Thinley Namgay

To inculcate spiritual awareness among the students, the Zhung Dratshang organised a two-week programme engaging about 891 students from the schools in Thimphu.

This is the eighth edition of the ‘Buddhist Tradition Orientation and Training Programme.’

Zhung Dratshang’s Laytshog Lopon, Sangay Dorji presided over the inaugural ceremony held at Yangchenphug Higher Secondary coinciding with the birth anniversary of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. The event will, however, be conducted at four other locations: Babesa Higher Secondary School, Zilukha Middle Secondary, National Memorial Chorten and Changjiji Lhakhang.

This is a part of community service to engage youth in a meaningful purpose on Zhung Dratshang’s part since 2016.

Laytshog Lopon, Sangay Dorji, in his opening remarks said that it’s important to understand actions pursued by body, mind and speech. “If the mind is pure, the actions of one’s body and speech will be inevitably good. The programme is mainly to bring positive impact on mindsets of students,” he said.

“A person with positive mindset will serve the country with integrity,” Laytshog Lopon said adding that students will also learn about Driglam Choesum,  an integral part of Bhutanese identity.

Tandin Phub, an employee of the Institute of Traditional Medicine and a volunteer, said that students will learn history, Buddhism and culture.

“The programme also engages our youth in useful purposes during vacation,” Tandin Phub said.

As a part of the programme, 80 students who completed the programme earlier will go to Druk Namgay Choling Dratshang in Phuentsholing to learn and experience various religious conducts.

Tenzin Jamtsho, 18, a class XI student of YHSS, is one of them. He had joined the programme since 2016. “The programme has brought positive changes in my life and moreover people also believe us when we share the lessons that we learnt.”

Tenzin Jamtsho said that his group will request the monks to teach them Shetring and Gyalsey Laglen, an integral part of Dzongkha syllabus in school.

The programme ends on January 19.

Rajesh Rai | Lhamoidzingkha

Four years ago, Dawa Sherpa, 65, was worried when the then government banned the import of green chilies.

As the main spice for any curry, Dawa and his family bought imported chilies every weekend from Lhamoidzingkha town. So he agreed to try chili farming when the gewog agriculture office floated the idea.

Today, chilies have earned him name and wealth in Lhamoidzingkha. “I never thought I could grow chilies until the ban. The ban was a boon.”

The resident of Majhigaon already sold 147kgs of chilies this winter. “A Thimphu trader took the first harvest at Nu 100 per kg on December 29,” Dawa Sherpa said.

Busy spraying cattle urine on his chili plants growing in 50-decimals lands, Dawa shared his first experience of growing chilies in 2017. He said he earned Nu 100,000 that year.

The chilies look healthier this time and Dawa Sherpa expects to sell more than 1,000kgs. He also sold more than 1,000kgs in 2018 season.

“I expect better income this year,” he said, adding that it also depends on weather conditions.

“Produce will increase from the second harvest and harvesting will continue until May to June.”

Meanwhile, all three gewogs in Lhamoidzingkha drungkhag, Karmaling, Nichula and Lhamoidzingkha are into chili cultivation since 2017.

In the 2018-2019 season, Lhamoidzingkha gewog was able to produce 8.37 metric tonnes (MT) of chilies. Initially, 17 farmers took this farming and 11 more started later.

Dawa Sherpa was able to harvest 2.06MT, the highest among the lot.

In Farmgaon, Hari Prasad Pradhan is also taking winter chili farming seriously and plans to increase the area of cultivation. He sold 169kgs this season.

“Traders who took the chilies to Thimphu from here said mine was the best,” he said.

“Locals also come to buy from me daily.”

Hari Prasad said that chili farming is a quick way to earn income and it has a great future for farmers. “Investment is also not huge.”

The Farmgaon farmer will also install two greenhouses and continue cultivation even during summer. “I will be receiving 80 percent subsidy from the government,” he said.

Farmers also said that the chilies are organic and pesticides are used only when agriculture officers find it necessary.

In 2016 June, import of three types of chilies—Hybrid, Terasani and Akasani were banned due to the high content of pesticides. Winter chili farming was then initiated in the following year.

Meanwhile, Dawa Sherpa said besides making money, growing chilies has also kept him physically fit. “I cannot stay idle at this age.”

Climate change threatens to compound the challenges 

Chimi Dema

Increased reliance on imported food, achieving food and nutritional security and alleviation of poverty continue to pose a challenge in Bhutan.

According to a food and nutrition security assessment report in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) conducted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) last year, future challenges for food security in the country could come from conversion of the limited productive agricultural land into residential land, loss of productivity, huge import of food requirements, and loss of food diversity in the local food system.

The report stated that although only six percent of the population in Bhutan remains below the food poverty line, the prevalence of stunting and underweight is still high. “About 21 percent of children younger than five years of age were stunted, nine percent underweight and about four percent were wasted.”

This, according to the report, indicates a lack of diversity in diets and deficiencies of micronutrients.

With only 29 percent of the arable land properly irrigation, agriculture in Bhutan is dominated by dry-land farming, which is likely to be further impacted by increasing droughts and moisture stress as a result of climate change.

It stated that due to poor irrigation facilities, agriculture in the HKH has remained largely dependent on precipitation. “This would make farming and food production prone to the vagaries of the weather and highly vulnerable to climate variability and climate change.”

The drying up of springs and water bodies, erratic rainfall, increased floods, increased dry spells, land degradation, and a rising incidence of pests and disease in crops and livestock, as a result of climate change would all pose additional challenges to food and nutrition security in the region.

To address food and nutrition security in mountain communities, the report recommended adopting a holistic approach to improve food and nutrition security that includes revitalising local food systems, and developing mountain niche products and services.

According to the report, local food systems including neglected and underutilized species (NUS) crops such as millets, sorghum, and buckwheat and local breeds of livestock have a huge potential to diversify the supply of food and micronutrients in the mountains, while enhancing farmers’ incomes and enabling them to access nutritious food.

“These crops and local breeds of livestock are also highly adapted to mountain conditions and resilient to climate-induced stresses like drought and frost,” the report stated.

Properly managing and harnessing the water in springs, streams, snow, and glaciers could greatly increase agricultural production and help to diversify local food systems, the report stated.

