༉ ལཱ་གཡོག་དང་ཚོང་ལཱ་ལས་ཁུངས་དང་ འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༨ པའི་ཚེས་༩ འི་ནང་འཁོད་ སླར་བསྐྱེད་རྩོལ་སྒྲུབ་འོག་གི་ རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ལོག་གཅིག་སྒྲིལ་ལས་རིམ་ལུ་ འབྲུག་མི་༣༣༥ གིས་ ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་ནུག།
ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་ལས་ ལོག་འོང་མི་ ཕོ་སྐྱེས་༡༩༣ དང་ ཨམ་སྲུ་༡༤༢ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ལོག་གཅིག་སྒྲིལ་ལས་རིམ་དེ་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་ལས་ ལོག་འོང་མི་ཚུ་གི་ དགོས་མཁོ་དང་ མི་སྡེ་ལས་གཡོག་ནང་ གཅིག་སྒྲིལ་བཟོ་བྱིན་ནི་གི་ ངེས་བརྟན་ལྷན་ཐབས་ལུ་ གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་གྲས་ལས་ མི་ངོམ་༦༣ ཡང་ཅིན་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༦༣ གྱིས་ ཞི་གཡོགཔ་སྦེ་ འཛུལ་ནི་ལུ་ སྤྲོ་བ་ལེན་མི་དེ་ཡང་ འབྲུག་གི་མི་མང་ལས་སྡེ་ནང་ རྒྱུན་བརྟན་དང་ ཉེན་སྲུང་སྒྲིང་སྒྲི་ ཡོད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིན་པས།
རྒྱལ༌ཁབ༌ནང༌ ལོག་འོག་མི་ མང་ཤོས་ཅིག་ ཨཱསི་ཊེ་ལི་ཡ་ལས་ཨིནམ་བཞིན་དུ་ ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་ ཡོངས་བསྡོམས་ལས་༡༨༨ ཡང་ཅིན་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༥༦.༤ གི་རྩིས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ལཱ་གཡོག་དང་ཚོང་ལཱ་ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ བཀོད་མིའི་ནང་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་ལས་ ལོག་འོང་སྟེ་ ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ ཉེན་སྲུང་གི་ ལཱ་གཡོག་ཚུ་ འཚོལ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ མང་ཤོས་ཅིག་གིས་ ཡུན་བརྟན་གྱི་ གོ་སྐབས་ལེན་དོ་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ ལ་ལུ་ཅིག་གིས་ ཚོང་ལཱ་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ དང་འདོད་བསྐྱེད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་ལས་ ལོག་འོང་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ ཚོང་ལཱ་གསརཔ་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ནི་ལུ་ སྤྲོ་བ་བསྐྱེད་མི་གིས་ ཚོང་ལཱ་དང་འབྲེལ་བའི་ ལས་སྣ་ཚུ་ ཡར་དྲག་འགྱོ་ནི་གི་ འོས་འབབ་སྦོམ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ལས་རིམ་དེ་ མཐར་འཁྱོལ་ཅན་འབྱུང་ནི་ལུ་ ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ གྲོས་བསྟུན་ཐོག་ལས་ འབྲེལ་ཡོད་ལས་སྡེ་ཚུ་དང་ འབྲེལ་འཛིན་འབད་དོ་ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་ ལོག་འོང་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་དང་ ལོག་གཅིག་སྒྲིལ་གྱི་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ བཟོ་གྲྭ་ཚོང་འབྲེལ་དང་ལཱ་གཡོག་ལྷན་ཁག་གིས་ ཚེ་གཡོག་ལམ་སྟོན་དང་ གོ་བ་བརྡ་སྤྲོད་ ལཱ་གཡོག་ནང་ ལོག་བཙུགས་ནིའི་ གོ་སྐབས་ཚུ་ལུ་ གཙོ་རིམ་བཟུང་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཨིན་རུང་ གྲུབ་འབྲས་ལེགས་ཤོམ་འབྱུང་ནི་དེ་ ལཱ་གཡོག་གོ་སྐབས་ཀྱི་ གནས་སྟངས་དང་ ལས་སྡེ་ཚུ་གིས་ ལེན་མ་ལེན་དང་འཁྲིལ་ཏེ་ འགྱོ་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ བཀོད་མི་ནང་ ལས་རིམ་དེ་ སྣ་མང་ལས་སྡེའི་ རྩོལ་སྒྲུབ་དང་ ལྷན་ཁག་གི་ འཆར་གཞི་དེ་ ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ ལཱ་གཡོག་ག་བཟུམ་ལུ་ སྤྲོ་བ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་ན་ ལྷན་ཐབས་འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ལཱ་གཡོག་ནང་ ལོག་འཛུལ་ནི་ཐད་ལུ་ ལྷན་ཐབས་དང་ ལོག་བཙུགས་ནིའི་བྱ་རིམ་དེ་ འབྲེལ་ཡོད་ལས་སྡེ་ཚུ་དང་ མཉམ་འབྲེལ་ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ གདམ་ཁ་འབད་མི་ ལཱ་གཡོག་མེད་པའི་ཁར་ གདམ་འཐུ་མ་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ཚེ་གཡོག་བསླབ་བྱ་དང་ བསླབ་སྟོན་ཐོག་ལས་ ལཱ་གཡོག་གཞན་ འཚོལ་ཞིབ་རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ཚོང་ལཱ་གསརཔ་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ནི་གི་ སྤྲོ་བ་ཡོད་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་དང་ གོང་འཕེལ་དང་འབྲེལ་བའི་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་ཚུ་ བྱིན་ནི་ཨིནམ་བཞིན་དུ་ ཡུན་རིང་དཔལ་འབྱོར་རྒྱུན་བརྟན་གྱི་དོན་ལས་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་ ལོག་འོང་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ ལཱ་འབད་ནི་གི་ དགོས་མཁོ་ཅན་གྱི་ ཅ་ཆས་དང་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཚུ་ འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
གཞུང་གིས་ དུས་ཅི་ འགོ་འབྱེད་འབད་མི་ ལས་རིམ་དེ་ཡང་ ཕྱིའི་རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་ལས་ འབྲུག་ལུ་འོང་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་དང་ རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་གྱི་དོན་ལུ་ ལྷན་ཐབས་ལུ་དམིགས་ཏེ་ ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།
ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

