No Rural Bhutan – If We Do What We Speak

Whenever, I had to introduce myself to friends in abroad saying I come from a very small country with an area of 36, 394 sq. kms and population less than 0.7M. The first reaction I get from them is ‘OK’ then everyone must be knowing each other. That makes me reflect and think again, do we really know each other? Perhaps, every Bhutanese now may have to ask that question yourself.

We have realized today that we have enough people who can bring changes in Bhutan. It will not take much time to make a dream place in Bhutan, if we are all genuine in what we “Think” and “Do”. Unfortunately, all those people are in Thimphu, Phuentsoling and other urban centre and completely forgot their own roots.

I am not exaggerating here, it is fact that there are many of us who have never been back to their own villages and lost contact with their relatives and communities for so long. Today, we blame for lack of development in remote Dzongkhags and I can confidently say that many of our policy makers, efficient leaders, workers, engineers, doctors all come from those remote places. And that makes me wonder, why?

Our youth do not know about the Rural Life, because parents never took them to their root place. Our so called Dasho’s and educated parents are the ones, who commited the mistake and preach other wise. Today, there are thousands of youth passing out every year with university graduates and their choices too remain and confined in urban areas. Sorry, we cannot blame them alone we have brought up them in such environment and we failed to facilitate and give them the right values.

I have come across in my life many officials, beautiful women, handsome men and friends whom I can’t believe that they can ever belong to those places they mention as their hometown. Women are so beautiful and men are so handsome physically that I have never come across such people in those places. That makes me ask every time, Are you sure? Yes ofcourse wai, but I live in Thimphu and Phuntsoling and my parents are settled here. I have never been to my village and only my grandparents and relatives lives there are the answers I usually get.

Perhaps, if all those intellectual people could visit their own villages’ atleast once in a year, talk with them and try to understand their problems. I am confident enough to say that huge difference could be made within no time. Besides, I should mention that it is not only problems that exist in rural area, but there are many beautiful things that you have never experienced in your urban life and you may be able to learn those values as well.

Yes, it is good to show concerns of common people on Facebook, twitter and finger point eachother on media papers in urban places. But more empirical would be to act and make differences in the field.  That is completely lacking in Bhutan at the moment. And fact is that those same old people without the degrees, without computer knowledge and skills are serving with the utmost dedication for the common people and I wish for God sake, if stop blaming them.

As Dalia lama said. “If you can, help others; If you cannot do that atleast do not harm them”

LET US NOW GO BEYOUND PAPERS AND INTERNET AND ACT GENIUNELY IF WE ARE FOR COMMON PEOPLE.

 

Brothers and Sisters living with HIV/AIDS in Bhutan wanted to go public and help Society

Bhutan as of July, 2010 has official figure of 217 HIV/AIDS cases out of which 43 died and leaves with 164 known HIV/AIDS cases. In-between December 2009 to July, 2010, 32 new cases were detected out of which 16 females and 16 males including one minor. The figure shows only the detected cases and actual infected numbers could be higher in country.

The infected people cut across all section of society including civil servants, corporation/Pvt. employee, housewives, farmers, students, uniform personnel, commercial sex workers, religious groups etc. No one has been speared and for God sake not even our monks.

Yes, defiantly it will remain a concern and has been priority issue for the country. Since 1993 with first detected cases, government has been putting all its efforts to prevent and control the disease. Considering the priority, Her Queen Mother Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk took an initiative and under the leadership of her queen mother, many programmes have been initiated right from the central level to grass root level.

Millions of money has been spent through the help of donor funding to support the programme. There is a continuous effort by the Government to educate the people on disease. Mult-Sectoral Task Force was formed right from Ministry level to Gewog level at the grassroots to help achieve the programme. Yet today, it still remains a concern and needs more efforts to address the issue.

In fact, the most courage’s move was taken by the patient themselves to form a NGO called Lhak-Sam in 2009 with aim of supporting each other. Now, again an unprecedented move is being contemplating by NGO to go public and reveal their identity and work for the cause.( Read: Kuensel Story)   

 Personally, I must bow down  for courage of those people who wanted to support each other and work for the common cause.  There were constant efforts and ideas by the patients voluntarily to go publicly and help society in many ways. So, it is time that society supports them and cheers them up.