Increasing investment in the management of natural resources including soil, water and energy to improve nutrition and enhance agriculture production was also recommended

The report also highlighted the need of integrating a mountain perspective into national policies to food and nutrition security, enhancing knowledge and awareness about nutrition and reducing physical and socio-economic vulnerabilities in the region.

Meanwhile, the assessment also found that more than 30 percent of the population suffers from food insecurity and around 50 percent face some form of malnutrition in the HKH region. “Women and children suffer the most.”

The report stated that the prevalence of high poverty, natural resources degradation, and increased brunt of climate change are key factors affecting food and nutrition security in the region.

In the HKH region, limited natural resources coupled with low carrying capacity, limited research on rain-fed agriculture and mountain niche products, low agricultural productivity and limited industrialisation are adding pressure on food and nutrition security. “Rapid climatic changes currently taking place in the HKH ecosystem would compound the effects on the traditional food and agricultural systems in the region.”

Going by the report, the average ambient temperature in the mountains of the HKH is rising at a rate of 0.06 degree Celsius per year, higher than the global average, which has resulted in loss of snowfall and snow cover and rapid melting and shrinking of the majority of glaciers in the region.

Loss of the cryosphere, according to the report, is changing the amount and timing of melt, impacting water availability, and leading to a reduction in food production and food insecurity in the mountains as well as downstream.

While the climate of the HKH has changed significantly in the past, it is projected to change more dramatically in the near future. In the near term (2036-2065), the region is projected to warm by 1.7 to 2.4 degree Celsius for representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 2.3 to 3.2 degree Celsius for RCP 8.5.

The report stated that by the end of the century, even if global warming is limited to 1.5 degree Celsius, the HKH will warm by 1.8 degree Celsius. “This will have serious implications for agricultural productivity and food security and particularly for food availability across the entire region.”

The eight HKH countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

Winter is a season of warmth and celebrations. Steinbeck, that American author who won Nobel for his realistic and imaginative writings in 1962 had this to say about winter: “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”

Alas, warmth and friendly talks by the fireside are beyond most of us today. We live recklessly, in haste. And in so doing we often do not appreciate the true meaning of life and living.

Winter’s come finally. If you look down from Thimphu’s serene mountaintops early in the morning, you will notice the city enveloped in thick smog. Some say it is pollution growing, others think it is a natural phenomenon. And there are those who think climate change is beginning to show itself in strange ways—like snow in Gedu! This is the local perspective.

There is no denying climate change is impacting the weather patterns the world over. Some are blaming fire in Australia to climate change and melting icecaps in the poles and the Himalayas. While the debates go on, homes and villages are being displaced and lives lost in numbers greater than ever.

The world looked to 2020 with promise but it is looking increasingly grim with the kind of leadership that the electoral processes are shaping up the world over. If diplomacy must take a back seat, confrontations are the natural consequences. It was Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Venezuela. Today it is Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia. Here is the global perspective. The world is heating up.

And the tech war between the two superpowers—China and the United States of America—is affecting not just two countries but also hurting global stability, peace, and prosperity. When pariahs seize power, nothing good can happen. History stands testimony to it.

The world leaders have never been so divided in these many years since the 1940s. But the challenges we are facing today are massive because of amazing technological development and expansion taking place. We are talking about internet of things and the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in the areas of warfare and military strategies. These are serious matters that could prove cataclysmic in the near future. We are living in dangerous and explosive times.

Winter’s gone but winter’s coming, indeed. Wise leadership is becoming urgently necessary in this globalised world. There is no other choice today, for any nation. Climate change is one thing, but needless haggling and leadership vacuum are threatening to throttle the world beyond the turning point.

Diplomatic winter is coming fast and that is going to be a catastrophic beginning, forget the end.

It is in this perspective that the world leaders, especially from the weaker and neutral countries, should mount pressure on the developed nations that are unashamedly thinking like a child and acting like a bully.

Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

With pleasant weather, it’s time of the year Samdrupjongkhar town residents enjoy the most but not the residents of thromde’s local area plan (LAP) II and III.

The poor drainage system in the two LAP areas, the area stinks. Most of the drains are blocked and covered by grasses.

“We have never seen the concerned authorities clearing the drainage and carrying out maintenance works,” a resident said.

Another resident, Jigme Lhaden, said she always used to clear the drain in front of her house as it often gets blocked but the water stagnates as the drains are connected.

Residents question if it is the thromde’s or other agencies’ responsibility to carry out the clearing and maintenance works.

Thromde’s executive secretary, Tougay Choedup, said they carry out the clearing and maintenance works whenever required but most of the drains are damaged, as they are old. “The drains get filled with water because the drains are small. Water stagnates because the gradients of the drains are bad and not levelled.

He, however, said the thromde received Nu 150M for the small development project (SDP) from the Government of India (GoI) with which they would carry out the reconstruction of the drainage in LAP I, II and III. “We have already awarded the works.”

About 36 women treated and gynaecology consultations done in the past four days

Dechen Tshomo & Nim Dorji

About 314 women in Bumthang and Punakha were screened for cervical cancer since the first phase of the comprehensive cervical cancer screening camp began in Ura, Bumthang from January 3 until yesterday.

On the first day of the screening in Ura, about 63 women turned up at the camp.

Bumthang dzongkhag health officer, Jigme Kelzang said the camp will help diagnose abnormalities that may be indicative of cervical cancer, the most common cancer among the Bhutanese women.

“It will also help us keep a record of the eligible women for the pap smear test.”

Cervical cancer is the number one killer among Bhutanese women with at least three women dying of this cancer every month in Bhutan.

The screening camp in Punakha began yesterday with 111 women undergoing pap smear test in Lobesa.

Of the total screened in the two dzongkhags until yesterday, 36 women were provided treatment and other gynaecology consultations.

A health official said the women were also provided with a clinical breast examination.

“They get the test results on the same day. Those who need to undergo colposcopy or other procedure are called back the next day and provide the necessary treatment,” she said.

Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to closely examine the cervix to detect pre-malignant and malignant lesions in the area.

Bumthang, Punakha and Mongar were prioritised in the first phase of the comprehensive cervical cancer screening camp based on the current pap smear coverage data.

While the screening camp in Mongar will begin tomorrow and continue until February 17, the screening camp in the Bumthang and Punakha will end on February 9 and January 31 respectively.