༉ སོ་ནམ་དང་ སྒོ་ནོར་ལྷན་ཁག་འོག་གི་ སྒོ་ནོར་ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ ལ་མཐོ་ས་སྡོད་མི་དང་ གཡག་གི་སྤུའི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ ཡར་དྲག་བཏང་ཐབས་ལུ་ ལས་འགུལ་གསརཔ་ཅིག་ འགོ་འབྱེད་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
འདི་བཟུམ་གྱི་ལས་དོན་ལུ་ ལེགས་སྒྱུར་འབད་མི་གུར་དང་ དེང་སང་གི་ འཕྲུལ་ཆས་ཚུ་ ལ་མཐོ་སར་སྡོད་མི་ མི་སྡེ་ཚུ་ལུ་ བགོ་བཀྲམ་འབད་དེ་ གཡག་གི་སྤུའི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ སྤུས་ཚད་ཅན་བཟོ་ནི་དང་ འོང་འབབ་བཟོ་ནིའི་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་དོན་ལུ་ཨིན་པས།
སྒོ་ནོར་ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ དེང་སང་གི་ ལམ་ལུགས་ཐོག་བཟོ་མི་གུར་གསརཔ་ཚུ་ ཐིམ་ཕུག་ གླིང་བཞི་རྒེད་འོག་གི་ ཁྱིམ་གུང་༣༠ ལུ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༨ པའི་ཚེས་༥ ལུ་ བགོ་བཀྲམ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ལས་འགུལ་དེ་གི་ཐོག་ལས་ ཐིམ་ཕུག་ ཧཱ་ སྤ་རོ་ཚུ་ནང་ གུར་༩༡ དེ་ཅིག་ བགོ་བཀྲམ་འབད་ཚར་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ གུར་ཚུ་ལུ་ གོང་ཚད་ཡོངས་བསྡོམས་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༤,༣༩༡,༨༠༢ གནས་ཡོདཔ་ད་ གུར་དེ་ཡང་ རྒྱུ་ནའེ་ལཱོན་དང་ ཀ་བལ་གྱིས་བཟོ་བཀོད་འབད་ཐོག་ལས་ གནམ་གཤིས་ཀྱི་གནས་སྟངས་དང་བསྟུན་ བཀོད་རིས་འབད་མི་གིས་ ལ་མཐོ་སར་སྡོད་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཕན་ཐོགས་སྦོམ་ར་ འབྱུང་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ འབྲུག་གཞི་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ ཡུ་ཨེས་ཌི་༧༦,༧༦༥ གི་ཐོག་ལས་ བྱིན་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ གྲོགས་རམ་གྱི་གན་ཡིག་ཚུ་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༣ ཟླ་༦ པའི་ཚེས་༡༢ ལུ་ མཚན་རྟགས་བཀོད་དེ་ ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༤ ཟླ་༡༢ པའི་ཚེས་༣༠ ཚུན་ འགོ་འདྲེན་འཐབ་ནི་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
སྒོ་ནོར་གཙོ་འཛིན་འགོ་དཔོན་ རྟའུ་ཅུ་རབ་རྒྱས་ཀྱིས་ བཤད་མིའི་ནང་ འདི་བཟུམ་གྱི་ ལས་དོན་དེ་ གཙོ་བོ་ར་ གཡག་གསོ་སྐྱོང་དང་ གཡག་གི་སྤུའི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ ཡར་དྲག་བཏང་ཐབས་ལུ་དམིགས་ཏེ་ གུར་དང་ དེ་གི་ སྒྲིག་ཆའི་མཐུན་རྐྱེན་ ཨོམ་དཀྲོག་ནིའི་འཕྲུལ་ཆས་ དེ་ལས་ མགུ་ཤད་རྐྱབ་ནིའི་མཁོ་ཆས་ཚུ་ བཀྲམ་སྤེལ་འབད་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་གྱིས་ གུར་སྤུབ་ཐངས་དང་ ཨོམ་དཀྲོག་ནིའི་ འཕྲུལ་ཆས་བཙུགས་སྒྲིག་འབད་ནི་ལ་སོགས་པ་ཚུ་ ཧཱ་རྫོང་ཁག་ ཆུ་ན་ཕུག་གི་ གཡག་སོན་སྤེལ་ལྟེ་བ་ལུ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་ཚུ་ག་ར་ གཡག་གི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ལུ་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་དོན་ལུ་ ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
སྒོ་ནོར་ལས་ཁུངས་ཀྱིས་ འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ དམིགས་ཡུལ་དེ་ གུར་ལེགས་བཅོས་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ བགོ་བཀྲམ་འབདཝ་ད་ རང་ལུགས་ཀྱི་ ལམ་སྲོལ་ཚུ་ཡང་ བདག་འཛིན་འབད་དེ་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིནམ་ད་ འདི་བཟུམ་གྱི་ལེགས་སྒྱུར་དེ་ ཇོ་མོ་ལྷ་རི་གི་ གངས་ཆེན་ལུ་ ཕན་ཐོགས་འབྱུང་ཐབས་ལུ་ མི་དང་ རི་དྭགས་སེམས་ཅན་གྱི་བར་ན་ བྲེལ་ཟིང་མེདཔ་སྦེ་ འབད་ཐབས་ཚུ་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་གྱིས་ གངས་གཟིག་གི་གདོང་ལེན་དང་ སྡོད་གནས་མེདཔ་ཐལ་མི་ འབྱོགཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ ཇོ་མོ་ལྷ་རི་གི་འོག་ལུ་ གཡག་རྩ་ སྲོས་ ན་རོ་ ནུབ་རི་ཚུ་ནང་དང་ ཧཱ་རྫོང་ཁག་གི་ ཆུ་ན་ཕུག་གཡག་སོན་སྤེལ་ལྟེ་བ་ལུ་ སྦྱིས་ དབུས་སུ་ སྐར་ཚོགས་ཚུ་ནང་ གཡག་བསད་ནི་ཚུ་ མར་ཕབ་འབད་དོན་ལུ་ཡང་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ དམིགས་ཡུལ་ཅིག་དེ་ ཇོ་མོ་ལྷ་རི་གི་མི་སྡེ་ཚུ་གི་ མི་ཚེའི་གནས་སྟངས་ལེགས་ལྡན་དང་ གངས་གཟིག་ཉམས་སྲུང་ ཡུན་བརྟན་གྱི་འོང་འབབ་བཟོ་དོན་ལུ་ ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
འདི་དང་འབྲེལ་ གཡག་ལས་ཐོན་པའི་ གཡག་གི་སྤུ་གིས་ བཟོ་མིའི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ཚོང་འབྲེལ་དང་ མི་སྡེའི་བར་ན་བརྗེ་སོར་ གཡག་གི་སྤུ་ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་ཚུ་ བྱིན་ནི་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ད་རེས་འཕྲལ་ཁམས་ཅིག་ལས་ དབྱར་རྩྭ་དགུན་འབུབ་འཐུ་ནི་ལུ་ གཙོ་རིམ་སྒྲིག་མི་གིས་ གཡག་གསོ་སྐྱོང་འཐབ་མི་ རྒྱ་ཆེཝ་སྦེ་ར་ མར་བབས་སོང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་ཚུ་ལུ་དམིགས་ཏེ་ སྒོ་ནོར་ལས་ཁུངས་དང་ འབྲུག་གཞི་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༣ ལས་༢༠༢༧ ཚུན་ལུ་ གཡག་ཐབས་བྱུས་ལག་ལེན་དུས་སྟོན་ཚུ་ འགོ་འདྲེན་འཐབ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཐབས་བྱུས་དེ་གིས་ གཡག་ཚུ་དཔལ་འབྱོར་དང་བསྟུན་མཉམ་འབྲེལ་དང་ ལཱ་གཡོག་ཡོདཔ་བཟོ་ནི་ རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་ལུ་ ལྷན་གྲོགས་ཚུ་ འབད་ནི་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༣ ལུ་ འབྲུག་ལས་བལ་གྱི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་ མེ་ཊིག་ཊོན་༨.༧ འབད་བའི་ཁར་ དེ་ཡང་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ལུ་མེ་ཊིག་ཊོན་༡༢.༥ འབད་མི་དང་ཕྱདཔ་ད་ རྒྱ་ཆེཝ་སྦེ་ར་ མར་བབས་སོང་པའི་ བརྡ་མཚོན་སྟོནམ་ཨིན་པས།
བལ་གྱི་ཐོན་སྐྱེད་དེ་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༣༥ འབད་ཡོད་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ བཀྲིས་སྒང་ ཐིམ་ཕུག་ དེ་ལས་ མགར་ས་ཚུ་ནང་ལས་ཨིན་པས།
ལོ་དེ་ནང་ར་ གཡག་༣,༣༦༧ སྟབས་ཅིག་ལུ་ཤི་བའི་ཁར་ ལ་མཐོ་སར་སྡོད་མི་རྫོང་ཁག་༡༡ ཡོད་ས་ལས་ ཡོངས་བསྡོམས་མི་གྲངས་༢༩,༦༩༩ ཡོདཔ་ད་ འདི་ཚུ་གི་གྲས་ལས་ གཡག་དང་གཅིག་ཁར་སྡོད་མི་དེ་༧༨༧ མ་གཏོགས་ མེདཔ་ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།
ཚེ་རིང་དབང་འདུས།

Around 335 Bhutanese have registered for the reintegration programme

KP Sharma

A total of 335 Bhutanese nationals have registered for the National Reintegration Programme (NRP) under the REVIVE initiative as of August 9, 2024, according to the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship.

The registered returnees include 193 males and 142 females.

The NRP is designed to facilitate the smooth reintegration of Bhutanese returning from abroad by addressing their needs and integrating them into the local workforce.

Of the registered individuals, 163 of them—nearly 49 percent—have expressed interest in civil service roles, reflecting a strong preference for the stability and security offered by public sector employment in Bhutan.

The majority of these returnees, 188 or 56.4 percent, come from Australia.

The Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship stated that these registered returnees are primarily seeking secure employment upon their return to Bhutan.

While many are looking for stable job opportunities, others have shown interest in entrepreneurship training.

This could potentially lead to a rise in entrepreneurial activities as these returnees seek to establish new businesses.

To ensure the programme’s success, the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship has been actively engaging with stakeholders through consultation meetings. Consultation meetings have been conducted to garner support for the economic and psycho-social reintegration of the returnees.

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment is focused on providing career guidance, advocacy, and facilitating re-employment opportunities, though success will largely depend on job market conditions and sectoral willingness to absorb these returnees.

Further, the department stated that the NRP is a multi-sectoral initiative, and the ministry plans to identify the specific areas of interest of the registrants to facilitate their reintegration. For those requiring re-employment, a facilitation and referral process will be implemented in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

In cases where vacancies are not available in the preferred areas, or candidates are not selected, alternative job options will be explored through career counseling and guidance.

In addition, those interested in starting new businesses will receive entrepreneurship training and other business development services, ensuring that the returnees are provided with the necessary tools and support to achieve long-term economic stability.

The NRP, launched by the government this year, aims to support those returning to Bhutan and contribute to the nation’s development.

YK Poudel

Bhutan World Food Forum Chapter (BWFFC) was launched on International Youth Day yesterday, marking the country’s entry as the 14th global chapter.

Unveiled at the Bhutan Trade and Investments Forum in May, the Chapter is an independent youth-led network of young people from across the country interested in transforming the agrifood sector in the country. Over 100 youth are part of the Chapter.

The launch is part of the National Youth Symposium, a two-day event coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The symposium, which concludes today, featured over 200 youth participants from 18 dzongkhags, alongside officials from various ministries, UN agencies, and local entrepreneurs.

The event spotlighted the potential of youth to spearhead policy development, skills enhancement, and innovative entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector.

The symposium also introduced the Bhutanese version of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) action card game ‘X(Cross)’, developed by the Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Japan, in partnership with FAO Bhutan and the BWFFC. This online game simulates trade-offs in the agrifood sector to achieve SDGs.

Key discussions revolved around four core tracks: youth action, innovation lab, education, and culture. Panels discussions addressed critical themes such as agrifood systems transformation through youth entrepreneurship, digital solutions in social innovation, and government support for young entrepreneurs.

The session on exploring the nexus of mindfulness, mental resilience, and youth-led agrifood systems transformation would be held today.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister Younten Phuntsho said that the 13th Plan, which aims to generate Nu 50 billion by 2029, has prioritised youth in agri-business. “Youth as an agent of positive change must venture in creative agri-food-businesses and tap in the much-needed assistance from the government.”

FAO representative for Bhutan and Nepal, Ken Shimizu, said that the launch of the youth-led Chapter for Bhutan could leverage the opportunities and external funds to boost the agri-food sector in the country.

The FAO has planned USD 83 million investment in Bhutan’s agrifood sector from 2024 to 2028. Currently, FAO Bhutan has secured approximately USD 16 million, with an additional USD 42 million in the pipeline.

“Furthermore, about USD 25 million is currently under soft commitment,” Ken Shimizu said. 

One of the Chapter leaders for Bhutan, Ngawang Gyeltshen, said that WFF Bhutan chapter is a platform that acts as a global think tank that fosters youth-led solutions in innovation, science and technology. “The Chapter is a platform capable of harnessing the potential of youth to drive innovation and sustainable practices in the agrifood sector and chart a pathway for the existing challenges.”

The Department of Agriculture, FAO Bhutan, World Food Programme, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and the health ministry are key agencies involved in this initiative.

Thinley Namgay 

A report from the Home Ministry reveals the extensive damage caused by the flood that struck Dechencholing on August 10.

At Dechencholing Satellite Town, 49 households have been severely impacted, forcing 158 residents to seek temporary shelter at the Royal Bodyguard (RBG) mess. Officials are yet to confirm the exact number of people staying with relatives.

The flood has damaged 10 buildings in the area, including four under construction. Affected structures have sustained damage to doors, windows, walls, and other critical components, with ground-floor rooms filled with muck.

Of the 22 huts in the Satellite Town, 14 have been affected. One car was washed away, eight remain in good condition, and the rest are damaged. Additionally, 32 vehicles are stranded, including an Alto car submerged in the river and an Ecco Versa that was washed away.

The RBG Campus has also been hit hard, with 84 households and approximately five vehicles affected. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Sixty four students have been affected, including 39 residing at the RBG mess. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development has committed to providing uniforms, stationery, and school bags to these students.

