༉ སྤ་རོ་བོང་སྡེ་སྟོད་ལུ་ ཨྱོན་པདྨ་ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རིའི་ ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ ཟླ་ངོ་ཕྱེད་དང་བཞི་གི་རིང་ རིན་ཆེན་གཏེར་མཛོད་ཀྱི་ དབང་ལུང་ཁྲིད་གསུམ་གནང་པའི་སྐབས་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ནང་འཁོད་ཀྱི་ དད་ཅན་སྐྱ་སེར་ཕོ་མོ་སྟོང་ཕྲག་ལས་བཅད་དེ་ གྲལ་གཏོགས་འབད་ནི་གི་ རེ་བ་ཡོད་ཟེར་ འགོ་འདྲེན་པ་གིས་ བཤདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

རིན་ཆེན་གཏེར་མཛོད་ཀྱི་ ལྗགས་ལུང་ཡང་ སྐྱབས་རྗེ་ཞེ་ཆེན་རབ་འབྱམས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་མཆོག་གིས་ རང་ཟླ་༤ པའི་ཚེས་༢༡ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༢༩ ལས་འགོ་བཙུགས་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༩ པའི་ཚེས་༡༣ ཚུན་ གནང་ནི་ཨིནམ་ད་ བཀའ་དབང་ལས་རིམ་དེ་

མཁན་སྤྲུལ་ཀརྨ་འཇིགས་མེད་ཀྱིས་ དབུ་གཙོས་ཏེ་ ཨྱོན་པདྨ་ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རི་ཆོས་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ འགོ་འདྲེན་འཐབ་ཨིན་པས།

མཁན་སྤྲུལ་ཀརྨ་འཇིགས་མེད་ཀྱིས་ བཤད་མིའི་ནང་ ལྗགས་ལུང་ཞུ་མི་ བླ་སྤྲུལ་དང་ མཁན་པོ་ དགེ་སློང་ ཨ་ནེམོ་ སྒོམ་ཆེན་ དེ་ལས་ སྤྱིར་བཏང་དད་ཅན་༡༠,༠༠༠ ལྷགཔ་ཅིག་ འཛོམས་ནི་གི་ རེ་བ་ཡོད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ འགོ་འདྲེན་པའི་ཧོངས་ལས་ ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རི་ལྷ་ཁང་གི་ གདོང་ཕྱོགས་ལུ་ ཆོས་ཞུ་མི་༡༢,༠༠༠ དེ་ཅིག་ ཤོང་ཚུགས་པའི་ དབང་ཁང་ངམ་ ཚོགས་ཁང་ཆེན་མོ་ཅིག་ བཟོ་སྐྲུན་འབད་བའི་བསྒང་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཨྱོན་པདྨ་ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རི་ཆོས་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ གསལ་བསྒྲགས་འབད་མིའི་ནང་ སྐྱབས་རྗེ་ཞེ་ཆེན་རབ་འབྱམས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་མཆོག་གིས་ རིན་ཆེན་གཏེར་མཛོད་ཆེན་མོའི་ སྨིན་བྱེད་ཀྱི་ བཀའ་དབང་གནང་པའི་སྐབས་ བྱ་བ་ཐ་དག་འབད་མེད་ལྷུན་གྱིས་འགྲུབ་ནི་དང་ ཕྱི་ནང་གསང་གསུམ་གྱི་ སྐུ་བགེགས་ཞི་ནིའི་ ཞབས་བརྟན་ལུ་དམིགས་ཏེ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༢༣ ལས་འགོ་བཙུགས་ སྤྱི་ཚེས་༢༦ ཚུན་ ཉིན་གྲངས་༤ གི་རིང་ ཨྱོན་པདྨ་ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རིའི་ མཁན་སྤྲུལ་བླ་སློབ་འདུས་ཚོགས་དང་ ཞེ་ཆེན་དགོན་གྱི་ བླ་སྤྲུལ་དགེ་འདུན་པ་ཚུ་གིས་ ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རིཡི་ ཚོགས་ཁང་ཆེན་མོའི་ནང་ བླ་མ་ནང་སྒྲུབ་རིག་འཛིན་འདུས་པའི་ དཀྱིལ་འཁོར་ཞལ་ཕྱེས་ཏེ་ ཚོགས་ཀྱི་མཆོད་པ་འབུམ་ཐེར་ཕུལ་ནི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

སྐྱབས་རྗེ་ཞེ་ཆེན་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་མཆོག་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༢༨ ལུ་ ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རི་གྲྭ་ཚང་ནང་ ཕེབས་གནང་ནི་ཨིནམ་ད་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༢༩ ལུ་ སྨིན་གླིང་རྡོར་སེམས་ཀྱི་ དཀྱིལ་འཁོར་ཞལ་ཕྱེས་ཏེ་ ས་ཆོག་དང་འབྲེལ་ རྡོར་སེམས་སྒྲུབ་མཆོད་དངོས་གཞི་འགོ་བཙུགས་ཞིནམ་ལས་ དབང་ལུང་མཇུག་མ་བསྡུའི་རིང་ལུ་ དུས་རྒྱུན་དུ་ འཚོགས་གནང་འོང་ཟེར་ འགོ་འདྲེན་པ་གིས་ གསལ་བསྒྲགས་འབདཝ་ཨིན་པས།

ལས་རིམ་དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༣༠ དྲོ་པ་ཆུ་ཚོད་༧ ལས་ ཨ་འཛོམ་རྒྱལ་སྲས་འགྱུར་མེད་རྡོ་རྗེ་མཆོག་སྤྲུལ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་གིས་ གཏེར་མཛོད་ཀྱི་ ལྗགས་ལུང་གནང་ནི་དང་ ཉིན་མའི་ཆུ་ཚོད་༡ ལུ་ སྐྱབས་རྗེ་ཞེ་ཆེན་རིན་པོ་ཆེ་མཆོག་གིས་ བཀའ་དབང་བསྩལ་གནང་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