All three dzongkhags have a team each comprising of gynaecologist, pathologist, health assistants and Cyto-technician, representatives from RENEW and Bhutan Cancer Society to carry out the cervical screening camp.

The programme is expected to cover more than 16,000 women in the three dzongkhags in the first phase within one and a half month.

Besides cervical cancer screening, the eligible women for pap smear test, those aged between 25 and 65 years, are provided with a comprehensive package service including NCD screening, screening for pelvic organ prolapse, STI (sexually transmitted infections) screening and information on gender-based violence prevention.

Following the camp, a multipronged communications strategy will be adopted to sensitise and raise awareness on healthy living and disease prevention along with targeted programmes on disseminating information on cervical and breast cancer prevention will be intensified.

All women aged between 25 and 65 years in the three dzongkhags are urged to come for screening.

The venue for the screening in these dzongkhags will be available on the health ministry and Bhutan Cancer Society’s Facebook pages.

The health ministry, in collaboration with local governments, Bhutan Cancer Society, RENEW and Bhutan Nun Foundation, is conducting the camp to eliminate cervical cancer in the country.

The implementation of comprehensive package of cervical cancer screening in the three dzongkhags is supported by UNFPA and WHO.

Nim Dorji  | Trongsa

Kuengarabten is not alone to have suffered cracks to homes and properties in Trongsa as a result of earth sinking.

A nunnery in Samcholing neighbouring Kuengarabten under Drakteng Gewog has suffered similar damages.

Cracks were found on the ground floor walls of Katacholing nunnery in Samcholing. 

Lekimo, who looks after the nunnery, said she reported to the gewog administration after the cracks appeared on the lhakhang about three months ago.

Sometime before the cracks appeared last year, the nunnery had repaired the drain in front of the lhakhang that cracked and sunk.

“We did not report to the authorities then, but with many houses reporting about similar cracks, she decided to report when the lhakhang,” she said.

The nunnery is hoping the dzongkhag administration would send an inspection team to assess the damages.

Meanwhile, the cracks on structures of Kuengarabten nunnery have increased and also spread to the kitchen.

The hostel building that suffered major cracks is vacated and all the nuns have been shifted to another building.

 Drakteng Mangmi Karma Dorji said that they recently visited the site and marked the area to observe if there is any change.

Few days ago the gewog administration submitted a letter to the dzongkhag requesting to visit the site as the nunnery and one of the houses are in a critical situation.

The residents of Kuengarabten, who observed that long cracks in earth between the palace and the nunnery, are worried with the cracks found on the walls that seem to be worsening.

As no one has turned up to inspect the damages, residents are also worried that there would not be any intervention.

A landlord, who does not want to be named, said that he is worried that if the house above the road collapses, it would affect his house.

“Parts of my house has cracked and with it being next to the most critical damaged house, the tenants are worried and talking to vacating,” he said.

“If nothing is done, we may have to vacate the house and go back to the village.”

Residents said that the authorities need to hasten whatever needs to be done.

According to villagers, some more houses are yet to report the damages their houses have sustained.

Villagers had earlier suspected Mangdechhu hydroelectric plant’s tunnel that passes under the village of causing the damages.

However, MHPA officials recently briefed the villagers on the outcome of its investigation report and said it was not responsible for the cracks.

The villagers were told that MHPA would provide the necessary help for ratification.

“We’re told that the cracks formed due to poor foundation and concrete works. But it has been three decades since its construction, and nothing had happen until now. How come the cracks formed now,” a landlord said.

…in the first eight months of 2019

Tshering Dorji

The country’s inward remittances as of August last year was Nu 1.5B, half the amount the country received in 2018.

In 2018, the country’s total inward remittances had more than tripled to hit a record of almost Nu 3B last year.

According to figures from the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), non-resident Bhutanese across the globe had remitted a total of about Nu 860M in 2015. The following year it more than doubled to Nu 1.7B and Nu 1.9B in 2017.

Remittance is a transfer of money by a foreign worker back to their home country.

Since the launch of RemitBhutan in September 2016, inward remittances have been increasing. However, in eight months’ time last year, the amount just reached half the remittances in 2018.

Some bankers anticipate a dip in total inward remittances because of the global economic downturn.

The IMF has projected the lowest level of economic growth in 2019 at three percent.

Despite many Bhutanese leaving for Australia, remittances in form of Australian dollar (AUD) declined to 15M (in eight months) in 2019 compared with 31M in 2018. Even if compared for the first eight months, remittance in AUD came to about 22M in 2018.

The flow of AUD shot up from about 9M in 2015 to 24M in 2016. Remittances in the form of USD gradually increased from 6.5M in 2015 to about 10M in 2017.

Figures also reveal that USD 19M was remitted to the country in 2018 compared with USD 14M in the first eight months of 2019. 

   Comparing the trends between January and August, remittance in the form of USD has remained almost the same.

However, USD appreciated to the highest level at Nu 70.35 a USD in 2019. In 2018, the average exchange rate was Nu 68.4, meaning that overall contribution to the country’s inward remittances should increase. This did not happen, however.

While remittances in Pound Sterling (GBP) has remained the same at 0.06M, remittances in Euro and other European currencies increased from Nu 3.9M equivalent to over Nu 10M.

Inward remittances from other currencies increased from Nu 1.38M in 2015 to Nu 5M in 2017, which doubled to Nu 10M in 2018 and further increased to Nu 19M last year. This could be attributed to overseas employment programme in the Middle East and the UN peacekeeping mission in Africa. The main channel for remittances from these countries is the RemitBhutan.

These figures, however, are exclusive of the money sent informally.

A corporate employee said that many working in Australia bring cash in bulk when they return. “Sending money through banks is killing us with high charges and longer transaction time,” he said adding that even if the RemitBhutan was free of charge the transaction fee the host banks levied was quite high.

A banker said that RemitBhutan came with many incentives. For instance, Bhutanese living abroad can open a foreign currency account without any charge and zero balance. The only cost is the remittance charges that clients have to pay to the host banks abroad. Once the account is credited with foreign currency, all facilities like online shopping, remittance to other local and international banks and card facilities are provided.

Inward remittances are essential for stabilising the country’s balance of payment. It consists of import and export of goods (balance of trade), services and capital flow, such as foreign aid and remittances.

Remittances form 25 percent of GDP in Nepal and are one of the forerunners for its economy. In Bhutan’s case, it constitutes only about 1.5 percent of the GDP.