The flood also affected 62 foreign workers from six construction sites in the new Dechencholing town. The Office of the Gyalpoi Zimpon, in collaboration with the RBG, is providing these workers with clothing, meals, and temporary accommodation at the RBG mess.

The Department of Immigration has issued new work permit cards and provided assistance letters for those returning to India.

In addition, the home ministry stated that two households at Changtagang under Kawang Gewog were also affected.

The ministry, however, has not yet disclosed details about casualties and injuries. It has been confirmed that a 56-year-old man from Pemagatshel lost his life in the flood while a 54-year-old woman is reported to be in stable condition after being hospitalised.

Around 1,000 volunteers, including armed forces personnel, de-suups, civil servants, and employees of private sector and civil society organisations, are assisting the affected residents and helping to clear debris.

The Thimphu Thromde is undertaking maintenance on the bridge leading to Dangrina to ensure a stable foundation for vehicles, with heavy vehicles restricted to emergency use only.

The flood has also affected several water transmission pipelines and the water treatment plant in Dechencholing, Dangrina, and Satellite Town.

Restoration efforts are underway, with a temporary 90mm water line being connected to reservoir tank two at Dangrina to supply water to affected areas. Three water tankers have been deployed to support the restoration process.

In a world where the allure of winning often overshadows the essence of participation, Kinzang Lhamo’s marathon finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games stands as a powerful reminder of what truly matters. Representing Bhutan on the global stage, Kinzang Lhamo did more than just complete a 42-kilometre race; she embodied the Olympic spirit, proving that the Games are not merely about winning medals but perhaps more importantly about the courage to take part, the resilience to endure, and the determination to finish.

With just six months of guided training under Bhutan Athletics, Kinzang Lhamo embarked on her international debut with the weight of a nation’s hopes and the pressure of global expectations on her shoulders. Competing against 91 of the world’s finest female athletes, Kinzang Lhamo ranked 80th, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds. Eleven runners failed to finish, yet Kinzang Lhamo pressed on, refusing to be counted among them.

Her performance, though not a podium finish, was a victory in its own right—a victory of the human spirit over adversity.

As the final athlete to cross the finish line on Sunday, an hour and a half after the winner, Kinzang Lhamo was met with a standing ovation. The applause was not merely for her endurance but for her embodiment of the true essence of the Olympic Games. The world saw in her the spirit of perseverance, a symbol that these Games are about more than medals—they are about heart, determination, and the unyielding will to overcome.

Kinzang Lhamo’s journey to the Olympics is a story of dedication and passion. She took up running after joining the Royal Bhutan Army, quickly proving her mettle by winning the Bhutan marathon last year with a time of 3 hours and 26 minutes. She also came second in the gruelling Snowman Race in 2022, an extreme endurance event covering 203 kilometres through the treacherous Himalayan mountains. These achievements show her commitment and her readiness to tackle any challenge that comes her way.

Her words to foreign media in Paris, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me to finish the race,” resonate deeply. They remind us that success is not measured by where we are placed but by the determination we show in reaching the finish line. Kinzang Lhamo’s story is an inspiration for all, especially the youth of Bhutan, who see in her a hero not just for her athletic prowess but also for her indomitable spirit.

In Kinzang Lhamo, we find a hero who teaches us that participation, perseverance, and pride in representing one’s country are as important as winning. Her journey to the Paris Olympics may have ended, but the legacy she leaves behind is one of courage, hope, and inspiration.

Kinzang Lhamo is not just an Olympian; she is a symbol of Bhutanese resilience and spirit. Her journey inspires us all to pursue our dreams with the same passion and perseverance that carried her across that finish line.

Sherab Lhamo

The final year students of Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology  (GCIT), known as the Zero Pixel team, won the three-day hackathon on developing an advanced Legal Aid Data Management System.

The event was hosted in Thimphu by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bhutan from August 9 to 11 in collaboration with GCIT, the GovTech Agency and the Legal Aid Centre.

Dorji Thogmey of Zero Pixel team said that the team developed a digitised application approval process for the legal aid application data management system for the Legal Aid Centre. The system features functions for registration, tracking,and delivering decision information, all with real-time data capabilities and an easy-to-use interface.

“We leveraged industry level developmental practices to build a base for a system, that with a bit more work, will be applicable and available to the public soon,” he said.

The new system is slated for integration by February 2025.

The Legal Aid Centre, GCIT, and UNDP will continue to collaborate with the winning team, who received a grant of Nu 419,919 (USD 5,000) to refine and test their prototype.

Dorji Thogmey said that they are an aspiring technology start-up and the funds will be useful for them to properly kick-start their business in system development and tech solution for organisations and businesses.

The four runner-up teams each earned Nu 83,983 (USD 1,000), with their feasible features to be incorporated into the final system.

The hackathon aimed to enhance the transparency of legal processes and improve case management efficiency. It focused on securely managing sensitive information and leveraging data analytics for evidence-based decision-making.

Out of 55 students divided into 11 teams, participants tackled issues like delays and data loss risks associated with manual case management.

The participants received legal support and mentorship from seven mentors which included fullstack, backend, frontend developers, application architecture and engineer.

A UNDP press release states that there is a need for advanced case management systems, as the current manual legal case management system is time consuming and poses security risks to sensitive data.

One of the participants and team leader of an all-girl group third year student, Ugyen Choden, said that the 72-hour hackathon was a challenging but rewarding experience. Her team quickly adapted to a new framework and developed an innovative solution for the data management and gained insights into the legal system while developing a solution to improve data management at the Legal Aid Centre.

The Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP, Khurshid Alam, said: “This hackathon is a vital part of our joint effort with GCIT to improve access to justice for the vulnerable groups in Bhutan.

By tapping into the creativity of young minds, we aim to create a system that not only boosts the efficiency of legal aid services and upholding transparency and accountability, in line with UNDP’s principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’.”

The hackathon is the first in a series of initiatives that will be carried out as a part of a wider collaboration between GCIT and UNDP aimed at advancing public sector innovation by digitalisation and fostering tech-entrepreneurship.

Staff Reporter

The two-day ‘Climate Justice Workshop: Legal Pathways and Global Actions’ kicked off yesterday at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) School of Law in Pangbisa, Paro.

Organised by the JSW School of Law in collaboration with the Bar Council of Bhutan and the Georgetown Institute of Open and Advanced Studies, the event brought together legal experts, environmentalists, policymakers, and activists from around the globe.

The workshop’s focus is on the role of legal frameworks in tackling the global climate crisis and ensuring justice for the most vulnerable populations.

The workshop seeks to enhance participants’ understanding of the climate emergency, assess the effectiveness of current global and national efforts, and explore legal avenues, particularly through the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to advance climate justice.

With global climate negotiations often failing to yield significant results, this workshop highlights the crucial role of legal mechanisms in driving substantial change, protecting vulnerable populations, and securing the planet’s future.

Various topics were discussed yesterday, such as threats to food security, Bhutan’s environmental challenges, and global climate policies, among others.

Today’s session will focus on the legal avenues available to pursue climate justice, with in-depth sessions on the ICJ and its relevance in the context of climate litigation. Participants will also explore Bhutan’s potential to bring a case before the ICJ, discussing strategic and ethical considerations involved.

The Asia and Pacific region stands at a critical juncture, positioned both as a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and a potential leader in transformative climate action. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), alongside our member countries, is steering the region towards a sustainable future through support for a just transition. Our vision aims to reorient economic and social frameworks to foster low-carbon, climate-resilient growth that enhances prosperity and inclusion.

The need for a just transition, one that puts people at the center of the shift to net zero, cannot be overstated. Asia and the Pacific account for over half of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, driven by its dependence on fossil fuels. At the same time, more than 200 million people in the region are impoverished, with many lacking access to basic electricity and relying on traditional biomass for cooking and heating. Women are particularly affected, and often face disproportionate impacts.

As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, ADB prioritizes an inclusive approach to ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition to net zero are fairly distributed. Achieving net zero requires us to restructure our economies and change the way we live and work. It is paramount that in this process, the burdens of change are not imposed on the most vulnerable and that the benefits of a low-carbon economy are both maximized and shared equitably. Ensuring that all segments of society, including women, share in these benefits is critical to the success of our just transition efforts.

To create opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth, ADB works with partners to implement robust policy frameworks, enhance institutional capacities and engage stakeholders through participatory processes. These just transition efforts align with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement, and at the country level we support our developing members in crafting policies and programs that respond to their unique climate challenges and development needs.

At COP27, ADB launched a Just Transition Support Platform to help drive a just transition within our developing member countries. This platform focuses on supporting countries to incorporate just transition into their institutional and policy frameworks and identify innovative financing approaches that attract public and private capital for a just transition. The platform also supports the mainstreaming of just transition in ADB’s operations.

Moreover, at COP28, ADB launched an inclusive process to design a Just Transition Finance Facility that will provide targeted finance to address the socio-economic challenges of the transition to net zero. It will help countries realize the economic and social benefits of the transition and ensure these benefits are inclusive and widespread, ultimately supporting a robust and equitable shift to low-carbon and resilient economies.

Just transition is also a core part of ADB’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Developed in partnership with ADB member countries, ETM is a scalable initiative that has the potential to be one of the largest carbon-reduction programs in the world. Under it, public and private investments – from governments, multilateral banks, private sector investors, philanthropies and other long-term investors – finance country-specific ETM funds. These funds are designed to retire or repurpose coal power assets on an earlier schedule compared with a business-as-usual timeline.

Just transition principles are a cornerstone of ETM’s implementation, helping us to ensure that potential negative socio-economic impacts are minimized through policies and programs. For example, retraining and reskilling programs provide new opportunities in emerging industries for women and vulnerable workers.

The importance of managing the social impacts associated with the transition to net zero can be seen through ADB’s work on the Cirebon 1 coal-fired power station in Indonesia. This plant serves as an ETM pilot, for which ADB completed a preliminary just transition assessment earlier this year – the first of its kind for ADB and for the region. The assessment utilized a comprehensive methodology to identify impacts along the coal value chain and within the community and surrounding areas. It also established a process to further assess and develop a plan to manage impacts at the appropriate project stages.

Just transition offers a compelling vision for green and inclusive development across Asia and the Pacific. Its promise lies not only in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, but in creating a more equitable social order that values well-being and gender equality, provides decent work, and ensures sustainable economic growth.