མཁན་སྤྲུལ་ཀརྨ་འཇིགས་མེད་ཀྱིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ལྗགས་ལུང་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ འགོ་འདྲེན་པའི་ཧོངས་ལས་ གསོལ་ཚོགས་དང་ གསོལ་ཇ་དྲང་ནི་ཨིནམ་ལས་ དད་ཅན་ཚུ་གིས་ བཞེས་རས་བཞེས་ཆ་ཚུ་ བསྣམས་འབྱོན་གནང་ཟེར་ ཞུ་བ་འབདཝ་ཨིན་པས།

ཆོས་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་བདེ་སྒྲིག།

ཨྱོན་པདྨ་ཟངས་མདོག་དཔལ་རི་ཆོས་ཚོགས་ཀྱིས་ ལྗགས་ལུང་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་གི་ ཕན་ཐབས་ལུ་དམིགས་ཏེ་ སྒེར་གྱི་ས་ཆ་ཨེ་ཀར་༡ ལེན་ཞིནམ་ལས་ ཕོ་སྐྱེས་ཀྱི་གསང་སྤྱོད་༦༤ དང་ ཨམ་སྲུའི་གསང་སྤྱོད་༥༦ ས་དོང་བརྐོ་ཐོག་ལས་ ཁང་ཚན་སྦེ་ བཟོ་སྟེ་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ བླ་སྤྲུལ་དང་ དགེ་སློང་ཚུ་གི་དོན་ལུ་ གྲྭ་ཤག་ནང་ན་ དེང་སང་གི་ གསང་སྤྱོད་༦༠ དེ་ཅིག་ ཡོདཔ་་ཨིན་པས།

ད་རུང་ ཆོས་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་ ཆུ་འཐུང་ནི་དང་ ལགཔ་འཁྱུ་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ དབང་ཁང་གི་ གཡས་གཡོན་ལུ་ ཆུ་ཏོག་ཀ་ལི་༦༠ དེ་ཅིག་ གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ད་ མཁའ་སྤྲུལ་གྱིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ ལྗགས་ལུང་ལས་རིམ་དེ་ གནམ་བྱཱར་གྱི་ ཆར་ཆུའི་དུས་ཚོད་ལུ་ཕོགཔ་ལས་ ཆོས་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་གི་ གཟུགས་ཁམས་འཕྲོད་བསྟེན་ ལེགས་ལྡན་དང་ གཙང་སྦྲ་བསྟེན་དགོཔ་ གལ་ཆེ་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ གསང་སྤྱོད་དང་ འཐུང་ཆུའི་མཐུན་རྐྱེན་ཚུ་ མ་བཏུབ་བཏུབ་སྦེ་ གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ དད་ཅན་ཚུ་ ཐུགས་ཚ་གྱང་བཞེས་མི་དགོ་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་འབདཝ་ད་ ཆོས་ཞུ་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ སྡོད་ཁྱིམ་མ་ཐོབ་པའི་ གདོང་ལེན་ཡོད་མི་དེ་ཡང་ ད་རེས་ བོང་སྡེ་ཁྲོམ་དང་ ཉེ་འདབས་ཀྱི་ གཡུས་ཚན་ནང་ ཁང་ཚན་དང་ ཁྱིམ་ཚུ་ ཟླཝ་༣ དང་༤ གི་ཧེ་མ་ལས་ གླ་ཁར་བཏང་ཚར་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ཁང་གླར་ལེན་མི་ཅིག་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ སྤ་རོ་ལུ་ རིན་ཆེན་གཏེར་མཛོད་ཀྱི་ ལྗགས་ལུང་གནང་ནི་ཨིན་པའི་ གནས་ཚུལ་གོ་བའི་ཤུལ་ལས་ ཐག་རིང་གི་རྫོང་ཁག་ མོང་སྒར་དང་ བཀྲིས་སྒང་ལས་ ཆོས་ཞུ་འདོད་ཡོད་མི་ དག་པ་ཅིག་གིས་ དུས་ཅི་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༡ པའི་ནང་ བོང་སྡེ་ཁྲོམ་དང་ མཐའ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གཡུས་ཚན་ཚུ་ནང་ ཁང་ཚན་ཚུ་འཚོལ་ཏེ་ བཞག་ནུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

སྡོད་ཁྱིམ་གྱི་ མཁོ་འདོད་བཀོད་མི་ མངམ་ཐོན་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ ཁྱིམ་དང་སའི་ཇོ་བདག་ཚུ་གིས་ཡང་ གོ་སྐབས་ལེན་ཐོག་ལས་ ཁང་གླ་མཐོ་དྲགས་སྦེ་ རྐྱབ་མི་དེ་ཡང་ མི་༣ དང་༤ ཤོང་ཚུགས་པའི་ ཁང་མིག་ཆུང་ཀུ་ཅིག་ལུ་ ཟླ་རིམ་ཁང་གླ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༡༥,༠༠༠ ལས་༢༠,༠༠༠ གི་བར་ན་ སླབ་མས་ཟེར་ ཁྱིམ་འཚོལ་མི་གིས་ བཤདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་ལས་ གུར་སྤུབས་ཏེ་ སྡོད་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ ས་ཌིསི་རེ་ལུ་ གླར་སྤྱོད་ཀྱི་འཐུས་ ཟླཝ་༡ ནང་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༦,༠༠༠ རེ་ ལེན་དོ་ཡོད་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

 

རིག་འཛིན་དབང་ཕྱུག།

…import saw three-fold drop

Thukten Zangpo

In 2023, the import of tobacco and tobacco products decreased by three times, sparking worries about a potential increase in tobacco smuggling within the country.

According to data from the Department of Revenue and Customs, imports of tobacco and tobacco products decreased by more than 300 percent to Nu 542.33 million in 2023, down from Nu 1.59 billion in 2022. This decline coincides with the reintroduction of a 100 percent sales tax.

Tobacco was one of the top ten goods imported in 2022.

Bhutan lifted the ban on tobacco and tobacco products with the amendment of the Tax Act of Bhutan 2021, which came into force in July 2021 to curb the risks of Covid-19 transmission. There were then continuous tobacco smuggling incidents from across the border.

The government revised the sales tax from 100 percent to zero.

However, in November 2022, the government reinstated the 100 percent sales tax and increased customs duty on tobacco import by 10 percent under the Tax Act of Bhutan 2022.

The period of relaxed regulations saw a significant increase in imports, translating to more than Nu 1.59 billion as tax revenue in government coffers in 2002.

