of making bonsai. It
shows how much Bhutanese enthusiasts, artists
appreciate nature,” Masashi and photographers.
Hirao said.
Tshering took the pic-
said. “It’s an educative and
tures of the bonsai and the
enjoyable experience for the
giggling girls who were try-
children as well. They get
ing the traditional Japanese
to see and learn many new
dress called the kimono.
things about our country
There were some who were
as well.”
learning the art of making
Tshering and her
Japanese traditional tea.
children left the exhibition
Tshering and her
after about three with a
children posed for a picture
smile on their faces. They
under the canopy of flowers
had their lunch at a packed
that were hung from the
restaurant in Paro before
trees. Everywhere Tshering
they headed home.
looked, there were people
The Royal Bhutan Flow-
capturing the moments
er Exhibition was initiated
through pictures.
by the agriculture ministry
The exhibition dis-
upon the Royal Command
played the country’s rich in-
of His Majesty The King
digenous plants and herbs,
with an objective to foster
as well as a large variety
appreciation for beautiful
of ornamental flowers and
spaces and encourage hor-
vegetables from around the
ticulture and floriculture-
world. Everywhere Tsher-
based economy.
ing looked there was a new
The first Royal Bhutan
flower that captured her
Flower Exhibition was held
attention.
at the Ugyen Pelri Pal-
The exhibition also saw
ace grounds in April last
people from the Royal Proj-
year. It was a huge success
ect Foundation of Thailand
with over 50,000 people
display organic vegetables,
visiting over the course of
temperate fruits and
five days.
exotic flowers that gave out
Her Majesty the Queen
a sweet smell. There were
Mother Tshering Yangdon
also various installations
Wangchuck is the Royal
and themed gardens that
Patron for the Royal Bhutan
was swarmed by the visitors
Flower Exhibition.
along with the models of
Her Majesty The
dzongs and monasteries.
Gyaltsuen inaugurated the
“My favourite has
exhibition on June 4.
been the flowers so far,”
The exhibition is being
said Tshering. “Nothing
held to commemorate Her
captures my attention more
Majesty’s Birth Anniver-
than the flowers, especially
sary.
the rose that was gifted by
The exhibition was
the Duke and Duchess of
organised by the agriculture
Cambridge during their last
ministry with support from
visit to the country.”
Paro dzongkhag, World
The exhibition was a
Wildlife Fund-Bhutan,
perfect place for nature lov-
Royal Society for Protection
ers, gardening enthusiasts,
of Nature, Tourism Council
artists and photographers.
of Bhutan, Druk Holdings
“We feel a sense of
and Investment and Bhutan
magic in the air and I love
Power Corporation.
the hidden corners and
The exhibition ended
surprises. It’s a great place
on June 8.
for families to spend the
day. Everyone seems to
have a good time,” Tshering