We must encourage optimism and concerted effort from all sectors of society to embrace the principles of justice and inclusivity that will be needed for a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. This journey faces challenges but is also filled with opportunities for transformative change that can forge a healthier, more equitable and prosperous world. The path we chart now will determine the climate legacy we leave for future generations.

Contributed by

Masatsugu AsakawaPresident,

Asian Development Bank

The Civil Society Organisation Authority has extended the endowment fund deadline

Thinley Namgay

In a move that could provide the much-needed breather to the non-profit sector in the country, the Civil Society Organisation Authority (CSOA) has announced a time extension for the endowment fund deadline.

The decision, made during the CSOA board meeting on August 9, offers the CSOs in the country more time to comply with financial requirements.

The Authority approved the CSOs’ proposal to stagger the endowment fund requirements, allowing Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) to gradually raise Nu 3 million and Mutual Benefit Organisations (MBOs) to accumulate Nu 1.5 million  over several years, with some adjustments

Under the revised guidelines, PBOs now have four years to amass an endowment of Nu 3 million while MBOs have to raise Nu 1.5 million in three years. 

This progressive funding schedule requires PBOs to raise Nu 500,000 in the first year, Nu 600,000 in the second, Nu 700,000 in the third, and the remaining amount in the fourth. MBOs must secure Nu 500,000 in the first year, Nu 600,000 in the second, and the final Nu 400,000 in the third year.

Previously, CSOs were given just one year to meet these requirements – a timeline that was set to expire next month. This extension provides a crucial breathing space for many CSOs struggling to meet the ambitious targets.

Speaking to Kuensel, Home Minister Tshering said that the key objective of the initiative is to ensure that CSOs sustain themselves and provide better services to the community.

He reassured that there are no current plans to de-register any CSO failing to meet the endowment fund requirements. However, he cautioned that a failure to secure the necessary funds could adversely affect the CSO’s annual grading.

Reactions from the CSO community are mixed.

The executive director of Film Association of Bhutan, Tashi Dendup, welcomed the extension.   

Executive Director of the Journalists Association of Bhutan (JAB) Rinzin Wangchuk said that with the extension of the grace period, JAB might be able to secure the fund on time. “JAB will work hard to secure the fund,” he said.

An official from Lhaksam said it would be challenging for his office to secure the fund on time. “Sometimes, it is even difficult to bear operating costs,” he said.

Executive Director of the Chithuen Phendey Association (CPA) Tshewang Tenzin said that while the endowment fund requirement is mandated, it is challenging for organisations focusing more on societal contributions rather than financial stability.

He added that the Association is exploring business activities to generate income but would have preferred an exemption from the fund requirement if given the choice.

Bhutan currently has 53 CSOs, which play a crucial role in complementing government efforts and addressing societal needs. Despite their significance, there is a prevailing perception that some CSOs operate like family businesses or are self-serving. This skepticism  stems from a lack of public awareness about the vital roles these organisations play.

Many CSOs struggle with limited funding, inadequate staffing, and low salaries, which hamper their ability to build networks and impact rural areas effectively. The sector’s dependence on minimal staff and the challenge of retaining employees due to low compensation further exacerbate these issues.

Even if international donors support staff salaries, the Ministry of Finance has reservations about development partners funding CSO operational costs, including salaries. In addition, some CSO activities also overlap with government initiatives, and there is a perceived lack of innovative solutions to pressing societal issues.

༉ གལ་སྲིད་ ཨ་མོ་ཆུ་ལུ་ཡོད་པའི་ གནས་སྐབས་ཀྱི་སྡོད་ཁྱིམ་ཚུ་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ར་ སྡོད་པ་ཅིན་ ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་ས་ཁོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ དབྱེ་ཁག་དང་པ་དེ་ ཞག་དུས་སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༥ ཟླ་༡༢ པའི་ནང་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་ཚུགས་པར་ ལཱ་ཁག་གཏང་ནི་ བཟུམ་ཅིག་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
གནས་སྐབས་ཀྱི་ ཁྱིམ་ཚུ་ཡང་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༠ ལུ་ ཀོ་བིཌ་-༡༩ ལུ་བརྟེན་ གནོད་པ་བྱུང་མི་ བཟའ་ཚང་ཚུ་གི་དོན་ལུ་ ས་ཆ་ཨེ་ཀར་༡༧ ནང་ རྐྱབ་མི་འབདཝ་ད་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ ས་ཁོངས་ཡོངས་བསྡོམས་ ཨེ་ཀར་༡༦༠ ཡོད་མི་ལས་ སྡོད་ཁྱིམ་ཚུ་གིས་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༡༡ ཁྱབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
དེ་གིས་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡཱན་གོང་འཕེལ་དངུལ་ཁང་ལས་ སྐྱིན་འགྲུལ་ཐོག་ལེན་མི་ མ་དངུལ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་ས་ཡ་༢༢༧ ཡང་ཅིན་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༡༣ ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་མ་ཚུགས་པར་ ལུས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ ཞི་བའི་ལཱ་གི་དབྱེ་ཁག་དང་པ་ གཙང་ཆུ་མཐའམ་བདའ་སྟེ་ རྩིགཔ་རྐྱབ་ནི་དང་ ཆུ་བྱག་ཚུ་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ཟླ་༡༡ པའི་ནང་ རྐྱབ་ཚར་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དབྱེ་ཁག་༢ པའི་ནང་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་གཞི་རྟེན་ལཱ་ཚུ་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༤༥ མཇུག་བསྡུ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ ནེ་པཱལ་གྱི་ལས་སྡེ་ ཀ་ལི་ཀ་དང་ རིག་གསར་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་ལས་སྡེ་གིས་ ཟད་འགྲོ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་ཐེར་འབུམ་༡.༧༤ ཐོག་ལུ་ རྐྱབ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ དེ་ནང་ ལས་མི་༣༠༠ དེ་ཅིག་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ད་རེས་ ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ ཞག་དུས་ལས་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༣ དང་༤ དེ་ཅིག་ རྒྱབ་ལུས་ཏེ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཨིན་རུང་ ལས་འགུལ་འཛིན་སྐྱོང་གིས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༥ ཟླ་༥ པའི་ནང་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་ནིའི་ རེ་བ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ ཟླཝ་༡༠ རྐྱངམ་གཅིག་ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
འབྲུག་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་སྡེའི་ ལས་འགུལ་མདོ་ཆེན་ ཀ་མཱལ་ཌ་ཀཱལ་གྱིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ ཡན་ལག་ལས་སྣ་ག་ར་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡཱན་གོང་འཕེལ་དངུལ་ཁང་གི་ སྐྱིན་འགྲུལ་སྒོ་མ་བསྡམ་པའི་ཧེ་མ་ལས་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་འོང་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
སྔོ་ལྗང་དང་ སའི་དབྱིབས་དང་འབྲེལ་བའི་ལཱ་ཚུ་ དུས་ཅི་ ལོ་མཇུག་བསྡུ་ཁམས་ལུ་ རིན་བསྡུར་འབད་ནིའི་ ལས་རིམ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཁྲོམ་སྡེའི་ས་ཁོངས་འཛིན་སྐྱོང་དང་ མ་རྩ་གཞི་བཙུགས་གོང་འཕེལ་གྱི་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་དོན་ལས་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱིས་ འབྲུག་མི་སེར་རྒྱུ་ནོར་གཞི་བཟུང་དང་ བཟོ་སྐྲུན་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འཛིན་དང་ གྲོས་བསྟུན་འབད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ལས་འགུལ་གཞན་ཚུ་གིས་ མ་རྩ་གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ སེམས་ཤུགས་ཅན་བཟོ་ནི་ལུ་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།
ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་ས་ཁོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འགུལ་གྱིས་ འཆར་དངུལ་ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཌི་ས་ཡ་༩༣ ཡོད་མི་ལས་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༦༥ ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡཱན་གོང་འཕེལ་དངུལ་ཁང་གིས་ གནང་བྱིན་ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཌོ་ལར་ས་ཡ་༣༤.༢༦ དང་ སྐྱིན་འགྲུལ་ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཌི་ས་ཡ་༤༧.༢༤ བརྩིས་ཏེ་ ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཌོ་ལར་ས་ཡ་༨༡.༥ མ་དངུལ་གྱི་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ལྷག་ལུས་ ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཌོ་ལར་ས་ཡ་༡༡(བརྒྱ་ཆ་༩) དེ་ འབྲུག་མི་སེར་རྒྱུ་ནོར་གཞི་བཟུང་གི་ བགོ་བཤའ་སྦེ་ མ་རྩ་གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་ནུག།
འགོ་བཙུགས་ཀྱི་ལཱ་ རྒྱ་གར་གྱི་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་ལས་སྡེ་ ཨེཕ་ཀོསི་གཞི་རྟེན་ལས་སྡེ་གིས་ འཛིན་སྐྱོང་འཐབ་མི་ནང་ ཟད་འགྲོ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་ཐེར་འབུམ་༣.༥༡༨ འབདཝ་ད་ བརྒྱ་ཆ་༡༨ དེ་ཅིག་ ཡར་སེང་སོང་མི་དེ་ཡང་ ནད་ཡམས་ལུ་བརྟེན་ སྐྱ་ནམ་གྱི་ གོང་ཚད་ཡར་འཕར་སོང་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིན་པས།
སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༡༨ ལས་ འགོ་བཙུགས་མི་ ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ཞག་དུས་དེ་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༡ ཟླ་༥ པའི་ནང་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་དགོཔ་ཨིན་རུང་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ མ་གཏོགས་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་མ་ཚུགསཔ་ཨིན་པས།
གཙང་ཆུ་བདའ་སྟེ་ རྩིགཔ་དང་ ཆུ་བྱག་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་བ་ཅིན་ ཨ་མོ་ཆུ་ལས་ ཆུ་རུད་འཐོན་ནི་གི་ ཉེན་ཁ་ཚུ་ མར་ཕབ་འབད་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་རུང་ གནམ་བྱཱར་གྱི་སྐབས་ བཙོག་ཆུ་གི་ གཡུར་བ་༡༣ བསུབས་པ་ཅིན་ ཉེན་ཁ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
འགོ་དཔོན་ཚུ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ རིག་རྒྱུན་བརྟན་དང་ ཆུ་མཇུག་ཉེན་སྲུང་གོང་འཕེལ་གཏང་ནི་ལུ་ གཞུང་གི་ཁ་ཐུག་ལས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་དགོཔ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ གནད་དོན་དེ་གིས་ ཁྲོམ་གོང་འཕེལ་གཏང་ནི་ནང་ མ་རྩ་གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ གནོད་པ་རྐྱབ་ནིའི་ ཉེན་ཁ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
བཟོ་སྐྲུན་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འཛིན་གྱི་ ལས་འགུལ་འཛིན་སྐྱོང་པ་ ལྷུན་གྲུབ་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ ཆུ་གཡུར་༦ དེ་ དམིགས་བསལ་དུ་ ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་-ཅམ་ཀུ་ན་འཁོར་ལམ་ལས་འགུལ་དང་ ཨ་མོ་ཆུ་ས་གནས་ས་ཁོངས་འཆར་གཞི་(ཨེ་ཀར་༡༠༠) དེ་ལས་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་ས་ཁོངས་ཚུ་ནང་ ཚ་གྱང་ཡོད་མི་དེ་ཡང་ ཆུ་རུད་འཐོན་ནིའི་ ཉེན་ཁ་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ མི་གི་ཚེ་སྲོག་ལུ་ཡང་ བར་ཆད་རྐྱབ་ནིའི་ ཉེན་ཁ་སྦོམ་ར་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༣ ཟླ་༦ པའི་ནང་ ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་ཏེ་ ཆུ་གཡུར་༦ གི་ ཉེ་འདབས་ལུ་ཡོད་པའི་ ཁྱིམ་ཚུ་གནོད་སྐྱོན་རྐྱབ་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ རྡོ་རུག་ཚུ་ འཕྱགས་པའི་སྐབས་ ཟད་འགྲོ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་ས་ཡ་༣.༤ དེ་ཅིག་ གནས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
སྤོ་ཏོག་རྒྱུན་བརྟན་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ བར་འཛུལ་ཡུན་བརྟན་གྱི་ སྣ་མང་ལས་སྡེ་ཅིག་མེདཔ་ལས་ གནད་དོན་དེ་ ཡང་བསྐྱར་དུ་ གནམ་བྱཱར་ཨ་རྟག་ར་ ཐོན་དོ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ རྒྱུ་དངོས་ཚུ་ལུ་མེདཔ་རྐྱབ་ནི་དང་ ལོག་རྐྱབ་པའི་སྐབས་ ཟད་འགྲོ་མངམ་གནས་ནི་གི་ ཉེན་ཁ་འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ད་ལྟོའི་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་གྱི་ གནས་སྟངས་འོག་ལུ་ ས་གོ་མཁོ་འདོད་བཟོ་ནི་ལུ་ ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་གོང་འཕེལ་འགྱོ་ནི་ལུ་ ལོ་བཅུ་ཕྲག་ལས་བཅད་དེ་ འགོར་ནི་བཟུམ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཕུན་ཚོགས་གླིང་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་ས་ཁོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་དེ་ མཐར་འཁྱོལ་ཅན་གྱི་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་བཟོ་ནི་ལུ་ སྲིད་བྱུས་བསྒྱུར་བཅོས་དང་ གཞུང་ལས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་སྒྲིང་སྒྲི་ དགོཔ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ད་རེས་ མ་འོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་དང་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་དེ་ ངེས་མེད་གནས་སྟངས་ལུ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཁྲོམ་སྡེ་ས་ཁོངས་གོང་འཕེལ་ནང་ ཨེ་ཀར་༢༤༠ ཁྱབ་པའི་ རྒྱ་ཁྱབ་ས་ཁོངས་ཁ་པ་དང་ ཨེ་ཀར་༦༥༠ འབད་མི་ རྒྱ་ཁྱབ་ས་ཁོངས་ག་པ་ དེ་ལས་ ས་གོ་ཆུང་ཀུ་ རྒྱ་ཁྱབ་ས་ཁོངས་༥ ཚུ་ ཚུད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ གངས་རི་གི་ ས་ཁོངས་ཚུ་ཡང་ ལས་འགུལ་འོག་ལུ་ ཚུད་དེ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ སྐྱེ་ལྡན་གནས་སྟངས་ལྟ་བཤལ་པའི་ ས་ཁོངས་ཅིག་སྦེ་ ངོས་འཛིན་འབད་ནུག།
འབྲུག་མི་སེར་རྒྱུ་ནོར་གཞི་བཟུང་གིས་ ཁྲོམ་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ ས་ཁོངས་མཁོ་འདོད་དང་ དཔལ་འབྱོར་གོང་འཕེལ་གྱི་ལཱ་ཚུ་ འགོ་ཁྲིད་འབད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ བཟོ་སྐྲུན་གོང་འཕེལ་ལས་འཛིན་གྱིས་ གོང་འཕེལ་འཛིན་སྐྱོང་འཐབ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ ཆུ་རུད་བཀག་ཐབས་དང་ ཡུན་བརྟན་གཞི་རྟེན་ལུ་ གཙོ་རིམ་བཟུང་དོ་ ཡོད་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།
ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་པའི་ཤུལ་ལུ་ ཉམས་རྒུདཔ་ཚུ་ལུ་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་བར་ ཁས་བླངས་པ་༡,༠༠༠ ལྷགཔ་ཅིག་ འོང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