Conversely, tax revenue from tobacco imports was more than Nu 542 million tax revenue in 2023.

As per Section 63 of the Customs Act of Bhutan 2017, import and export goods, whether dutiable or exempted, should be declared to the department at the customs station and customs area. As per the Customs Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017, a person shall declare goods to customs at the point of entry or exit.

The Customs Act states: “A person shall pay a fine of 50 percent the value of the goods evaded in addition to the amount of customs duty, if the person does not declare or wilfully misrepresents the value or number of imports, export, or transit goods.”

Of the total imports in 2023, import of tobacco and tobacco products from India was reported at 529.74 million and Nu 12.59 million from other countries. Import of cigarettes alone accounted for Nu 507.65 million, equivalent to 109.55 million sticks in 2023.

In the first three months of this year, Bhutan imported Nu 166.92 million worth of tobacco and tobacco products.

Prior to zero tax, the import was recorded at Nu 453.53 million in 2021, Nu 144.23 million in 2020, Nu 0.66 million in 2019, and Nu 1.07 million in 2018.

According to the Bhutan STEPS survey of 2019, the prevalence of current use of tobacco products among 15-69 years was 23.9 percent.

The production and manufacture of tobacco and tobacco products remains banned in the country and smoking in public places is still prohibited.

The sale of tobacco and tobacco products to minors is prohibited. Tobacco business near schools, monasteries, hospitals, clinics, basic health units, and heritage sites is a criminal offence.

 

Sherab Lhamo

The Bhutan Red Cross Society’s (BRCS) Y-Adapt climate change training programme provided over 100 young volunteers from five colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle climate-related issues within their communities.

Y-Adapt or Youth Adapt is an interactive, games-based curriculum, through knowledge sharing, engaging local communities, and inspires youth to act in their communities to adapt to climate change.

The programme utilises gamified learning, where participants progress through levels, receive feedback and rewards, and collaborate on challenges. This method makes learning more engaging and helps retain knowledge, said a trainer, Tandin Wangyel.

The training covered forest conservation, promoting climate-smart agricultural techniques such as terracing and crop diversification with the focus on local solutions.

The training participants from Paro College of Education, College of Science and Technology, College of Language and Culture Studies, Sherubtse College, and Jigme Namgyel Engineering College were also taught about community-based disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, emergency shelters and evacuation plans, among others, to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events like floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

BRCS launched the Y-Adapt programme on February 5, 2024 to train youth leaders in climate change adaptation. Twenty-eight youth coordinators from 10 colleges across the country participated in the first phase.

Two trainers, Sonam Dorji and Tandin Wangyel, who completed their Y-Adapt training of trainers on May 28, 2023 in Nepal, facilitated the training.

Participants said the programme provided valuable skills related to climate change adaptation and boosted their confidence. One participant suggested expanding the training to villagers due to its everyday relevance.

From tomorrow, Y-Adapt will train volunteers from Gedu College of Business Studies, Samtse College of Education, College of Natural Resources, and Norbuling Rigter College.

Jigmi Wangdi

It is the flu season in Thimphu and any topic on the flu would be followed by free advice of home remedies involving the consumption of ginger water or lemon and honey in hot water.

While these are not harmful and tried home remedies to help bear the inconveniences caused by common flu, sometimes good intentions could lead to infodemics – misinformation or disinformation, causing harm.  Traditional medicine to cure alcoholism and tobacco addiction, consuming bleach, cow urine or garlic to treat Covid-19, were some of the misinformation that authorities had to control in recent years.

Misinformation or fake news spread faster in the digital age with social media providing the medium. Unchecked spread of false health information distorts public trust in established sources of advice like doctors, scientists, and public health authorities.

To address this issue, the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with the WHO Bhutan Office and the Ministry of Health, is conducting the Annual Regional Forum on Community Engagement and Resilience.

About 60 officials and experts from health ministries from across nine countries from the South East Asian country are present alongside partner agencies, and WHO country offices.

The workshop focuses on empowering communities, emphasising cross-border collaborations and enhancing the capacity of Member States and WHO Country Offices in the Region to manage infodemics.

The WHO South-East Asia Region is home to about a quarter of the world’s population. The region faces persistent health emergencies and infectious diseases like dengue, malaria, tuberculosis, Covid-19, Avian Influenza, Nipah virus, and Anthrax, alongside natural disasters and conflicts.

Additionally, the threat from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health issues, and related disabilities is growing.

The forum highlights the importance of combating the spread of infodemics owing to this reason.

Addressing the inaugural session, Health Minister, Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk highlighted the basis of the workshop.

“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we witnessed the critical importance of risk communication and infodemic management. The pandemic also highlighted the critical role that communities can play in addressing the challenges presented by misinformation and disinformation,” Lyonpo said.

WHO Representative to Bhutan Dr Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh underscored the pivotal role of communities in public health including emergencies and the need to provide correct and timely information to people.

“This year, we put the spotlight on our communities. Communities need to work together to share correct information to avoid falling prey to mis and dis-information and avoid harm to mental health,” Dr Bhupinder Kaur said.

The focus of the forum on infodemics and the importance of community engagement is because authorities can build trust and foster collective action through the active involvement of community members, leaders, and influencers in disseminating accurate information and addressing misconceptions.

Engaging communities allows for tailored communication strategies that resonate with specific cultural and local contexts, ensuring the information is accessible and credible.

This collaborative approach not only counters the spread of misinformation but also empowers communities to make informed decisions, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of public health interventions during crises.

The forum was inaugurated by Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk, Minister of Health of Bhutan, and Dr Bhupinder Aulakh, along with officials from the Ministries of Health of Member States, and officials from the WHO-SEARO Regional Office and country offices.

 

Yangyel Lhaden

The Monpa community in Trongsa, once stewards of age-old customs, finds itself at a pivotal juncture as they welcome modernisation. They are grappling with acknowledging the benefits of modern amenities while safeguarding their cultural legacy, striking a nuanced equilibrium between tradition and advancement.