If at least 100 Bhutanese residents in Australia remitted their savings every month, it would work out to AUD 300,000 a month—AUD 3.6M a year.

Add to it the saving of dependents, 100 couples could roughly save about AUD 5M a year. Considering the increasing number of people pursuing studies privately in Australia, the remittance could be much higher.

However, foreign currencies are brought into the country through informal channels.

Another Bank official said inward remittance involved transaction between two or three foreign banks and sometimes was time-consuming.

Regulating bodies must either be strengthened or killed so that new and strong ones can do their job. That demands clear and honest reform.

The problems seem to stem from duplication and mislaying of responsibilities. Entertainment centres in Bhutan like drayang, discotheque and karaoke need better regulation and monitoring.

Even as Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority (BICMA) is under the purview of Ministry of Information and Communications (MOIC), it’s responsibilities and mandate is spread all over the places. It is no wonder therefore that BICMA has not been able to do much in the many years of its existence.

For example, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) issue licences to the businesses. When it comes to entertainment businesses, however, it is BICMA that must ensure that laws, rules and regulations are respected.

If it is all about instituting an entertainment licensing committee, why can’t MoEA institute one of its own that can oversee or monitor compliance issues without transferring the burden to BICMA that is not only understaffed but is increasingly finding itself inefficient and irrelevant?

Telecommunications issues should be with Bhutan Telecom and information processing and dissemination with MOIC, and licensing with MoEA. An entertainment licensing committee with members from all these entities should form a regulating agency that BICMA is not today. Only then will there be no issue related to all these mother entities.

Let’s count a few flaws, not all. Trongsa dzongkhag court has sentenced a drayang owner in Trongsa town to a year and six months in prison for employing a minor as a dancer in the drayang. There was also an issue, in the past, of a drayang owner sexually molesting his underage employee.

According to the Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Act, ELC, led by BICMA shall periodically carry out monitoring and compliance of such established places of entertainment within their jurisdiction. BICMA is too small and too weak to each out.

 Regulations are obscure at best. The licensee shall, for instance, ensure that employees are protected from sexual abuses during the course of employment. What guarantee is there when employers house the employees in arrangements like hostels? Some say that employers demand special favours—who knows of what kind—from the employees. For many that’s only how they land a job.

 But there is a fundamental problem that is the source of rot. But it is not intractable. If duplications are eliminated—which could even mean the very survival of BICMA—a lot can be achieved. For example, why can’t children enter an amusement arcade but without any question enter karaoke where all manner of sleazy affairs and unhealthy habits for children are being flaunted? Why do discotheques and drayang continue to admit children?

 It is not hard to refine the rules and regulations. Ministries and agencies involved are failing the society.

Neten Dorji  | Trashiyangtse

Urka Bangala, the chili species endemic to Bumdeling gewog, is one of the things Trashiyangtse is popular for besides Dapa and the Black-necked Cranes.

In the past, residents of Trashiyangtse cultivated it only for self-consumption, but it has now become one of the primary cash crops in Trashiyangtse. Most of the farmers started growing chili after demand has soared over the years.

During the chili season, many farmers could not sell their produce as the market was flooded with chilies from other dzongkhags and those imported ones.

A group of women came together to address the issue by producing chilli pickle in 2016 and launched last year coinciding with the 111th National Day Celebration.

They said that people often confuse Urka and Yangtsepa Ema as the same. They said Urka Bangala is bigger and mostly grown in the villages of Womanang in Bumdeling gewog. Urka Bangala in Yantsep dialect means creased owing to its shape.

The group’s chairperson, Karma Kinzang Wangmo said that farmers were challenged with poor sales during peak season and were unable to dry the produce because of the wet  weather in summer.

“We decided to make pickle, after the dzongkhag agriculture officer suggested the idea.”

The final product was also sent to the One Gewog, One Product (OGOP) outlet in Thimphu. A 550 grammes jar of pickle costs Nu 220. The group has earned more than Nu 0.4 million selling pickles in 2019.

The group’s chairperson said that the venture has helped both farmers and group members.  The group buys red chilies during peak season.

A member from Bimkhar village, Tshewang Peldon uses the office building meant for traditional paper production.  “Without separate processing house, it is inconvenient for us. We can maintain cleanliness and good hygiene, if we have a processing house,” she said.

She said that they also need a packing machine but they don’t have the budget yet to purchase one.

Another member, Sonam Choki said that the group has helped her in marketing.

“I do not have to worry now. I can convert the excess chili into pickle and sell to the group.”

She said the Urka Bangala pickle is organic and vegetarian. “While manufacturing, we use cumin, salt, mustard oil and seeds, turmeric powder and amaranth.”

They make pickle between August and November and left more than a week to fermented in the sun.

Members said that it is difficult to meet the demand. “We have orders from within the dzongkhag and from beyond,” a member said.

Cultivation of the species had once stopped but was recovered by dzongkhag agriculture sector with the assistance of agriculture research and development centre in Wengkhar, Mongar.

Meanwhile, Dzongkhag Chief Agriculture Officer, Kuenzang Peldon said with the help of CARLEP assistance the dzongkhag plans to construct a processing plant. “We have identified the land and allocated Nu 2.7 million in this financial year.”

The group is also going to produce Urka bangla Ezay and has plans to diversify into different products.

Sonam Pem Tshoki

Unlike his usual winter holidays spent in Thimphu participating in events conducted by the Department of Youth and Sports (DYS) and Youth Development Fund (YDF), Tashi Yoezer, 13, had a different experience this year.

The class nine student of Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School, who is from Paro, participated in camp ‘Rural-Urban Friendship’ (RUF) and enjoyed the exotic lower Kheng region from December 21 to 31.

Participants set off rafting on the Manas River

He was amongst the 135 students, 61 from rural and 74 from urban schools in the country, who stayed in eco-lodges made of bamboo and banana leaves and spent the days participating in activities in and around Panbang and nights watching movies, listening to stories and dancing under the stars.

“It was a different experience in Panbang,” he said. “I enjoyed homestay the most and being with a family from the locality. They were kind and nice.”

Another student from Thimphu, Kinley Choden, 10, of Dechencholing Higher Secondary Schools, said she joined the camp after hearing wonderful stories from her elder brother, who participated in 2018.

