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Showing posts from August, 2014

Youth Volunteer Walk- Ura to Bumthang

Banner of the Event I received a call on 2nd August 2014 from the organizers if I shall be interested to join the second day of Youth Volunteer Walk. I didn't have a slightest idea of what it is all about, but, whatever said and done i said to myself- "let me join the group and find out what it is all about". So, i started my journey towards Dungmithang (approximately 11 kilometers from Chamkhar-Bumthang) to join the group.  The Youth Volunteer walk was initiated by the Ura Middle Secondary School in Ura, Bumthang on 1st and 2nd August 2014. About 100 students, teachers, police personals and others joined the walk from Ura on the 1st of August. Ura is about 50 kilometers from Chamkhar, Bumthang. The group spent a night at Dungmithang-Bumthang, from where I had an opportunity to take part on the second day of the program.  It was not just a 'walk' but along with the walk the group made awareness on garbage, proper hand washing techniques, better democ

River Guides of Panbang- A Community Initiative

Logo of RGP Where is Panbang? the very first question I am likely to get if i mention River Guides of Panbang (RGP). My answer would be; A lovely village located in the sub-tropial belt of Bhutan nestled between Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan and Manas Tiger Reserve in India. The place is blessed with two mighty rivers of Bhutan, Mangde Chu and Drangme Chu. During the earlier phase of settlement, in the absence of permanent bridge, people traveling from Panbang where crossing Drangme Chu river on a boat like structure made by bamboo- locally known as Pan. People believe that the name of Panbang was thus coined. Elderly people from the locality has many stories to tell on how thick the bamboo forests in that area used to be densely inhabited by wild Elephants and other animals. However, with the coming of visionary well wisher from Japan, Late Dasho Nishokha in 1970s- started to transform the area for good. He was the one who divided the land equally within the local communiti

Vehicle Import Quota - RULES FOR SELECTIVE

When the Ministry of Finance- Royal Government of Bhutan, finally made a public notification on release of quota, civil servants who were eligible were happy that finally it is coming through and I have to admit that I was one of happy civil servants. I had no issues on the "Vehicle Quota Rules 2014". However, I had the difficulty to digest when I heard that there are no RULES in place for the so called "FULL QUOTA" for Honourable Members of Parliament and National Council. I feel that the whole purpose of framing rules with an intention to prevent import of two vehicles (One by using quota and one by earnings made from selling quota) is defeated. To lay my justifications on the "Defeated" words I used: with 8 lakhs quota, even if two vehicles are imported another imported vehicle will be a small hatchback, but if full quota are allowed to sell, it will lead to the import of two SUVs- everyone understands the amount of pollution made by SUVs and Hatchba

Shri Narendra Modi's Address to Bharat- Hits the Point.

I will need to accept that I have been listening to Shri Narendra Modi's speech in youtube since i heard his speech after he took over as the Honourable Prime Minister of India. Though, I don't understand much Hindi, but I admit that whatever i understand hits the spot right in the center. What a man, what an orator. Shri Narendra Modi on the occasion of 68th Independence Day Of India His address to Bharat on the 68th Independence day (15th August 2014) began by thanking all previous governments and his predecessors- such courtesy is rare to see in this world of jealousy and hatred. I have heard no one doing this let alone politicians and political parties. Honourable Prime Minister touched upon some small yet very important points. He touched upon the cleanliness and requiring proper and clean toilets in schools and villages. He understood the need of basic facilities which we generally tend to overlook. He placed much importance to basic issues of clean environment

Bhutan- Going Electric to Petroleum

Going Electric is a noble idea and endeavors followed by People's Democratic Party (Current Ruling party) in Bhutan. Bhutan has been applauded for the green vision not only this time but several years before, for being very particular about preferring to conserve natural resources to economic gains. However, recent decision by government to go purely electric in automobile department came out little surprise, at-least to me. While, I acknowledge that going electric would mean lots of benefits to the environment and help preserve the serenity of our country as electric run cars are known for little to no sound at-all to zero emission of poisonous gases. However, the fact we should understand is; we are a small nation with unforgiving, of-course beautiful, topography and under developed. Going electric would demand building charging stations within the 100 kilometers distance each to ease passerby and to avoid traffic clogging at charging stations. We should know that, Bhutan do

GO VEG, SAVE PLANET ?? HOW APA?

Yesterday, when whole of my family went to visit monasteries to observe the holiest day (4th day of the 6th Bhutanese month), we saw a group of well dressed tourists. Attention of my 11 years old daughter was particularly drawn by a women with proportionately larger tag hanging from her neck. The tag reads "Go Veg- Go Green and Save Planet". My daughter couldn't relate how going vegetarian could save our planet and asked me, "Apa, how will going vegetarian help save our planet?". I have to admit that for instance I went dumb, not knowing how to answer. After some thought, I answered her question. My answer was in relation to food production: 1. In order to cater to the meat demand of people, we have to establish diary farms, poultry, piggery and other livestock farms. Which demands huge quantity of livestock food which is directly proportional to the land size required to grow food for these animals. Doing this would decrease the land-size for agricultural cr