The three villages of Langthel gewog—Phumzur, Wangling, and Jangbi—are home to the Monpas, considered among the earliest settlers in Bhutan. They worship Jwodurshing, also known as the Black Mountain, their ancestral abode for generations. Historically, they led lives as hunter-gatherers in the forests, practicing shifting cultivation. Traditionally, their attire comprised garments crafted from nettle plant fibres known as Pagay, and they communicate in their native language called Monkha, a unique dialect with roots in the Tibeto-Burman language family.

Presently, the three Monpa villages are home to about 370 individuals residing in around 60 households. With the advent of roads, the villages have witnessed transformative changes. Residents now engage in the cultivation and sale of cash crops like cardamom and oranges. The younger generation attends schools, and basic healthcare facilities are available, alongside other modern conveniences, marking a significant shift towards modernisation in Monpa communities.

Monpas today wear Pagay only during special occasions

Pagay has become increasingly uncommon attire in the villages of Langthel. Nowadays, the residents prefer the simplicity of gho and kira for their everyday clothing, saving their Pagay for special events.

“The government encourages us to wear Pagay during ceremonies to uphold our cultural heritage,” said Jangbi tshogpa, Sonam.

Tawla, an 81-year-old resident of Jangbi, fondly recalled a time when wearing Pagay was considered a luxury.

“Back then, we relied on the forest for sustenance and couldn’t afford new garments,” he said. Pagay, lacking sleeves, provided little defense against the cold winters and rugged terrain, posing challenges to daily life. “We owe gratitude to the monarchy for the advancements in our village, which have made modern amenities accessible to us Monpas.”

In addition to Pagay, another tradition fading in the Monpa village is the practice of sham and shaman, essential for performing the ritual known as Shilaidung. There is a declining interest among educated youths in these traditional practices alive.

The Monpa community maintains a profound bond with nature, expressing their reverence through a ritual known as Shilaidung during winter and spring. This ceremony is dedicated to appeasing their local deity, Jowodurshing, where Monpas offer their initial harvest. Moreover, each village honours its unique local deity: Zhiripa in Wangling, Kipmugchin in Jangbi, and Wompo in Phumzur. While Shilaidung is primarily observed during winter and spring, it is also conducted in the summer to ward off misfortune and safeguard against illness.

Sonam reminisced about the past when Shilaidung was celebrated grandly in the villages. In Tawla’s youth, the event brought together all three Monpa villages, appointing a treasurer for the occasion. However, Sonam expressed concern over the declining number of sham and shamans, fearing for the future of the ritual. Nowadays, Shilaidung has lost its former splendour, with each village organising its own ceremony, leading to diminished unity among the communities.

During Shilaidung, a temporary halt is observed for foraging from the forest for three days, commencing from the bridge that marks the boundary between Mangdechhu and the Monpa community.

Sonam highlighted efforts to reclaim the Monpa narrative and safeguard their vibrant culture, language, and environment.

To support these endeavors, they secured a research grant of Nu one million from the Tribal Trust Foundation in the USA, facilitated by the Tarayana Foundation and Yangphel Adventure Travel.

“One method to pass on knowledge to the youth involves transmitting wisdom from elders to the younger generation through debates conducted in Monkha,” Sonam said.

The 18-month research project began last June.

“Despite Monkha being spoken by everyone in the community, the dialect and purity of the language are gradually fading,”Sonam said. “The Monkha spoken today differs from the language spoken by elders like Tawla.”

Reflecting on the past, Sonam said that there was now a broader emphasis on preserving the unique Monpa culture and traditions. This, he said, helped inspire youth to learn and uphold the heritage.

Sonam expressed a sentiment of both gratitude for the significant improvements in their lives and concern over the fading of their traditions and culture, which are integral to their identity as Monpas. “Nevertheless, we are deeply dedicated to preserving our rich heritage and traditions.”

 

Members reap benefits from Community Forest in Kangpara

Neten Dorji

Kangpara—For over seven years, 60-year-old Tashi, along with his fellow villagers, had been protecting  the 1,300 acres of forest in the vicinity of his village Zordung in Kangpara.

The Department of Forest handed over the forest to the community in 2017. Thereafter, the villagers adopted rules and regulations set by their forest user group committee. The community forest today  is a newfound asset for people of Zordung village.

Tashi and  the 110 members of Samtenling Community Forest (SCF) has been sourcing timber and fuelwood needs from the forest since then. To enhance livelihood by depending on the  community forest  a group of villagers also started the Samtenling Furniture House in Zordung. The  CF has economically viable woods.

Two Community Furniture Houses benefit people of Zordung and Merda

“We started a furniture house to make the best use of the community forest timber and generate income from furniture,” said Jamyang Tenzin, chairperson of Samtenling Furniture House. “We deposit Nu 85,000 annually into the community forest account for equal benefits from the furniture house.”

The group aims to create employment opportunities and provide an alternative source of income for the people of Zordung.

Group members said that people have seen the fruits of their labour as they had been involved more intensely to plant trees and preserve the forest.

“The forest means everything to us. It provides timber, fuelwood, and leaf litter. It is the perfect source of income,” said a member, Yeshi Dorji. “Moreover, illegal timber extraction in the village has also reduced.”

According to residents, the CF members planted over 8,500 cypress, pine, and walnut trees for high-quality timber.

Of the six community forests in Kangpara, two have started generating income from the sale of timber and non-wood forest products.They also sell surplus timber or other non-wood forest products.

Zordung Tshogpa, Chimi Rinzin, said that government-reserved forests, with sustainable management, utilisation, and ownership rights granted to groups of communities, have not only helped farmers reap benefits but also aided in preserving the local environment and harvesting its natural resources sustainably.

“Now people can avail themselves of a maximum soft loan of Nu 100,000 from the CF fund at a nominal interest rate of 5 percent per annum. This has helped reduce the poverty rate in the gewog,” said the tshogpa.

He said the two furniture houses have kept people engaged in the community and help deter rural-urban migration.

Gewog Forest Officer Phuntsho Wangdi stated,  “Community Forests (CFs) are a valuable source of timber. We permit timber extraction based on the available resources in the forest and the annual logging operations to sustain the livelihoods of the people.”

He said among the six community forest groups in Kangpara, Tsendaling Furniture House primarily focuses on religious-related wood products, and Zordung Samtenling Furniture House produces home-based wooden products. Members of CF receive skills development training to start commercial production from the CF.