༉ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༨ པའི་ཚེས་༡༠ ལུ་ ཐིམ་ཕུག་ བདེ་ཆེན་ཆོས་གླིང་ལུ་ རང་བཞིན་གྱི་རྐྱེན་ངན་ ཧང་སྟོང་མར་ཆུ་རུད་སྦོམ་ཅིག་ ཐོན་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཁ་ཙ་ བསྟན་སྲུང་དམག་མི་དང་ བདེ་སྲུངཔ་ ཞི་གཡོགཔ་ དེ་ལས་ སྒེར་དང་ མི་སྡེ་ལས་ཚོགས་ནང་ ལཱ་འབད་མི་བརྩིས་ཏེ་ ཁས་བླངས་པ་༡,༠༠༠ ལྷགཔ་ཅིག་གིས་ ཆུ་རུད་ལུ་བརྟེན་ གནོད་སྐྱོན་རྐྱབ་མི་ མི་སེར་ཚུ་ལུ་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་བར་ འོང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
སྒེར་སྡེ་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་ལས་སྡེ་ བཛྲ་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་གྱིས་ ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་སའི་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ ས་བརྐོ་འཕྲུལ་ཆས་༢ དང་ སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་གྱི་སྣུམ་འཁོར་དག་པ་ཅིག་བརྩིས་ཏེ་ ལས་མི་༡༥༠ བགོ་བཀྲམ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ལྟ་རྟོག་པ་ཅིག་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ རང་བཞིན་གྱི་ རྐྱེན་ངན་བྱུང་པའི་སྐབས་ དེ་བཟུམ་མའི་ མཉམ་འབྲེལ་གྱི་གྲོགས་རམ་འབད་མི་དེ་ འབྲུག་པའི་མི་སྡེ་ནང་ གཅིག་མཐུན་དང་ བྱམས་བརྩེ་ དེ་ལས་ གཅིག་གིས་གཅིག་ལུ་ ཕན་ཚན་འབྲེལ་གནད་ཡོད་པའི་ བརྡ་མཚོན་སྟོནམ་ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་པའི་ཤུལ་ མི་སྡེའི་ ཁ་ཐུག་ལས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་མི་ ལེ་ཤ་ཐོན་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ས་གནས་ནང་སྡོད་མི་དང་ བཟའ་ཚང་ཚུ་གིས་ ཉམས་རྒུདཔ་དང་ འགོ་དཔོན་ དེ་ལས་ ལཱ་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ བཞེས་སྒོ་དང་ བསིལ་ཆུ་གིས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཚུ་ཡང་ འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཁས་བླངས་པ་ཚུ་གིས་ ཆུ་རུད་ལུ་བརྟེན་ གཡུར་བ་ཚུ་ བསུབས་མི་དང་ རྡོ་རུག་བསལ་ནི་ ས་འོག་ལུ་ཨེབ་ཡོད་པའི་ཅ་ཆས་ཚུ་ བཏོན་ནིའི་ཆ་རོགས་ འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
བདེ་ཆེན་ཆོས་གླིང་གི་ ས་ཁོངས་ཚུ་ ཆུ་དང་ འདམ་ཁོག་ཁོ་ལུ་གྱུར་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ ཁས་བླངས་པ་ མང་ཤོས་ཅིག་གིས་ ཉམས་རྒུདཔ་ཚུ་ ཉེན་སྲུང་གི་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ སྤོ་བཤུད་འབད་ནི་དང་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཚུ་གང་དྲག་ འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
རྐྱེན་ངན་བྱུངམ་ཅིག་ ས་གནས་ཀྱི་ མི་སེར་ཚུ་ བདེ་སྲུངཔ་ལས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ལེན་ཏེ་ རྟ་རྦབ་དང་ དཀར་སྦི་ས་ལུ་སོང་སྟེ་ ཞག་ཅིག་རང་སོའི་ཆ་རོགས་དང་ སྤུན་ཆ་ཚུ་དང་གཅིག་ཁར་ སྡོད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
ཆུ་རུད་ལུ་བརྟེན་པའི་ ས་རུ་རྡོ་རུག་ཚུ་ བསལ་ནིའི་ལཱ་འབད་བའི་བསྒང་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ རྒྱལ་པོའི་སྐུ་སྲུང་གི་ འགེགས་སྲུང་སྒོ་ར་འོག་གི་ གཞུང་ལམ་དེ་ རྒྱུན་འགྲུལ་གྱི་དོན་ལུ་ ཕྱེ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ སྐུ་སྲུང་གི་ ས་ཁོངས་ལ་ལོ་ཅིག་ སེལ་ཚར་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
སྐུ་སྲུང་དམག་སྡེའི་ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་པའི་ རོང་ཆུ་དེ་ ཉེན་སྲུང་གི་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ ཁ་སྒྱུར་བཏང་ཞིནམ་ལས་ ས་གནས་ཀྱི་ མི་སེར་ཚུ་ གནས་སྐབས་ཅིག་གི་རིང་ སྐུ་སྲུང་གི་ ཟ་སྤྱོད་ཁང་གི་ སྒྲིང་ཁྱིམ་ནང་ སྤོ་བཤུད་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།
འགོ་དཔོན་ཚུ་གིས་ ཆུ་རུད་ཀྱི་ རག་རོ་ཚུ་ བསལ་ནི་ལུ་ ཉིནམ་དག་པ་ཅིག་ འགོར་ནི་བཟུམ་འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིནམ་ད་ ཆུ་རུད་ཀྱིས་ མི་ངོམ་༧༠ སྡོད་སའི་ སྡོད་ཁྱིམ་༣༠ དང་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་༡༥ དེ་ཅིག་ མེདཔ་གཏང་ཡོདཔ་ད་
རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ཆུ་དཔྱད་དང་ གནམ་གཤིས་རིག་པའི་ལྟེ་བ་དང་ འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ ཆུ་རུད་དེ་ཡང་ གློག་ཆར་ལུ་བརྟེན་ འོང་ནི་མས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ལྟེ་བ་དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ ཆུ་རུད་དེ་ ཐོན་ས་དང་ གནད་དོན་ག་ཅི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ བྱུང་བྱུངམ་ཨིན་ན་ དེ་འཕྲོ་ལས་ སླབ་མི་ཚུགས་པས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཞིབ་དཔྱད་སྡེ་ཚན་ལས་ འགོ་དཔོན་ཅིག་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ ཆུ་རུད་དེ་ ཆརཔ་ཤུགས་སྦེ་རྐྱབ་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ འོང་ནི་བཟུམ་ཅིག་ འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཚན་རིག་ནང་ (cloudburst) ཟེར་ ས་སྨུག་གནག་དུང་དུ་སྦེ་ སྤུབ་ཐོག་ལས་ ཧང་སྟོང་མར་ ཚར་ཅིག་གུ་ ཆརཔ་ཤུགས་སྦེ་ རྐྱབ་མི་ལུ་ གོ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ས་སྨུག་ཚུ་ཡང་ མང་ཤོས་ར་ གངས་རི་ལུང་ཕྱོགས་ནང་ འོང་དོ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ དེ་ཡང་ འབྲུག་སྐད་དང་གཅིག་ཁར་འོངམ་ཨིན་པས།
བདེ་ཆེན་ཆོས་གླིང་ལུ་སྡོད་མི་ སྐྱེས་ལོ་༤༩ ལང་མི་ བདེ་ཆེན་མཚོ་མོ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ མོ་ར་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་སྡོད་དེ་ ལོ་༢༠ དེ་ཅིག་ ལང་ཡོད་རུང་ དེ་བཟུམ་མའི་ རྐྱེན་ངན་དེ་ ཚར་ཅིག་ར་ མ་བྱུང་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
རྐྱེན་ངན་བྱུང་པའི་སྐབས་ མོ་ར་ རྟ་རྦབ་ལས་ ཁྱིམ་ནང་ལྷོདཔ་ཅིག་ཨིནམ་ལས་ མོ་གིས་ཆུ་རུད་འོང་སར་མཐོངམ་ཅིག་ དེ་འཕྲོལ་ལས་ འབྱོག་སོང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་བསྒང་ མོ་གི་རྨགཔ་དང་ ཨ་ལོ་ཚུ་ ཁྱིམ་ནང་མ་སྡོད་པར་ ཁ་བརྗེ་བཟང་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
མོ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ མོ་རའི་ཅ་ཆས་ མང་ཤོས་ཅིག་ ས་གི་འོག་ལུ་ ཚུད་ཡོད་རུང་ ང་བཅས་བཟའ་ཚང་ལུ་ གནོད་སྐྱོན་མ་བྱུངམ་ལས་ སེམས་དགའ་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཆུ་རུད་ལས་ ཉེན་སྐྱོབ་འབད་མི་ འཆི་མེད་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ སྒྲིག་གཡོག་རྒྱུག་སྟེ་ ལོག་འོང་པའི་སྐབས་ ཆརཔ་ཤུགས་སྦེ་ རྐྱབ་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ གཞན་དང་མ་འདྲ་བའི་ འབྲུག་སྐད་ཅིག་ཡང་ ལྡིར་ས་གོ་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཁོ་གིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ཆུ་རུད་ཐོན་པའི་སྐབས་ ཁོ་རའི་ཨ་ལུ་སྦོམ་ཤོས་དེ་ ཕྱི་ཁར་དང་ ཨ་ལོ་གཞན་༢ དེ་ ཁྱིམ་ནང་ན་ཡོད་ནི་དེ་གིས་ དེ་འཕྲོ་ལས་ ཨ་ལོ་༢ འབག་སྟེ་ ཉེན་སྲུང་གི་ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ མ་འགྱོ་བའི་ཧེ་མར་ དུས་ཡུན་སྐར་མ་༡༠ དེ་ཅིག་ ཁྱིམ་ཐོག་གུ་ འཛེགས་སྡོད་ཅི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
གཞུང་ལམ་གྱི་འོག་ལུ་སྡོད་མི་ རག་རོ་གི་ ཚོང་འབྲེལ་འཐབ་མི་ ལྷ་རྔ་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ ཆུ་རུད་ཀྱིས་ ཁོ་གི་གལ་ཆེ་བའི་ཡིག་ཆ་དང་ ཅ་ཆས་ཚུ་ མེདཔ་བཏང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཏི་རུ་གི་སྒྲོམ་ནང་ཡོད་མི་ དངུལ་རྐྱང་༤༠,༠༠༠ ཡང་ ཐོབ་མ་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ད་ལས་ཕར་ ག་དེ་སྦེ་ མི་ཚེ་སྐྱོང་ སྡོད་ནི་ཨིན་ན་ཟེར་ ཚ་གྱང་ལང་ཡོད་རུང་ མི་དབང་མཆོག་དང་ གཞུང་གི་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ རེ་བ་བསྐྱེད་དེ་ ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཚོང་པ་ཀརྨ་ཚེ་རིང་གིས་ཡང་ ཅ་ཆས་དང་ ཏི་རུ་ཚུ་ ཆུ་རུད་ཀྱིས་ འཕྱགས་བདའ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ཉིནམ་དག་པ་ཅིག་གི་ཧེ་མར་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༡༥༠,༠༠༠ གནས་པའི་ ཚོང་ཆས་ཚུ་ མཁོ་སྒྲུབ་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ ག་ར་ མེདཔ་ཐལ་ཏེ་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ ད་རེས་ཀྱི་ ཟླཝ་མཇུག་བསྡུཝ་ད་ སྣུམ་འཁོར་ཉོ་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ ཆ་རོགས་ཅིག་ལས་ སྐྱེད་བརྒྱ་ཆ་༤ རེ་སྦེ་ ཏི་རུ་༡༢༠,༠༠༠ བསྐྱི་མི་ཡང་ ཐོབ་མ་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།
ཨིན་རུང་ འགོ་དཔོན་ཚུ་གིས་ རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ རེ་བ་བསྐྱེད་དེ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ད་རེས་ གནས་སྐབས་ཀྱི་ སྡོད་གནས་ཅིག་བཟོ་ནི་ལུ་ གཙོ་རིམ་བཟུང་དགོ་པས་ཟེར་ ཀརྨ་ཚེ་རིང་གིས་ བཤདཔ་ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།
ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