Kinley was one of the youngest campers.

Born and brought up in Thimphu, she said she enjoyed her stay and experience in Panbang.

Camp RUF started in 2014 as a winter camp to enhance friendship among the young children of rural and urban areas and to bridge the cultural gap.

The camp was held in Panbang Primary School this winter.

The principal of Panbang Primary School, Kuenzang Tenzin, said volunteers including the cooks, teachers and other staffs from the school helped to construct the eco-lodges.

Young campers woke up at 5am and went to bed at 9pm every day and participated in activities designed to keep them engaged and to inculcate the spirit of teamwork and compassion, empathy, enhance the zeal to ask questions and seek adventure while also adhering to the moral values and staying connected to village life.

In this year’s programme, a grant was also introduced for underprivileged children to make the camp available to children from all over the country. The programme had the first two campers from Draktsho East. The campers also enjoyed rafting on the Manas River and jungle safari in Royal Manas National Park.

The Prime Minister’s ‘KC scholarship’ dedicated to the late founder Kezang Choden, was received by Sangay Kencho of Yebilaptsa Central School in Zhemgang this year. The scholarship started since 2018 and the Prime Minister sponsors the recipient’s education expenses till he or she graduates.

The campers promised to write letters and stay in touch with each other as the camp ended. The campers are currently doing a post-camp project called #soles4souls, where they will raise funds to buy 200 school shoes for underprivileged students around the country under ‘Project Chodrup’.

…for gainful employment and talent-hunt 

Younten Tshedup | Gelephu

The courtyard of Losel Gyatsho Academy in Gelephu is bustling with noise and excitement. In this crowd of over 100 students are the future actors, movie directors, dancers, singers, and painters.

Over the next two weeks, the participants would undergo basic training on filmmaking, dancing, singing, painting and sketching, among others under the programme, Art for People.

Borne out of a vision to nurture a culture of performing arts in a society that has limited scope for artists, Art for People programme started as an initiative of two like-minded individuals who harboured a passion to create a platform for individuals to hone their innate interest and talent in the performing arts.

One of the founders, Chand RC, said that educating the youth out of the content-driven classroom-learning was important. “If children are academically inclined, their doors are open for many opportunities. But what about those children who are not academically inclined?”

He said for those thousands of graduates and out of school youth who are not cut out for the civil service, private enterprises or other businesses, a platform needed to be provided to carry forward their lives.

As a filmmaker, Chand RC said that the realm of performing arts had enormous potential that could shape the youth into self-confident, disciplined, responsible, and caring individuals capable of making a positive impact in their communities.

“Art for People acts as a medium for people to express through performing arts and also open up a sustainable career opportunity for them.”

He said that although the film industry in the country is in its nascent stage, it has prospects for those with talents.

“There is a huge untapped potential of talent among the young Bhutanese. Given an opportunity, they can be at par with any youth in the world today,” he said. “We just need to provide them with the right path to channelise this energy. And this is what our programme is aiming for.”

He added that, “Art is not solely created for the aesthetic sake; art is a powerful tool that can initiate personal reflection, raise collective awareness and it may even inspire social change.”

Another founder, Tshering Dema, said that most of the Bhutanese artists today are self-made with no proper training and guidance. “Our youth have the skills but they lack in techniques. We are trying to provide them with a platform where they can explore their talents and potential.”

As an educationist, she said most of the parents expect their children to listen to them and act accordingly. “This makes the child grow up in a culture that makes them dependent on instructions and they cannot think on their own.”

She said that most of the time parents don’t even realise the kind of potential their kids have. “Some of the kids have talents of very high level, which with proper training and guidance could actually be in the international market.”

If the programme goes well, Tshering Dema said that their idea is to develop a full time course in performing arts. “Today, we live in a society where people perceive performing arts as a hobby and a part time job. We want to change this.”

Chand RC said that seeing the massive impact of the programme on the participants and community, Art for People Foundation aspires to develop into a full- fledged contemporary performing arts center, the first of its kind in the country.

“We aspire to become a pioneer institute in the country that provides holistic performing arts education and help nurture the creative talents among the youth.”

One of the participants, Rinchen Drukpa, said that he wants to pursue acting as a career. “Despite all the challenges we have today in our film industry, I want to become an actor for the sheer love for this art,” he said.

He said that the industry could grow if the present language barrier is broken. “Today, we only have Bhutanese watching our movies. We can have global audiences if we explore the opportunities because the quality of movies we produce are very high.”

MB Subba

Despite much progress in decentralization in the past 40 years, various studies showed lack of proper guidelines has led to numerous lapses in the conduct of the local government (LG) sessions.

In view of such findings, the Department of Local Governance (DLG) has awarded the Centre for Local Governance and Research (CLGR) to come up with proper guidelines to conduct Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT), Gewog Tshogde (GT), and Thromde Tshogde (TT).

The CLGR would also develop tools to help implement the guidelines and diagnose areas of reform for effective functioning of local governments.

The DLG recently released ‘Assessment Study on DT and GT’ which stated that such issues have rendered LGs largely ineffective in terms of exercising their powers and functions. The main function of a local government, according to LG Act, is to provide democratic and accountable government for local communities.

Executive director of CLGR, Tharchen, said that the assessment study on LG found numerous lapses in conducting LG sessions starting from agenda setting process from the chiwog zomdu to following up works on resolutions. He said the project would be completed within the next three months.

Other shortcomings observed are that LG sessions are either too short or feature issues that could be addressed at the sector level. It is also observed that there is no proper procedure for passing resolutions, some of which are passed in absence of data and proper research.

The CLGR is also expected to come up with protocol for sitting arrangements for LG sessions. There is no uniformity in the sitting protocol of LG members, dzongkhag officials, media, observers and members of the public. In a recent DT session, it was observed that officials were seated with DT members.

Some of the major issues observed are holding of GT and DT without preparation meant to prompt an in-depth decision making process. It was also found that no reading materials like progress reports, financial reports, budget and expenditure figures or any other background information and data are distributed.

The CLGR is also conducting trainings for local leaders from eight pilot gewogs from Haa, Trongsa, Trashigang and Tsirang. The pilot gewogs are selected by DLG and Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Bhutan.

“We urgently felt the need to extend the scope for rest of dzongkhags and gewogs as early as possible,” Tharchen said. He said that there was a lack of understanding on the legal intent of LG Acts and functions of LGs.