The concept of people’s participation in sustainable forest management in Bhutan started with a Royal decree in 1979. People-oriented forestry programmes aimed at sustainable utilisation of forest resources for income generation and enhancement of livelihoods further received more focus since the early 1990s. The first CF, Dozam in Drametse, Mongar was established in 1997.

Azin Tailors is a solo venture led by a mother who cares for her two-year-old child. She operates her business from her rented apartment due to the high cost of hiring external space. Her income barely covers the monthly rent of Nu 10,000.

Azin excels in her craft, garnering praise for her affordable and dependable service. A businessman in the capital has recognised the value in her work, finding it both cost-effective and trustworthy. This symbiotic relationship benefits both parties: Azin receives orders to stitch a variety of items like bedsheets, curtains, sofa covers, and tablecloths, while the businessman, in turn, supplies these products to hotels and businesses across the capital city.

Azin’s partnership with the businessman proves fortunate, as he prioritises more than just profits, recognising the value of her home-based stitching. While it might seem cheaper to outsource the business across the border to Jaigaon, Azin offers more than just tailoring services. She goes above and beyond, working tirelessly overnight to fulfill demand, actively listening to her partner’s feedback, and ensuring her partner faces no difficulties

This small business holds significant potential to impact the livelihoods of thousands of individuals. Despite possessing the capability, small businesses often encounter limited opportunities. There’s a prevailing belief that outsourcing across borders is more cost-effective, disregarding considerations of quality and post-sales support.

The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (BCCI) plan to initiate local manufacturing of school uniforms is commendable. Currently, Indian tailors in Dadgari, Mela Bazar, or Jaigaon dominate this market, causing a substantial flow of revenue out of Bhutan. Bhutanese tailors witness this outflow with envy as millions worth of business cross the border. These Indian suppliers capitalize on the demand, offering uniforms in exchange for a commission ranging from 5 to 10 percent.

While students may not voice concerns directly, parents frequently express dissatisfaction with mass-produced ghos, kiras, and tegos, which often lack comfort, especially during the eight-month school year. BCCI could facilitate the involvement of Bhutanese weavers, manufacturers, and tailors in producing high-quality, comfortable school uniforms. This initiative would bring benefits to students, parents, and local businesses alike.

Despite various initiatives aimed at training thousands of unemployed individuals in tailoring, many of these skilled tailors find themselves without sufficient business opportunities. Moreover, there is a prevalent issue of poor-quality, mass-produced school uniforms, which leaves both consumers dissatisfied and the textile industry struggling. The local textile industry faces challenges in producing affordable textiles suitable for school uniforms. Even if they manage to produce such textiles, the costs of production and maintaining quality make them expensive options for consumers.

One viable approach is to explore the potential of replacing the low-quality garments produced by mills, which prioritise quantity over quality. While it may be challenging to entirely replace the dependence on mass-produced textiles from Indian mills, addressing the stitching issue is crucial. Many say that stitching quality is a significant concern even with the current supply chain.

BCCI’s tax break offer on the import of raw materials, along with financial incentives and the provision of necessary machinery, presents a promising solution. By facilitating access to essential resources, this initiative could empower local tailors to craft higher-quality ghos and kiras for the numerous students in need. With increased business opportunities for tailors, there’s potential for a positive impact on the local economy.

Moreover, by regulating both the cost and quality, authorities can ensure that the interests of both producers and consumers are protected, fostering a sustainable and mutually beneficial environment.

Thinley Namgay  

The country is grappling with significant challenges in its tax policy, tax administration system, and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure.

These weaknesses impede the establishment of an efficient taxation system and the provision of improved tax services to the citizens.

According to the Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) records, Bhutan presently counts 116,000 taxpayers, including corporate, business, and personal income taxpayers. The current tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is approximately 13 percent.

DRC’s Director General, Sonam Jamtsho, said that Bhutan’s current tax policy  relied  on assumptions, incentives, and deductions.

He noted that the Income Tax Act 2001 has become outdated and fails to accommodate the changing landscape of digital assets, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, and blockchain technology.

He made these remarks during the inaugural national dialogue on tax justice, enhanced compliance, and a renewed social contract for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law in Paro on May 13.

Presently, the top 20 percent of taxpayers in Bhutan contribute 80 percent of the total tax revenue. Sonam Jamtsho said that there was a need to reassess this situation, as the country treated all taxpayers uniformly until now.

He said that citizens were willing to fulfil their tax obligations, but the online system was not operating efficiently. “To pay income tax, we are still reliant on the old RAMIS system, which is not very effective.”

Tax officers, he said, were burdened with extensive manual tasks, diverging from their primary mandate of tax assessment and collection.

DRC has developed  an electronic customs management system (eCMS) to streamline online import and export procedures. It is also revising the Income Tax Act to make it more relevant to modern times.

Sonam Jamtsho said that the aim was to simplify procedures, regulations, and rationalise tax ranges, along with the introduction of new provisions.

To reduce the workload on tax officers, the DRC has recruited additional staff to handle manual tasks such as data entry.

 

Tax and SDGs

Robust finance is seen as an important component in fulfilling the 17 SDGs under the 2030 agenda of Sustainable Development. To improve the financial aspect of the country, a good taxation system is one of the key elements.

Resident representative of UNDP, Mohammad Younus, said that taxation was not merely a means of revenue collection but also a profound social contract between citizens and the state.

He said that a fair and progressive tax system not only bolstered economic growth but also fostered social cohesion and good governance.”It is a tool for shaping behavior, promoting environmental sustainability, and advancing social justice.”

 

Can Asia and Pacific Region fulfil SDGs?

Mohammad Younus drew attention to the recent United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) SDG progress report, which presents a grim outlook for the region.

“The region is poised to achieve only one-third of the necessary progress by 2030. What is even more unsettling is that the region will not meet any of the 17 goals by the agreed deadline,” he said.

He said that effective tax reform had the potential to address the current economic downturns in the Asia-Pacific region. Achieving SDGs required substantial financial resources, he said, citing an estimated annual funding gap of USD 4.2 trillion.

He noted that Bhutan reported a tax-to-GDP ratio of 11.34 percent in the fiscal year 2021-2022, lower than the average tax-to-GDP ratios in theAsia-Pacific region (19.8 percent) and the OECD region (34.31 percent).

