There has been a heated debate on the age of consent being proposed to 16 years from 18 years in the parliament. Did we actually hear that? Are we being futuristic or are we regressing? So many questions can be asked about the rationale behind the proposal: does it mean that we can rob our […]
Read MoreBans have become synonymous with jokes in Bhutan. Starting with the plastic ban decades ago and now to the tobacco ban to the casual dress ban, everything that was in constant use and even considered almost a necessity but had supposed or real disadvantages have been banned at least in principle. In reality, the plastic […]
Read MoreRegional tourism has spelled the beginning of the end of Bhutan’s exclusive brand as a high-end travel destination. Look around the streets in Thimphu or tourist attraction sites, there is plenty of evidence. The sheer number of regional tourists – which is of course just another euphemism for Indian tourists – flooding our towns, marketplaces, […]
Read MoreThe compulsory retirement of nine lecturers from College of Language and Culture Studies on grounds of sexual harassment is like a slap on the face of the institution of education in the country. And it’s a very hard one, too. Where have we gone wrong, the question springs. Bhutan is not a conservative society as […]
Read MoreMay 2nd was Teacher’s Day. It was a day to celebrate a category of very special people who shape up the lives of future generations including youth. Many must have wished their teachers and passed on their good will on the day. However, we are not ignorant of the many challenges that teachers in this […]
Read MoreMany a times, good projects or plans have been shelved on the side citing security issue or the threats they may pose on the national security of the country. The debate then stops there right away because nothing is more important than national security. Undoubtedly, as concerned citizens and people, our national security and sovereignty […]
Read MoreThe pay revision proposed by the Pay Commission is in the hands of the government. They will soon decide the shots. But one thing that is clear is that the “wow factor” is missing. DrukNyamprupTshogpa’s pledge to revise the payment of civil servants may have found fulfillment but the requisite criterion to evoke shock waves […]
Read MoreWaste is an expensive issue. It costs a lot-both to produce and dispose it off. If there is one thing that Bhutanese haven’t learnt over the years, it is how to dispose waste properly. From the roads to pavements to streams and drains, waste is scattered in the most unbecoming places. It turns not only […]
Read MoreBhutan’s journey has been special so far. We have made great strides in our development. We have successfully demonstrated our abilities to design a unique development paradigm that counters mainstream development models. Our living culture and tradition are pretty much intact despite increasing consumerism and exposure to modern, foreign cultures and values. Our environment is […]
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The role of media in a democracy is important. This is generally the accepted mainstream thinking. And this thinking often finds overly loud expression and emphasis in conversations on democracy, transparency, and accountability. Every important institution within the democratic framework – political parties, bureaucracy, civil society, and even the judiciary accept and profess that media […]
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