Tharchen said that reporting and accountability systems in carrying out plan activities at the local level were not properly organised. He also cited poor awareness on the powers and functions of LG institutions and local government administrations.

Sources said that it was not only local governments but also civil servants and regional officials that need awareness on elected LGs and LG administrations. Due to such gaps, they say clashes between LG officials and dzongkhag officials are expected.

The project is funded and technically supported by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Bhutan as part of the on-going decentralisation and local governance project.

An official from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Bhutan said that the project would contribute in capacity building of local government LG functionaries.

The study on DT and GT has highlighted limited understanding of the rationale and basis of having DTs and GTs as instruments of decentralised governance and the main institutions of decision-making at the local level.

The study was conducted to collect baseline information on the issues facing the DT and GT, while  functioning as a means to facilitate designing of strategies to enhance the effectiveness of these institutions. The study covered 14 dzongkhags involving 92 participants, out of which 25 were women.

According to the study, meeting fatigue without proper coordination, poor turnout and lack of quality engagement in community meetings also hamper the functioning and effectiveness of LGs as the institution of decision making bodies at the local level.

According to the study, there is no specific timeline of conducting DT and GT sessions, coupled with delay in agenda submissions and difficulty in prioritisation of agenda items. Some of the challenges for GT and DT sessions are limited items in the agenda, irrelevant discussion points and delay in submitting points for the sessions.

LGs are also faced with absence of clear working modality between LGs and LG administration (non-elected). Lack of support and untimely response from LG administration officials and regional offices on the implementation of DT resolutions also impede the effectiveness of LGs.

Kelzang Wangchuk  | Samdrupjongkhar

An eight-year-old boy died when the semi- permanent house he was living in was razed to the ground by a fire in Samdrupjongkhar on January 6.

The incident occurred at around 10:25pm near the Bhutan Post office in Jomotshangkha.

According to sources, the deceased was at home with his two sisters and a friend. His father was away from home during the incident. The deceased was a class I student of Jomotshangkha middle secondary school.

Jomotshangkha did not have electricity or mobile network for the past few days due to windstorm and rain. The children lighted candle at night but forgot to put it off before they felt asleep.

“The fire is suspected to have started from the candlelight,” a source said, adding that the victim lost all the belongings worth about Nu 367,950 in the fire.

Meanwhile, Kuensel learned that the deceased slept in a separate room while his two sisters and a friend slept in a room together. The 13-year-old elder sister knew about the fire and took their five-year-old sister to safety after the deceased had refused when she tried to wake him. She went in again and brought her friend out of the house. She could not re-enter the house as the fire had spread all over it. She then shouted for help from the neighbours.

However, they could not contain the fire. One of the neighbours then informed the police. The police team along with the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) and drungkhag officials immediately arrived at the scene to battle the fire despite the scarcity of water and contained it.

The deceased’s sisters were evacuated to Jomotshangkha hospital as they have sustained first degree burns on their hands and are under medical observation.

The drungkhag administration provided emergency kits such as utensils, and other household items while the RBA provided the tent to the victim. Meanwhile, Samdrupjongkhar dzongdag handed over the Royal semso to the victim yesterday.

…MoE lumbered in implementing the rule

Choki Wangmo

In recent years the number of teachers of both private and government schools in urban areas providing tuition to students for monetary benefits has increased by manifold.

Many teachers advertise tuition opportunities on social media sites and some even have created group forums to encourage parents to send their children for tuition after school.

This practice and open declaration of the service contradicts with the education ministry’s policy guidelines and instructions 2012 that prohibits tuition. The decision was first brought to light during the sixth education conference in 2002. 

The ministry even issued circulars after parents complained, reasoning that tuition classes for monetary reasons deterred teachers from proper service delivery, and that rule was applicable to principals, teachers, contract teachers, community-based teachers, physical education teachers and counsellors of both public and private school.

Many parents are now asking whether the education ministry is implementing the rule or if it was just framed to show there is a rule.

A parent, who chose to remain anonymous,   said that providing tuitions had become a moneymaking business among teachers in major towns.

“The trend is worrying for the students from disadvantaged families. They might be left out.”

A parent said that teachers were most of the time attentive to only those students who took private lessons from them. 

A corporate employee said she had to question the intentions when her niece’s Mathematics teacher persuaded all parents and guardians to send the students for tuition. “What they don’t understand is that some students may not be able to afford the fees.”

The director general of Department of School Education, Karma Tshering, said that the notification was valid and if the complaints were genuine, the ministry would take action according to the teacher’s code of conduct and civil service rules.

“We will record the offence as misdemeanour and it will affect their assessment and promotions,” he said.

Meanwhile, a teacher in one of the schools in Thimphu said she gave tuition classes two times a week after school hours. Each session is two hours. She earns Nu 1,500 per month from each student. The number of learners varied according to the subject, parents’ willingness and affordability.

Although the teacher said that the lessons did not affect her daily routine in school and even helped her earn extra income for the family, the government should do away with such rampant practices.

“I think it should not be allowed and there should be strict monitoring from the ministry,” she said.

According to her, children from well-to-do families can afford but students from low-income family face difficulty in paying the fees. 

Similarly, a teacher from another school in the capital said he used to give lessons in the past but only during winter and summer breaks.

He said the workload was heavy during academic sessions. 

A teacher in a remote school said that he saw the ministry’s notification once but had no idea if it was implemented. “In remote schools, we have teacher shortage and there is no time for tuition classes. We are always in a rush to cover syllabus.”

He said that teachers in towns had time as a result of ‘one teacher one subject’ while primary schools in rural areas have only about three teachers according to the ministry’s teacher enrolment policy. “The policy’s teacher-student ratio is 1:22 but in our school, it is 1:40. There are loopholes.”

Parents and concerned individuals can lodge complaints to the ministry or inform the school principals and dzongkhag education officers if they find any teachers providing tuitions.

Yangchen C Rinzin 

More than 150 applications to set up industries have been kept pending because of incomplete infrastructure at the industrial estates, non-issuance of clearances for various agencies, and bureaucratic hurdles.

In an attempt to find out why the establishment of the industrial estates were delay, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering met with officials from the Department of Industry, and Gross National Happiness Commission.