To change this trajectory, he said that UNDP’s Tax for SDGs Project provided essential assistance to Bhutan, including tailored training for tax officials on tax auditing, tax treaty negotiations, and the design of a Bhutan-specific model tax treaty.

He also announced upcoming initiatives, such as an advanced-level course on tax and SDGs for the DRC and a workshop for Members of Parliament on the linkages between tax and SDGs.

 

བཀྲིས་ཕུན་ཚོགས།

༉ སྤ་རོ་ལས་ སྐྱེས་ལོ་༣༧ ལང་མི་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ ཐིམ་ཕུག་ གླང་རྒྱུག་ཕར་ཁ་ལུ་ཡོད་པའི་ མདའ་རྩེད་ཐང་ནང་ ཐེངས་༢ པའི་ འབྲུག་ཆེ་རིམ་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་འབད་མི་ལས་ དྲག་ཤོས་ཨང་༢ པ་ཐོན་ཏེ་ དངུལ་གྱི་རྟགས་མ་ཐོབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༢ ལུ་ འགོ་འདྲེན་འཐབ་མི་ འབྲུག་ཆེ་མཐོའི་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ རྒྱ་གར་ལས་ པཱནཌ་ཡ་ལ་ ཀའུ་ཌ་རི་དང་མཉམ་ མཐའ་བཅད་རྐྱབ་པའི་སྐབས་ སྐུགས་༤ གིས་ ཕམ་སོཔ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ བསྡོམས་ཀྱིས་སྐུགས་༡༣༩ ཐོབ་ད་ ཨང་དང་པ་ཐོན་མི་གིས་ སྐུགས་༡༤༣ ཐོབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འདི་བཟུམ་སྦེ་ ད་རེས་ཀྱི་ རྩེད་འགྲན་ནང་ འབྲུག་ལས་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ རྟགས་མ་ཐོབ་མི་ ཕུད་རྡོག་གཅིག་ལས་བརྒལ་མེདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ང་རའི་ཧོངས་ལས་ གསེར་གྱི་རྟགས་མ་འཐོབ་ཚུགསཔ་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ རྩ་འགེངས་ཞིནམ་ལས་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ཡོད་རུང་ ཨང་༢ པ་ལས་བརྒལ་ཐོན་མ་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་ཨིན་པས།

སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ལུ་ འབྲུག་ལུ་ ཆེ་མཐོ་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་འབད་མི་ལས་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ དྲག་ཤོས་ཨང་༡ པ་ཐོན་ཏེ་ གསེར་གྱི་རྟགས་མ་ཐོབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་འབདཝ་ད་ དུས་ཅི་ཡང་ དྲག་ཤོས་ཨང་༢ པ་ཐོན་ཏེ་ དངུལ་གྱི་རྟགས་མ་ཐོབ་མི་དེ་གཙོ་བོ་ར་ འབྲུག་ཨོ་ལིམ་པིག་ཚོགས་པ་དང་  འབྲུག་མདའ་རྩེད་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ གོ་སྐབས་བྱིན་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ ང་རའི་ལྕོགས་གྲུབ་དང་ རིག་རྩལ་ཚུ་ སྟོན་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ བཤདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

རྟ་མགྲིན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འབྲུག་པའི་མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ གྲུབ་འབྲས་ལེགས་ཤོམ་སྟོན་བ་ཚུགས་མི་དེ་ གཙོ་བོ་ར་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཟླ་ངོ་༢ ལས་བརྒལ་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་འབད་མ་ཚུགསཔ་མ་ཚད་ ཉིནམ་༡ ནང་ དུས་ཡུན་ཆུ་ཚོད་༢ ལས་བརྒལ་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་འབད་མ་ཚུགས་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ ཨིན་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

མ་གཞི་ འབྲུག་པའི་རྩེད་འགྲན་པ་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་དང་གཅིག་ཁར་ རྩེད་འགྲན་མ་འབད་བའི་ཧེ་མ་དང་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ཞིནམ་ལས་ གཏན་འཇགས་སྦེ་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་དང་ ལྷབ་སྦྱང་འབད་དེ་བཞག་དགོཔ་འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་འབདཝ་ད་ སྤྱིར་བཏང་ལུ་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་གྱི་རྩེད་འགྲན་དང་ ནང་འཁོད་རྩེད་འགྲན་མཇུག་བསྡུ་ཞིནམ་ལས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་དང་ མ་གཏོགས་མི་མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ག་ར་ལུ་ རྒྱུན་མ་ཆདཔ་སྦེ་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་དང་ སློབ་སྟོན་འབད་དགོཔ་འདུག་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཉིནམ་༢ ཀྱི་  འབྲུག་ཆེ་རིམ་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ འབྲུག་དང་ རྒྱ་གར་ དེ་ལས་ བང་ལ་དེཤ་ལས་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་མི་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་མདའ་གཞུ་ཐོག་ལས་ མདའ་རྐྱབ་མི་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་༣༠ གིས་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ དེ་ཁར་ ཨམ་སྲུ་༡༢ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འདས་པའི་ལོ་དང་ཕྱདཔ་ད་ དུས་ཅི་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་༨ ཡར་སེང་སོང་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་དང་ འགོ་དཔོན་ཚུ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འབྲུག་ཆེ་རིམ་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་ཡར་སེང་སོང་ཡོདཔ་མ་ཚད་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་དྲག་ཤོས་ཚུ་ཡང་ ཕྱི་རྒྱལ་ལས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་གིས་ ཐོན་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ འབྲུག་པའི་བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ རིག་རྩལ་དང་ ཉམས་མྱོང་ལེ་ཤ་ཅིག་ར་ ཐོབ་ཚུགས་པས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