It was a serene Saturday, with its usual afternoon showers. It was a normal weekend in the capital city. Not a slight hint of an impending trouble. And then, out of nowhere, the small Dechencholing stream in Thimphu  surged uncontrollably, turning into a devastating flash flood. And soon, residents of Dechencholing and Dangrina were faced with a disaster that no one could have anticipated that day. 

The flash flood swept through the area, destroying homes, burying streets under debris, and tragically claiming one life. The chaos was immediate and overwhelming. The flood, which struck without warning, turned the quiet surroundings of Dechencholing into a scene of devastation. The scale of the destruction was staggering.

Yet, amidst the destruction and fear, the response from the Bhutanese people was inspiring. Stories of bravery and selflessness quickly spread on social media as individuals and groups rallied to provide support. A de-suup – a civil servant working at the Anti-Corruption Commission – risked his own life, wading through floodwaters, to rescue more than 15 people. The display of such extraordinary courage was heartwarming and deeply inspiring.

The response to the flash flood was swift. De-suups and the armed forces mobilised quickly and ventured into the heart of the flood-affected areas to provide relief and rescue efforts, saving those trapped. Private companies deployed heavy machines to clear debris and facilitate the recovery process. The kind monks of Pangrizampa Monastery offered tea and snacks to affected people and those stranded by the flood.

The Dechencholing flood highlights the need for preparedness in the face of natural disasters. Our fragile mountain ecosystem is increasingly  becoming vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The flood, likely caused by changing weather patterns, is a stark reminder of the growing frequency of such events. Irregular rainfall, landslides, and floods are becoming more common – visible effects of climate change.

As government agencies work to understand the cause of the Dechencholing flood, it is crucial to recognise the lessons learned. Effective disaster response involves not only immediate relief efforts but also long-term planning and preparation. Building resilience in our communities means investing in infrastructure, improving early warning systems, and fostering a culture of preparedness. We need robust planning and resilience strategies.

The Dechencholing flood demonstrated the strength of the Bhutanese spirit. In the face of adversity, the response was characterised by solidarity, courage, and compassion. As we rebuild and recover from this disaster, it is essential to remember that our greatest strength lies in our collective ability to come together, support one another, and face challenges head-on.

Lives are precious, and while we can reconstruct infrastructure and homes, the true measure of our resilience is our unwavering commitment to each other. By working together and remaining steadfast in our efforts, we can overcome even the most unpredictable natural disasters. The true spirit of Bhutanese citizenship shone brightly during the Dechencholing flood. That’s how it should be. Together, we are stronger than any challenge.

GBCL’s  pay and plant initiative to mitigate climate change

Yangyel Lhaden

A few months ago, founder of Amulet Luxury Travel Bhutan, Tshering Tashi, read an article about a “Pay and Plant”  initiative of Green Bhutan Corporation Limited (GBCL) in Bhutan Airline’s in-flight magazine.

He was intrigued and interested by the initiative which allows tourists to pay and plant a tree sapling while in the country. “The article said a full-grown tree could provide oxygen to four people,” Tshering Tashi said. “ This meant if an individual planted a sapling it could provide oxygen to three other people.”

GBCL started the initiative last year as an innovative ecotourism programme that involves tourists in tree planting to promote climate change mitigation and environmental conservation. By merging tourism with ecological responsibility, the initiative aims to boost Bhutan’s reputation as a leader in sustainability and explore private financing for afforestation initiatives.