Dhamdum Industrial Park in Samtse, Bondeyma Industrial Park in Mongar, Motanga Industrial Park in Samdrupjongkhar, and Jigmeling Industrial Estate in Gelephu were identified since the first government’s term.

Although some of the works are underway, the establishment of industrial parks has been moving at a ‘snail’s pace’.

Lyonchhen said that the government is trying to sort out the hindrances to help boost the economy and enhance private sector development for which industrial park development has to move faster.

“I found out that industrial park development is a major work of economic affairs ministry and I wanted to find out the status of the parks and what government can do to prioritise, re-prioritise or coordinate the works,” he said.

Lyonchhen said that although works are underway, there were many issues mainly in coordination among agencies that have hindered the progress. “Nothing concrete has come as of now.”

He said that the industrial park concept has been developed, applications were submitted by the interested people. “However, many are anxiously waiting for the approval and we hear some of the applicants have even expired waiting for the approval.”

Prime Minister said that these applicants could create employment but they are kept waiting while there is a lot of noise on the need to solve unemployment.

“More graduates are looking for business, and many more are encouraged to do business through entrepreneurship courses, start-up training, but on the other hand, people who are genuinely interested to do business are still stuck.”

Department of Industry’s director general Yonten Namgyel said that the development works are underway to provide immediate amenities like electricity, water, and roads.

“However, some areas require clearances, and obtaining them take a long time delaying the entire work,” he said.

Reporting the work progress at four parks, the director general said that it is uncertain how the work could be fast tracked, as various factors have to be considered before establishing the industries.

“But we’re definitely in touch with officials from the dzongkhags and thromdes to ease the processes,” he said. “Studies are being carried out wherever needed.”

Yonten Namgyel said that coordination and waiting for clearances for every work from the National Environment Commission (NEC), National Land Commission, and other agencies are some of the reasons that have slowed work progress.

He said that there is no shortage of budget and that the ministry is trying to use the budget prudently.

At the end of the meeting, Lyonchhen said that he would soon meet all the applicants, officials from the NEC, and other relevant agencies to discuss the issues.

“It’s time we ask and identify each others’ problems and give the applicants a straight answer on whether they should wait or if their application is cancelled,” Lyonchhen said.

“We should come together and see how to solve the problems, is there a need to tweak some policies because your 20th Century mentality shouldn’t spoil the 21st Century proposal.”

Lyonchhen said that the government will also try to fast track the clearances, talk with the NEC, ask applicants what kind of expertise and skilled workers they need to see if the government could facilitate.

“When I meet individual applicants and agencies, they’ve their explanation and are right in their own ways. So, if we come together we can identify the problem together and solve the issues right away.”

Lyonchhen said that government will expedite the completion of industrial parks within 2021 by giving the required budget and use of additional contractors or execute works by CDCL if needed.

The government will also expedite approval of business proposals by addressing issues with the environment clearances, immigration and work permit issues or any other required clearances, provide training to Bhutanese in the skills those industries need, and set up, if possible, one-stop service for fast-tracking establishment of industries.

The planning for industrial estates began in the 10th Plan while the economic affairs ministry received a budget sometime in the middle of the 11th Plan. Actual works like providing electricity, temporary water supply and access roads began from 2016.

Initially, Druk Holding and Investment was supposed to implement the plan on Public-Private Partnership model. However, the project was returned to the ministry following land ownership issues. Most of the development work at the industrial parks are stuck because of the environment clearance and some even for more than two years.

Thinley Namgay

The defending champions, Buddhist Arts were losing the deciding set, and were on the verge of being knocked out of the Druk Wangyel National Traditional Archery tournament at Changlimithang archery range yesterday.

The opponents, TSD and STS had hit a karey (target hit) and two dayangs, booking four points enough to finish the set and secure a berth at the final on January 11.

The four time champions needed a hero.

For the past two days, despite losing a set to the opponents, Buddhist Arts were leading and at that moment needed only a point to win the deciding match. TSD and STS fought back tooth and nail. The organisers extended the match with two more rounds on the second day but Buddhist Arts couldn’t finish it.

The next day, TSD and STS returned stronger and went up from 17 to 21 in the first two rounds excluding the numerous hits that Buddhists Arts cancelled.  Neither of the teams could score in the next three rounds as both teams successfully prevented the other team from scoring.

It came to the sixth round and TSD and STS had enough points, a karey and two dayangs, to finish the set with only three archers remaining. Buddhist Arts players appeared dejected and desperate.

They ran, yelled, and whistled summoning the spirits to intervene and hoping for a miracle. Their supporters at stands wore anxious looks and encouraged the archers to prove their worth. The scene was a battle-like.  It was now or never.

Then Dorji Tshering from Sakteng rose to the occasion. His performance in the past two days were not convincing. But now, both his bamboo arrows landed on the target squashing all hopes for team TSD and STS from Thimphu. His teammates ran riot around the targets spraying dust and singing their lungs out.

The match ended, Buddhist Arts entered the final from Pool A.

Dorji Tshering was extremely happy. “In the past two days, other friends have performed well. We became hopeless as the opponent hit the target continuously in the deciding set. But I aimed with full determination and it worked at the last moment,” he said.

Besides their talent in archery, spectators enjoyed their sense of humour and camaraderie. They said safety of spectators is an issue as many move out of the gallery and stand close to target. “The lone Bhutan Indigenous Games and Sports Association (BIGSA) lady staff controlling the crowd was not enough,” a spectator said.

Meanwhile, team Yango Automobile from Thimphu lost to Radhi gewog, Trashigang on January 6. Radhi dominated the game winning both the sets 25-14 and 25-2 and cruised easily into the final.

Radhi didn’t take even a day to thrash the opponent.

Buddhist Arts’s captain Kezang Dorji said, “While selecting the players, we look at both talent and attitude so that all can work together as a team.”

“It is difficult to say who will win the final. Radhi payers are sharp shooters and some of them had been our teammates.”

The teams paid tournament an entry fee of Nu 7,500 each. The tournament was started in 2004 by the BIGSA.

Each team has 13 players, of which two remain as spare archers. The teams were divided into Pool A and Pool B and the winner had to finish two sets of 25 points.

BIGSA’s coordinator, Tshewang Namgyal said, “In 2016, we saw the highest number of participants with 40 teams and 39 teams this year.” The tournament is sponsored by the government.