རྒྱལ་ཁབ་༣ གྱི་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་གི་བར་ན་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་མི་ལས་ རྟགས་མ་མཐོ་ཤོས་ར་ རྒྱ་གར་ལས་ཐོན་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་གི་ཨམ་སྲུ་ཚུ་གི་གྲས་ལས་ མཐའ་བཅད་འོག་མའི་རྩེད་འགྲན་འབདཝ་ད་ རྡོ་རྗེ་སྒྲོལ་མ་དེ་ ཕམ་བཏང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ རྡོ་རྗེ་སྒྲོལ་མ་གིས་ སྐུགས་༡༤༠ ཐོབ་པའི་སྐབས་ རྒྱ་གར་ལས་ ས་ལོ་ནི་ ཀིར་རར་གྱིས་ སྐུགས་༡༤༢ ཐོབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་མདའ་རྩེད་ཚོགས་པའི་ སློབ་སྟོན་པ་ བཀྲིས་ཚེ་རིང་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འབྲུག་ལས་ རྩེད་རིགས་ནང་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་དྲག་ཤོས་ཐོན་མི་ཚུ་ གདམ་ཁ་རྐྱབ་ཞིནམ་ལས་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་བཅུག་པའི་ཁར་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་དྲག་ཤོས་༤ དེ་ རྒྱལ་སྤྱི་གི་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ དོ་འགྲན་འབད་ཐབས་ལུ་ གདམ་ཁ་འབད་དེ་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

འབྲུག་ལས་ དྲག་ཤོས་ཐོན་མི་ཨང་༤ པ་ཚུན་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ དུས་ཅི་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༡༡ པའི་ནང་ བེང་ཀོག་ལུ་ ཨེ་ཤི་ཡཱན་རྒྱལ་རྟགས་ཀྱི་དོན་ལུ་ རྩེད་འགྲན་འབད་བར་འགྱོ་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

ཆེ་རིམ་མདའ་རྩེད་འགྲན་བསྡུར་ནང་ འབད་བ་ཅིན་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ གཞུ་འཐེན་ནི་དང་ མདའ་གཏང་ཐབས་ཀྱི་ ཅ་ཆས་ སའེཊི་དང་ ཊི་གར་ཚུ་ ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་ སྤུས་ཚད་དང་ལྡནམ་སྦེ་ འཐོན་ནི་ལུ་ ཐོ་ཕོག་ཡི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འབྲུག་རང་ལུགས་མདའ་རྩེད་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ ད་རུང་ ཊི་གར་དང་ སའེཊི་ཚུ་ ལག་ལེན་འཐབ་ཆོགཔ་སྦེ་ གནང་བ་བྱིན་པ་ཅིན་ མདའ་རྩེདཔ་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཕན་ཐོགས་འབྱུང་ཚུགས་ནི་མས་ཟེར་ ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

…Bhutan’s spiritual extravaganza commences on May 29

Thousands of devotees from across the country are expected to attend the three and a half months Rinchen Terzoed Wangchhen, an event featuring oral transmission, empowerment, and instructions of the treasury of precious termas, at Ugyen Pema Woeling Zangdo Pelri in Bongdey, Paro.

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche will confer the empowerment of Rinchen Terzoed Wang from May 29 to September 13.

Khentrul Karma Jigme, the main organiser of the event, said  he expects more than 10,000 trulkus, lamas, khenpos, monks, nuns, lay monks, and devotees to receive the kawang (transmission of spiritual treasure teachings). “A large Wangkhang or empowerment hall is being constructed in front of the Zangdo Pelri complex to accommodate around 12,000 devotees,” he said.

Trulkus, khenpos, and monks of Zangdo Pelri will conduct a four-day tshogkhor and prayers from May 23 to 26 for the successful completion of empowerment and teachings without any obstacles over three and a half months.

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche

The initiation will begin on May 29 with the Mandala opening of Vajrasattva of Mindroling tradition and, in line with the ground ritual, initiate the main part of Vajrasattva Sadhana ceremony of Rinchen Terzoed.

The Rinchen Terzoed

According to the Buddhism Forum, Rinchen Terzoed, often abbreviated as Terzö or Rinchen Terzoed Chhenmo, denotes a 63-volume compilation of revealed texts, or terma, meticulously assembled in the 19th century by the Rimed masters Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thaye and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. This significant collection encompasses crucial terma concealed by Guru Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Vimalamitra, and their primary disciples during the 8th and 9th centuries.

The Rinchen Terzoed holds immense sacredness and serves as a vital transmission in the Nyingma tradition. The Buddhism Forum stated that Masters like Guru Rinpoche, Vimalamitra, and Vairotsana imparted teachings that were concealed for the benefit of future generations, later unearthed by eminent masters spanning the 11th to 19th centuries in the Nyingma tradition.

The collection of terma (hidden treasures) teachings revealed by 108 tertöns was compiled by Khenkong Chogsum, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Kongtrul Yonten Jamtsho, and Chogyur Dechen Lingpa in the 1850s. “This is the first time Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is empowering Rinchen Terzoed in Bhutan,” Khentrul Karma Jigme said.

Rabjam Rinpoche is the seventh in the line of the Rabjam succession and is the grandson and spiritual heir of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Since his grandfather’s passing in 1991, Rabjam Rinpoche has taken the responsibility of transmitting Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s teachings and is bringing his vision for the preservation of Buddhist teaching and culture to fruition.

 

Interest of Devotees

Meanwhile, to ensure hygiene at the ceremony, the organisers have constructed 64 units of pit toilets for male and another 56 toilets for female devotees on one-acre private land.

More than 60 water taps with wash basins were also installed at both sides of the Wangkhang (empowerment hall). Khentrul emphasised the importance of maintaining sanitation and hygiene, especially during peak monsoon, with 20 imported laborers assigned to clean and monitor toilets and other sanitation services throughout the Wangchhen event.

Housing Woes

The sacred event has caused a housing shortage in and around Bongdey, on the periphery of Tsongdue town.

Some devotees from as far as Mongar and Trashigang have booked rooms in private homes since January after hearing about the Rinchen Terzoed in Bongdey. Residents and  house owners have taken advantage of the religious event and are charging high rent, according to organisers.

Some landowners have constructed temporary wooden houses near the Wangkhang and are renting them out to be used as shops. One resident said that one small room is rented out for Nu 20,000 a month. Some landowners also leased out their open space for Nu 6,000 each per month to pitch tents on a decimal of land.

One building owner claimed that his three-bedroom house with two toilets, one sitting room, and one choesham (altar) was rented out to a trulku for Nu 40,000 per month. “It will be difficult to find a space to rent,” he said.