Since the programme’s inception over 100 tourists have paid and planted trees.

The tourist pays a certain amount of money per sapling and they are provided with  geo-coordinates to monitor their sapling online from anywhere. The areas of plantation fall under purview of GBCL ensuring the saplings are taken care of to grow into a full-grown tree.

Tshering Tashi said that it was a perfect opportunity to engage tourists with more activities such as tree plantation programmes which had an overarching impact in mitigating climate change and limiting carbon footprints left by tourists. His first guests  to participate in the Pay and Plant programme, the Schmettows, a family  of seven from Germany planted saplings  in Bumthang on August 7. “I am going to include the programme in my guests’ itinerary henceforth,” Tshering Tashi said.

Johanne Von Schmettow, the father, is a German leadership advisor, and his daughter Victoria an environmental scientist trained in Australia. Both expressed their gratitude and praised the initiative.

“We really enjoyed being part of the local tree-planting exercise,” Johanne Von Schmettow said. “We believe that the Gross National Happiness paradigm—for people and planet—should be woven into every tourist programme. Each guest of the country should leave as an ambassador for this holistic, sustainable thinking.”

Tshering Tashi said that his guests were  interested as it cleared their carbon footprints while travelling and staying in Bhutan.

“The initiative aims to offset carbon, mitigate climate change, and inspire individuals to plant trees, as trees have significant potential to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” GBCL’s Head of the Nursery Plantation and Floriculture Section, Lenmith Lepcha, said. “While tourists leave a carbon footprint by traveling here, even planting a single tree can contribute to climate mitigation in its own way.”

Chief Executive Officer of GBCL, Karma Jigme Temphel, added that the initiative was also meant to educate and raise awareness about the lasting impacts of tree planting. “The initiative was designed not just for tourists but for interested Bhutanese as well, with planting sites identified in popular tourist destinations across Bhutan.”

The pay and plant plantation sites are in Thimphu, Punakha, Paro, Chukha, Bumthang, and Trashigang.

Lhakpa Quendren

Phuentsholing—The Phuentsholing Township Development Project’s (PTDP) Zone A is likely to miss its completion deadline of December 2025 if the Amochhu temporary shelter remains within the project area.

The temporary shelter, built in 2020 for families affected by Covid-19, occupies 11 percent of the project area, covering 17 acres within the central business district of the 160-acre project area. This could leave 13 percent, or Nu 227 million, of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan un-utilised.

The project’s first civil works package, including river training and embankment, concluded in November 2022. The second phase, involving urban infrastructure, is 45 percent complete.

Nepal-based company Kalika and Rigsar Construction Private Ltd. are carrying out the construction worth Nu 1.74 billion. Over 300 workers are involved in the project.

The project is currently running three to four percent behind schedule but the project management is optimistic about completing it by May 2025, with 10 months still remaining.

The project director of Construction Development Corporation Limited (CDCL), Kamal Dhakal, said that all works, including the subcomponents of the project, must be completed before the closure of the ADB loan.

The upcoming contract for greenery and landscaping is expected to be awarded by late 2024.

The project also engaged consultants to assist Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) and CDCL with township management and investment promotion, while other consultancy firms will help promote the project to attract investors.

The PTDP has utilised 65 percent of its USD 93 million budget. ADB funded USD 81.5 million (88 percent), including USD 34.26 million in grants and USD 47.24 million in loans. DHI invested the remaining USD 11.5 million (12 percent) as equity.

The initial phase, managed by AFCONS Infrastructure Limited, India, saw costs rise to Nu 3.518 billion, an 18 percent increase due to pandemic-induced inflation. The project, which began in 2018, was completed in 2022 after the deadline was extended from May 2021.

While the completion of river training and embankment works have significantly reduced flood risks in Amochhu, challenges remain with 13 outfall drains prone to blockages during monsoon season. Investments in machinery and other resources are required to clear the blockage.

Officials said that government intervention is needed to stabilise the hillside and protect downstream developments. This issue has the potential to impact investment in the PTDP.

The CDCL project manager, Lhendup Dorji, explained that six drains are of particular concern to the Phuentsholing-Chamkuna Road Project, Amochhu LAP (100 acres), and the township due to their potential for flooding and the threats they pose to lives and livelihoods.

In June 2023, about Nu 3.5 million was spent on clearing debris from six drains within the project area after flooding affected housing areas near these drains. “Without immediate multi-sectoral long-term intervention to stabilise the hill, these recurring issues are poised to persist every monsoon, leading to huge risk to properties and considerable recurring expenses over time,” he added.

Under the current ‘business-as-usual’ scenario, Phuentsholing’s growth would take decades to create space demand. A ‘business-induced’ approach with policy changes and strong government support is needed to accelerate this and make the PTDP a thriving town.

Future development of the area and the source of funding remain uncertain for now. The planned township includes 240 acres in Zone B, 650 acres in Zone C, and Zone D, the smallest area. The mountain area will also be part of the project, designated as an ecological tourism hotspot.

DHI is leading the township development project to ease space demand and support economic growth, while CDCL is managing the development, which focuses on flood protection and sustainable infrastructure.

The new Director of the Department of Tourism, Damcho Rinzin, talks to Kuensel reporter Dechen Dolkar on a range of issues related to tourism, attracting 300,000 tourists annually, and plans to spread the benefits of tourism across the country

What priorities will you focus on to bring about changes in the tourism industry?

“…in the 1970s, tourism as an industry was only introduced after the coronation of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. It was suggested to us then that Bhutan would benefit economically from bringing in as many tourists as possible into the country. At that time, Bhutan was largely unknown to the outside world. And yet, with Drukgyal Zhipa at the helm, we had the confidence to make our own decisions- to decide that our approach to tourism policy would be that of high value low volume. It seemed counter-intuitive at a time when tourists to Bhutan were so few. There were many skeptics. But because of that policy, Brand Bhutan emerged. And you see the results of that policy for yourselves today. People who make it to Bhutan feel privileged to be our guest. In hindsight, we realize the profound wisdom of that decision, but we could have easily gone the other way, had it not been for that conviction we had to forge our own path, our future, and our destiny.” – His Majesty The King, 2016

I will always be guided by the above quote of His Majesty the King. Tourism must continue to serve Bhutan, not Bhutan serving tourism. It must create opportunities. Tourism must improve the lives of all Bhutanese people. It should strengthen our sovereignty, and it must strengthen the brand Bhutan. The tourism vision was crafted carefully to secure and balance the dual objectives of preserving our national identity and leveraging economic gains. We must constantly remind ourselves that our aspiration is to be an exclusive destination, sustainably managing the number of visitors to provide maximum value for the visitors and for all the people of Bhutan. Thus, it is very important to ensure that the tourism industry of Bhutan aligns with the vision of high value, low volume.

Tourism is a strategic national asset for Bhutan and every Bhutanese is a stakeholder. One of my focus areas is to gradually ensure that every Bhutanese becomes a tourism brand ambassador, taking keen interest and supporting tourism as responsible Bhutanese. I am glad that the top experience of tourists is their interaction with the Bhutanese people. I want to work on programmes to increase awareness on why Bhutanese people, even if they do not have a direct stake, need to support tourism for the greater benefit. I want to ensure that they are the custodians of the ‘Bhutan Believe’ brand.

The other focus will be on strengthening the tourism industry’s engagement, commitment, and collaboration. It is imperative that I work with the tourism private sector because it is the backbone of the tourism industry. I want to engage them regularly and work on different areas of collaboration. It is also important that we work together to support the national interest and goals through tourism. With strong participation and commitment from the private sector, I am confident that we can bring a positive impact for Bhutan.

Likewise, it will be equally important to engage and collaborate with other public and non-governmental agencies. There are a good number of agencies currently supporting tourism and we can work on sharing resources to increase the footprint of our engagement. I would like to strengthen the collaboration and partnership in the areas of tourism. Such collaboration is only win-win because all of us want to ensure that our interventions bring positive impact for Bhutan and to tourists.

It is absolutely important for the tourism partners to rethink their roles in the tourism eco-system. They must recalibrate and evolve to stay relevant in this very competitive world. As suggested by Maxwell, there should be a ‘leader shift’ in the industry, with continuous evolution and adaptation, making strategic shifts, to remain effective. It will be important to map the roles of all tourism stakeholders to strengthen the effectiveness of the tourism industry.

Then the other focus is strengthening and professionalising my team at the Department of Tourism. Without an effective, committed, and motivated team, I will not be able to achieve my dream for the tourism of Bhutan. There are many stakeholders within and outside Bhutan that depend on the Department. Those working for the Department must be motivated, incentivised, and be equipped with the right skills, exposure, experience, and knowledge to provide support to the stakeholders efficiently. It is very important to work on building an effective team that is motivated and has the sense of belongingness to accomplish the high value tourism vision of Bhutan.

The other important area of focus is enhancing systems and processes because it is the lifeline of the tourism value chain. It is important to leverage technology to provide seamless, efficient services. I will work on developing required systems to address these challenges with the support of the stakeholders.

Our beautiful, amazing country with huge potential to attract tourists will not realise the goal of tourism if we do not work on increasing the visibility and attractiveness of Bhutan. Strategic marketing and promotion is very important to attract the right kind of tourists to Bhutan and ensure that brand narrative and information are consistently communicated. The Department will work with private sector and other relevant stakeholders, local and global, in marketing, not only to make our presence felt in key source markets, but also to make sure Bhutan constantly stays in the minds of potential travellers, resulting in increased visitor footfalls.

It is important to deliver the brand promise of providing high value experiences. Thus, the quality and standards of tourism infrastructure and facilities are very important. My other focus will be to enhance the standards and quality of such facilities and services.

Bhutan as a country is an experience by itself and there are many opportunities to curate wonderful experiences for tourists by taking advantage of our rich culture and environment. I will work more on this opportunity to diversify and provide authentic tourism offerings. The other important immediate initiative is to have a common vision and roadmap for the industry which is accepted and adopted by all stakeholders, public and private. This will provide clarity to the changes that took place so far and more importantly, align our interventions and activities with the vision.

What specific strategies does the Department plan to implement to maintain Bhutan’s status as a high-value, low volume tourist destination?

The goal of tourism in Bhutan is to attract high net-worth, responsible and conscious tourists who will become our brand ambassadors and lifelong friends. It is about welcoming discerning visitors, who are appreciative of and sensitive to our culture, heritage and values, and willing to pay a premium for visiting Bhutan.