Government can help them in many ways, religious leaders and group have immense role to play which is of course line with the Buddhism principle and media can play a very important role.  What they need is our support at this time.

 A simple message from Je Khenpo, Prime Minister and various Eminent Rinpoche’s will defiantly have strong hold and bearing in supporting the cause. And no explanation is needed when it comes to the role of media in such programmes. Above all, I believe each one of us who understands the situation can help in many ways.  

I am sure, educated people will have no contrary argument when it comes to their voluntary will of going public and support the cause. But there may be certain reservation from our uneducated section of society owing to their innocence and it may not be very difficult to convince them. I understand the social stigma considering our conservative nature of our society but that is not enough reason to hold us back. Infact, we are very fortunate that our brothers and sisters who are infected with disease are willing enough to come forward and help the society.

If we fail today then I think we not only fail as a society, but may have to pay a huge price in future.  

However, I would like to stress here that the choices should remain with those living with HIV/AIDS on decision to go public or choose to remain protecting their identity. As far as they are willing, our society should be able to support and help them.

TODAY I URGE EACH ONE OF US TO JOIN OUR HANDS AND SUPPORT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS FOR THE GREATER CAUSE.

Tourism and Local Community in Bhutan

Tourism development in Bhutan since 1974 played an important role in country’s economy and social wellbeing. Today, after Hydro Power the Tourism industry remains one of the major source of revenue genarator in our country. In 2009-2010, the figure stands at 19.8 % in GDP contribution.

Tourism Industry over the past decades has defiantly benefited the people and the country. Today, there are more than 400 registered tour operators, more than 100 hotels across the country and thousands of employees benefited in the country especially in the hot spots area of Thimphu, Paro, Punakha and Bumthang. Besides, the royalties that goes back to government treasure plough back indirectly to people in the form of social benefits like health and education etc.

However, the benefits to the rural people largely remain indirect and people failed to realize the importance of the industry. The incorporation of tourism plans in Local Government plan has never been realized and participation of local people in the process is very limited. Still it is consider a central driven plans and infact the direct benefits goes only to the section of people.

Government realizing the consequences has come up with measures including the model of  developing  a community based and Eco-toursim. The Tourism Council of Bhutan has drafted Tourism Bill.(Not yet presented to Parliament) which will help Local Government prepare their own Dzongkhag Tourism Development Plan and manage the tourism resources. The initiatives are being taken and some of them includes, pilot project at Haa and Zhemngang Dzongkhag, Phobjikha project, Nabji-Korphu trail and few projects in Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag. The products includes trekking trails, Bird watching, heritage villages, farm houses, road side ammunities etc.

The Tourism development and local community will have to go together in longer interest of the industry and remain a vital mainly due to followings;

·       to create a sense of ownership

·       manage the resources,

·       Direct benefits from industry and

·       Local Participation in process.

Local people need to understand the importance of industry and with government objectives of diversifying the products and address the issue of seasonality, the involvement of local people is undeniable fact and very important. Local community has to feel the sense of ownership and manage their own resources. And until, communities are directly benefited it will be difficult to involve them in process and make them feel the sense of ownership and responsibilities.  

Perhaps, at the moment since Local government do not have the required capacity and knowledge, people may not demand or expect much from the industry but that will not last long and it is already evident from some of the Dzongkhags like Paro and Bumthang.

Local people will defiantly demand more in times to come and without a clear system of involving the local people there would be possibilities of creating an unfavourable situation which will hamper the growth of the industry.

Without the Societal approach taken into consideration, the present trend will led to a volatile situation where there could be lots of conflict of interest and may hamper the longterm interest of economy.

Considering the importance of industry, it is high time that government gives a priority and pass the laws which governs the industry and takes all stakeholders into board. The involvement of local government and community in tourism industry cannot be ignored for longer time.   

My message and best wishes to students in Bhutan

Now the time has come to ripe the fruits of your hardworking for a long academic year and I know each one of you will do well. I can feel the pain and stress you go through at this point of time and my prayers are with you all to bless with all the powers to do best in your examinations.