Tshewang Namgyal said BIGSA also organise two other traditional archery tournaments.

“Team members breaking the rules, lack of budget, and timing are the major challenges in organising the tournament,” he said.

Buddhist Arts will play team Radhi gewog on January 11.

Phub Dem

Many people, including commuters and residents were taken by surprise when it snowed in Gedu on the night of January 4, stranding vehicles and causing inconveniences to commuters.

Official records indicate Gedu received its first snowfall this year. Some Gedu residents said the place received a light snowfall in 2008. “But this is the first time we are receiving snowfall of such thickness,” a local resident said.

Passes like Dochula were covered with snow

Many people attributed the snowfall to climate change.

The National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) officials, however, said western disturbance along with convective clouds, which were fed with continuous moisture from the Arabian Sea caused the snowfall with hailstorm and thunderstorm in Gedu.

A hydromet officer, Pema Syldon, said surface temperature of Gedu was one degree Celsius that evening. “Since Gedu had favourable conditions such as drop-in temperature and moisture in the air, precipitation occurred in the form of snow with hailstorm.”

She said that due to frequent western disturbances, the country was experiencing precipitation this winter season. “There will be numerous snowfalls this winter.”

Although many said the change in weather conditions was because of climate change, the hydromet officer said that winter precipitation over the country was governed by seasonal variability.

She also said that a single event shouldn’t be directly linked with climate change because climate change studies require longer historical data analysis.

Meanwhile, rainfall and temperature forecast of Bhutan for 2019 winter season projected most likely ‘below normal’ temperature forecast for winter.

Thimphu experienced its coldest day on December 18 last year in 23 years. The lowest minimum temperature reached -9 degree Celsius, which is about 3.7 degrees below the average for winter from 1996 to 2019.

As per the record with NCHM, the average minimum temperature recorded from 1996-2019 was -5.3 degrees Celsius.

As of today, the winter temperature observed across the country is below normal by an average of 3 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, NCHM forecasts snowfall in the northern, western and central regions of Bhutan today.

Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

When the Gyalpoizhing-Nganglam highway was inaugurated in May 2018, the business community in Gyalpoizhing was excited and expected their businesses to prosper.

Less than two years after the inauguration, shopkeepers are baffled with the decline in business.

But the community say there is still hope.

After years of delay as a result of a major land scam, the town could eventually become one of the most unique towns in the country, a lakeside model town.

As of now, construction of a double-lane main road, storm water drainage and a vegetable shed are complete.

While the old sewerage system is used, officials said the streetlight has been proposed and work related to water treatment plant for the drinking water from Drepong and plantation of flowers and plants (evergreen low height trees) in between the structures and road is underway.

Similarly, the construction of Namgyal choeten along with wangkhang (prayer hall) aimed at hosting religious activities especially in winter is also going on.

With the salient features of smart growth principles, dzongkhag officials said Gyalpoizhing town would serve as the business, tourism, transit, sporting and conferencing hub in eastern Bhutan.

The salient features include resort and convention center, compact building design, walkable neighbourhood, foster distinctive and attractive neighbourhood, environmental preservation and a children’s park.

All-weather-soccer stadium, guest house, conference hall and resort, boat riding, vegetable shed, a choeten with wangkhang would be some of the prominent features the town once complete.

There will also be a river rafting along the 3.6km ferry route over the 250m wide still river with six boat stations.

This, according to the dzongkhag officials, is going to be the most unique part of the town and it is expected to attract tourists.

“This is an interface of water-bred activities with human-settlement pattern to turn Gyalpoizhing into winter destination for local tourists for water-based recreational activities,” Mongar architect, Sangay Wangchuk said.

The 10.6-acre Bhutan Olympic Committee area, which already has an artificial turf will be turned into a sporting complex with in-door games and sports facilities.

In order to supplement drinking water supply, thromde officials said an additional water source has been identified at Kalapang in Saling gewog and included in the 12th Plan in the flagship programme.

However, the resort area designated at the lower part of the town including the river rafting facility and children’s park are yet to be developed.

For the service precinct,  except for relocating the BOD fuel depot to Kurizampa area, dzongkhag officials said Bondeyma industrial estate will suffice.

Gyalpoizhing town has 105 allocable plots excluding the government institutions, of which 57 plots were allotted. Among those allotted, 18 are already developed, three are being developed and two are set, according to a town committee member Tshering Wangdi.

Among the government agencies that have applied for plots of the remaining area, economic affairs ministry has applied to establish a cottage and small industry start-up center, and the Royal Monetary Authority has applied to open its regional office.

Gyalpoizhing town has an area of 400 acres with an estimated population of more than 2,400 people.

Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

Distance between Mongar and Lhuentse is expected to shorten by more than 32kms once the Yongkola-Dorjilung bypass is connected.

Department of Roads (DoR) officials in Lingmethang said works on the 20kms bypass will start by July this year and commuters will not have to pass through Gangula.

Officials said the 10kms Tsamang gewog centre road from Yongkola to Tokari village in Tsamang is already blacktopped, while another 10kms farm road is also connected to Dorjilung recently.

DoR’s chief engineer, Karma Rinzin, said they only have to blacktop the 10kms farm road and construct a 200ft bailey suspension bridge at Dorjilung over Kurichhu to connect the bypass.

He said survey was conducted and a detailed project report has been submitted. “Work is expected to be awarded to the contractors by July this year.”

Meanwhile, for the commuters travelling from Mongar to Lhuentse these days, the road after crossing Gangula is not only narrow and curvy but also filled with potholes.

Commuters say the road has not been maintained for years and it takes more than three hours to reach Lhuentse. “Initially, it took only two hours but now poor road condition increased the travel time,” a commuter said.

DoR officials say they are aware of the problem and they resurfaced 6kms of the stretch in Chali and Palangphu area.

Officials said the whole stretch of 65kms Lhuentse highway from Gangula junction requires maintenance but they do not have budget.

Karma Rinzin said the regional office maintained only a few kilometres last year due to lack of budget although maintenance is critical. “We even had the plan to widen this national secondary highway once but the idea had to be dropped because of the budget issue.”

He, however, said the regional office has decided to do resurfacing work stretch wise and resurfacing another 5kms stretch is approved for 2019-20 financial year. “The work has been already tendered out and would be awarded to the contractor soon.”