Over the years, I am happy that I have met so many tourists who have been very supportive of our tourism policy. Some even help us clean our places, plant trees, and they also provide support to schools, villages, farmers, our guides and drivers.

These are the kind of tourists we want to attract – who are responsible, mindful, and conscious about their travel and impacts. Therefore, strategic marketing is very important.

As the popular saying goes ‘what gets measured gets managed’, it is important to understand the carrying capacity of Bhutan as a destination and also the carrying capacity of the respective places and sites within Bhutan to be able to determine the positive and negative impacts of tourism. We must slowly develop systems to implement destination management principles like ‘Limits to Acceptable Change’ to generate positive benefits from tourism.

People are at the core of any tourism destination and experience. We must work on programmes to generate positive acceptance and support from our people. It is also important to have a highly skilled, knowledgeable, and highly paid professional workforce in providing high value services. There must be concerted efforts from all stakeholders to ensure that the tourism industry of Bhutan is sustainable. It is important to also work on their preparedness to align with the nation’s sustainability vision. 

What initiatives are being planned to enhance the experience for high-value tourists, ensuring their investment is worthwhile?

Bhutan is a beautiful country and it has a very good reputation as a safe, happy and peaceful country with our selfless, visionary Kings always working hard for the interest of Bhutan. This is the brand value for Bhutan and this is one of the most important factors attracting tourists. Therefore, it is important work on delivering the perceived expectation of tourists of a happy and peaceful country. I will seek the help of our industry experts to help curate high value experiences. Bhutan has ample opportunities to develop high value experiences, new and unique, without having to invest a lot of money.

Guides and drivers play a crucial role in the experiences of tourists because tourists spend most of their time with them. So, it is important to upgrade their skills and provide regular training and induction. It is also important to enhance their job status and make their job attractive. 

Additionally, those in the hospitality sector also play an important role and this includes families providing village homestays experiences. They are crucial in ensuring that tourists feel homely and welcomed. Regular capacity building support will be provided and will involve Bhutanese tourism stakeholders to help monitor the standards and quality.

I am excited about the upcoming mobile application being developed. It will be an important tool for tourists and the tourism industry of Bhutan. The App will have good features from service ratings to connecting with different service providers to enhance travel facilitation and experience.

What new marketing strategies are being developed to attract 300,000 tourists

annually?

The marketing strategies adopted by the Department has worked well and we will continue to use the same strategies but be mindful of the new trends in the market.

We will continue to produce press releases on various topics and attractions of Bhutan. We produce and circulate over 50 press releases every year. For example, we have done a press release on why visit Bhutan in winter and summer to break the myth that these two seasons are not a good time to visit Bhutan. It is a very good way to increase our possibility to be featured on various platforms for free and to promote topics and attractions of our interest.

I want to work on having at least two popular and interesting events and products every month in each Dzongkhag, spread over the four seasons. With such anchor events and products, it will make it easier to promote each month and all 20 Dzongkhags. At present, it is difficult to recommend tourism offerings for some months and some Dzongkhags. Once these events and products become popular, it will lead to promoting other tourism activities resulting in an increase in tourism numbers.

Digital marketing, which includes social media, is very necessary because it is cost effective and the reach is instant. Innovative and creative digital campaigns will be used with regular new content by leveraging relevant channels.

Promotional events like tourism fairs and roadshows are important, especially for the private sector to connect with the suppliers of the source markets. The Department will work on exploring new markets to increase the market base for Bhutan. Similarly, high-end tourism networks will be used to access their high-end network of travel agents and travel advisors.

We will also use webinars regularly to promote and educate international agents and tourists about Bhutan. It is a very cost-effective way to promote Bhutan to anyone from anywhere in the world.

Having a digital asset bank with high-quality, recently taken photos and videos available for free for anyone in tourism is crucial. With many using the content, it will generate increased promotional reach for Bhutan. We will continue to support the relevant employees of the international travel agents, press and influencers on familiarization trips because it is a very cost-effective way of promoting Bhutan.

With the SDF waiver for Meetings, Incentive, Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, we will continue to market and collaborate with MICE promoters. MICE will really help our hotels, tour operators, guides, and transport providers in Bhutan. In addition, it is important to develop circuit and product branding to position different regions and products to undertake targeted marketing and promotion.

How does the Department plan to collaborate with and regulate foreign tour operators to maintain fair competition and uphold quality standards?

Foreign tour operators bring business for Bhutan and we must continue to engage and support them. We need to take advantage of them being in the source markets with direct access to tourists. These foreign partners work with our Bhutanese service providers who will ensure the quality. 

We need to support our private sector to increase their marketing activities. And sometimes marketing does not only mean going to another country by spending money. We must first work on the basics like having a good, dynamic website. Featuring the business on popular search platforms like Google Map, TripAdvisor, etc., is very important and necessary. There are many online platforms that are free that we can take advantage. Similarly, use of social media and developing creative content is essential.

With more and more choosing to book their travel via online platforms, it is important to work on providing support with an online booking system and payment gateway to make it easier for the service providers to get direct bookings from tourists.

What specific initiatives are being undertaken to promote tourism in

eastern Bhutan?

We feel that eastern Bhutan will start to attract a good number of tourists with the formal opening of Samdrupjongkhar for entry and exit, which will happen soon. Once this happens, tourists can enter and exit via Samdrupjongkhar without having to travel to and from Paro or Phuentsholing as it is now. It will also attract repeat tourists who have visited the west but want to explore the east and nearby areas. 

We have also planned some good events like Yeti and Rhododendron festivals which will be promoted as top, attractive events. Similarly, the Dzongkhags have proposed some interesting initiatives which the Department will support and collaborate with. We will come up with a few attractions, products and events to put eastern Bhutan on the tourism map of Bhutan.

We also plan to have capacity development for eastern Bhutan and nearby areas. For example, we do not have licensed guides in these places. We are exploring with relevant partners to find a solution for this where we can provide provisional licenses. Similarly, capacity development and enhancement for the hospitality sector in these areas is important.

The current GEF Ecotourism project will be crucial in promoting eastern Bhutan. Some of the flagship experiences are – the Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory trail in Trashiyangtse; Jomo Panda trail in Trashigang providing a wonderful experience to see Red Panda; high-end birding experience in Mongar; and community-based tourism.

The other important way to promote different regions of Bhutan is through Dzongkhag branding, which will play an important role to differentiate the unique offerings of each Dzongkhag.

More than 1,000 volunteers rally to help flood victims post Dechencholing flood

Thinley Namgay and YK Poudel 

A massive flood hit Dechencholing in Thimphu on August 10, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Yesterday, around 1,000 volunteers, including armed force personnel, de-suups, civil servants, and employees of private sector and civil society organisations, came together to assist flood affected residents.

Private construction company, Vajra Builders Private Limited, dispatched 120 workers to the site, along with two excavators and a few transport vehicles. 

“This collective effort highlighted the unity, empathy, and interdependence that characterise Bhutanese society during natural disasters,” said one observer.

The aftermath of the flood saw overwhelming community support. Residents and family members distributed food and refreshments to victims, officials, and workers.

Volunteers worked tirelessly to clear blocked drains, remove debris, and help residents recover their belongings.

Many also assisted in relocating people to safer areas, as the surroundings were treacherous and muddy.

Immediately following the disaster, residents moved to Taba and Kabesa with the help of de-suups, spending the night with friends and relatives.

Since the flood, clearance operations have been ongoing. The main highway below the Royal BodyGuard (RBG) colony has been reopened, and some areas within the RBG colony have been cleaned.

Floodwaters in the RBG premise have been diverted to safer locations, and displaced residents are temporarily housed in the RBG mess building.

Officials estimate that complete debris removal will take a few more days.

Private construction company, Vajra Builders Private Limited, dispatched 120 workers to the site, along with two excavators and transport vehicles

The flood caused substantial damage, affecting about 30 houses and around 70 households. Approximately 15 vehicles were also damagedThe National Centre of Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) said  that the flood could have been caused by a convective thunderstorm.

Thunderstorms are associated with towering clouds known as cumulonimbus, formed through the process of convection, where heat and moisture are transported vertically in the atmosphere.

Convective storms are fueled by strong updrafts, which rapidly lift warm and moist air into the atmosphere. As this air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and releasing heat energy. Simultaneously, downdrafts, or downward-moving air currents, occur within the storm system, bringing cooler air back down to the earth’s surface.

NCHM stated that it is challenging to immediately study the origin and cause of the flood.

An official from the investigation team mentioned that the probable cause of the flood could be a cloudburst.

A cloudburst is a sudden heavy rainfall, usually local in nature and of brief duration. Most cloudbursts, common in mountainous regions, occur in connection with thunderstorms.

In these storms, there are violent uprushes of air, which at times prevent condensing raindrops from falling to the ground. A large amount of water may accumulate at high levels, and if the upward currents weaken, the entire body of water can fall at once.

Recalling the incident, a longtime resident of Dechencholing, Dechen Tshomo, 49, said  that  nothing like this had ever happened in more than 20 years she has lived in this area. “I was terrified. I had just arrived from Taba at the time of the disaster and I ran immediately for my life. Luckily my husband and children were not home.”

She said that most of her belongings were damaged in the flood. “But I am happy that my family is safe.”

Another flood survivor, Chimi Dorji recounted: “It was raining when I returned from duty, and suddenly, I heard an unusual sound like thunder. When I came out, I saw the flood. My eldest children were already outside, but my two other children were still inside the house.”

Chimi Dorji immediately brought his two kids outside, and the entire family of five ran and stayed on the roof of the house for about 10 minutes before moving to a safer place.

Langa Phuntsho, a scrap dealer residing below the highway, reported that his belongings and important documents were destroyed. “In addition, I lost Nu 400,000, which was in my cash box,” he said. “I am worried about how I will survive hereafter but I am confident that His Majesty and the government will definitely help us.”

Karma Tshering, a shop owner, lost merchandise and cash in the flood. “A few days ago, I bought goods worth Nu 150,000. They were all damaged. I also lost  cash of Nu 120,000, which I borrowed from a friend at an interest of four percent to buy a new vehicle at the end of this month.”

Despite his losses, he is hopeful having been assured by officials that help will be provided. “For now, we need a place to set up a temporary shelter,” he said.