Personally, I don’t feel logic in doing examinations and I wish the system should have never been introduced in education system. But, reality is always different and every one of you should take that as an opportunity and never consider as stressful times.

Don’t worry about passing or failing in exam, each moment of life is an exam and as far as you succeed in life that is most important. Remember, most of the scientist, thinkers, leaders, musician, celebrities  and other icon people in world have failed in one point of time amongst which include Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Socrates, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates, Elvis Presley, and many more.

Every individual has his/her own unique talents and features. Nurturing yourself with values plays a greater role in life. Academic achievements not necessary guarantee a success in your life. It depends on many factors in and around you. That is the beauty of life.

Sometime, it is very unfortunate and sad situation that our youth commits suicide for not being able to perform well in examination.  Children’s are not only responsible it is even the parents who demands too much from their children. Parents try to enforce their greed’s and unfulfilled desires through their sons and daughters and that is where we go wrong. Parent’s job will be best if we can facilitate and nurture them with values instead of imposing the will.

My messages to all our youth at this critical time is to give your best, believe in yourself, keep faith in God and never give too much stress to yourself. Values in life are beyond Examinations.

Community Harmony may become a Tale in Bhutan

Bhutan for so long has preserved many of our cultural values among which the community vitality and harmony is one of the important and valued components in a daily life. I am here referring to harmony that exists in villages, among the households and individuals.

Helping and consoling from neighbours and family members during the time of sickness and death, labour contribution during the construction of the houses, taking care of our parents, elders and relatives, visiting the neighbours and community festivals including social gatherings are few examples of integral part of daily Bhutanese life.

In the past, there are no mobiles or any easy mode of communications but a loud voice shouting from one of the neighbours is enough to alarm everyone during emergency and within no time there would be enough helping hands. It does not require any laws or bylaws but all happens with mere sense of belongings and concerns. A person knows what your neighbours are eating, wearing and daily household chorus. Sharing even a single piece of chilli you have, offering of tea and meals if you are there on time, chit chat and part of gossiping are part and parcel of life.

For me, I am grown up in rural hamlet called Bongo under Chukha Dzongkhag and remember my days back listening to folk stories from our elders, helping neighbours in grinding rice using the traditional methods which requires a labour force and hanging around in the night for so called “Night Hunting” (word loosely used in English for making Love in Rural Life). The life in my village is so wonderful that today, I question why the present youths are not being able to enjoy the same life. Youths no more leave in village and connection between older and younger generation are widening every year. Infact, it is a sad situation and we are taking up some initiatives  to revitalize the community harmony that existed during our childhood days and works are in progress and praying that one day we would be able to live in same harmony that existed in past.   

Sorry to mention that now everything is changing so fast and can’t believe even if ever it has to go at that pace nor convinced that everything happens for the best. I understand that the change is inevitable and for that matter even culture has to be dynamic and it needs changes with change in time but unfortunately experiences taught us other way round.

Now, the community harmony and peace we enjoyed are diminishing in all parts of country. If you don’t believe, go to west and developed Dzongkhags and gewogs of Paro, Wangdi, Haa and more. People has become quite individualism and economic oriented. The neighbour hoods were lost and instead replaced by economic competition and in process lost many of the values and peace we enjoyed. I don’t have impirical and scientific research to prove my claim, but for sure question yourself today why cooperatives and group never get succeed in our country? The government’s efforts to promote groups and cooperatives were not that smooth, I will not say that the programmes has completely failed but it is not also a success and primary reasons is lack of confidence and trust in eachother over the pursuit of individualism. Despite all the cooperatives act, laws and bylaws in place, there are very few success stories.

Sharing among the neighbours are no more, helping hands comes only on conditions, money talks to much, religious and celebrations become profit oriented and it should not be a surprise when I say I face difficulties meeting friends and near one in Thimphu and Phuentsholing. Everyone is busy and no one has time.

It is time now to reflect back and see, when in the past without all those cooperatives acts and bylaws when our forefathers could work in harmony, why not during our time? Why people don’t share anymore? Why time has become so important? And why money talks too much.

The answers are not simple and direct, so we cannot remain complacent for too long. It is time now to review and see where we are standing?