A couple from Thimphu went to Paro looking for a house to rent but had to return home without any success. “We were told that all houses were booked,” they said.

 

Contributed by

Rinzin Wangchuk

 

YK Poudel

The yearly average agricultural and food-related emissions in Bhutan are on the rise.

According to a recent report, greenhouse gases (GHGs) for Bhutan were measured at 0.7 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent  (MtCO2eq), comprising 41.5 percent of total emissions.

The per capita emissions was reported at 0.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq) per person.

Recent studies conducted by the World Bank under the title “Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agri-food System”, shed light on both challenges and opportunities for mitigating emissions in the agricultural and food sectors.

“Addressing the emissions from agri-food is not just essential for environmental sustainability but also for achieving broader global development goals,” the report stated.

The agri-food sector contributes to almost one-third of GHG emissions, surpassing the combined emissions from the heat and electricity sectors. The majority of these emissions come from developing countries, highlighting the need for a worldwide approach to mitigation efforts.

To restrict global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, emissions from the agri-food sector must reach net zero by 2050. Failing to meet this target could put the world’s climate objectives at risk, emphasizing the urgency of taking immediate actions.

According to the report, however, the current funding allocated for reducing emissions in the agri-food sector falls relatively short of what is needed, indicating a major disparity in the distribution of climate finance.

“There is a massive gap between the importance of the agri-food system for climate change mitigation and the financing it receives,” the report stated.  “Overall, climate finance has almost doubled over the last decade but climate financing for the agri-food system falls far short of its needs.”

The report adds that investing in agri-food emission reduction presents a substantial opportunity with substantial returns.

Although the second Nationally Determined Contributions of Bhutan Report emphasise agri-food system and GHG emissions, the specifications and areas of focus are not well stipulated.

According to the World Bank report, addressing agri-food emissions requires a holistic approach that considers the entire value chain, including land use change and post-production activities.

 

Looking ahead

The agri-food system is vast and largely untapped reservoir of low-cost climate change action.

On a global scale, annual investments will need to surge by an estimated 18-fold, reaching USD 260 billion per year to halve current agri-food emissions by 2030 and steer the world toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Effective mitigation of agri-food emissions demands collaboration among governments, businesses, farmers, and consumers on a national scale because different income groups face unique challenges and opportunities.

High-income countries can set an example by promoting renewable energy and encouraging consumers to prefer lower-emission foods. Meanwhile, middle-income countries have substantial potential for emission reduction through effective land use management and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

At the same time, low-income countries can concentrate on preserving forests and implementing climate-smart agricultural techniques to foster green and inclusive growth.

Governments and international organisations must prioritise agri-food emission reduction in their climate action agendas. This includes repurposing subsidies, incentivising low-emission technologies, facilitating international cooperation and investment forums in agri-food sectors.

Principally, the report recommends the inclusion of smallholder farmers and women in decision-making processes to ensure a fair transition.

 

…deficit projected at Nu 15.55 billion this FY 2023-24

Thukten Zangpo

Increased estimated domestic revenue by 7.1 percent is helping narrow the fiscal deficit with the deficit projected at Nu 15.55 billion for the current fiscal year 2023-24.

This translates to 5.83 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), lower than the initial budget estimate.

The deficit is down from the Nu 21.35 billion or 9.7% of GDP initially projected.

Domestic revenue increased to an estimated Nu 53.53 billion, exceeding the initial budget estimate of Nu 46.25 billion. This increase was partly due to higher profit transfer of Nu 5.27 billion from the Royal Monetary Authority, compared to the budgeted Nu 800 million.

The ministry estimated that the deficit would be financed through the net external borrowing of Nu 2.23 billion and net domestic borrowing of Nu 7.98 billion, with the net lending estimated at Nu 5.34 billion.

Fiscal deficit refers to the shortfall between a government’s income and its spending.

As of December, last year, domestic revenue was recorded at Nu 24.34 billion that accounted for 49.1 percent of the revised estimate, including the one-time profit transfer from RMA and Mangdechhu hydro project.

At the same time, Bhutan received Nu 2.73 billion in grants. This comprises 39.8 percent of the total grants estimate of Nu 6.86 billion for this fiscal year.

For this fiscal year 2023-24, the government had revised expenditure at Nu 75.94 billion, which is a 1.4 percent increase from the approved budget, based on the additional interest payments for the new borrowings.

As of December, last year, the expenditure utilisation had reached 35.7 percent of the revised estimate, totaling Nu 27.13 billion.

For the next fiscal year 2024-25, the resource and budget outlays were estimated at Nu 68.68 billion and Nu 78.49 billion, respectively. The fiscal deficit was estimated at Nu 9.82 billion, equivalent to 3.48 percent of GDP.

At the same time, the total resources for the fiscal year 2025-26 were estimated at Nu 97.9 billion with budget outlay of Nu 106.75 billion. The fiscal deficit was projected at Nu 8.85 billion, equivalent to 2.82 percent of the GDP.

The 13th Plan commences in fiscal year 2024-25, with the resource outlook subject to change depending on government approval and implementation of programmes and activities during the plan period.

Earlier, Finance Minister Lekey Dorji said the government aims to maintain a fiscal deficit below 3 percent of GDP during the 13th Plan.

The government, he said, would take a consistent and predictable economic and fiscal policy to ensure growth and financial stability to achieve the high-income Gross National Happiness economy by the end of 2024.

The deficit for the 13th Plan is estimated at 3 percent of GDP (Nu 40.6 billion) with total resources of Nu 363.91 billion and expenditures of Nu 404.51 billion.

The government will cover the financing gap through borrowing from both external and domestic sources.

Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—Gelephu Thromde prioritises pothole-free roads for public safety and sustainable development.

The ongoing road resurfacing and pothole repairing project, which began a month ago, is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The government has invested Nu 51.35 million in the project to improve road quality and reduce driving hazards.

Thrompon Tshering Norbu said that rigorous testing of construction materials used in building and road works (CBRW) were being carried out to ensure they meet the specifications outlined in the specifications for building and road works 2023 (SBRW).

Engineers oversee every stage of road construction, including material blending, laying, and curing to ensure that the roads meet quality and durability standards.

The thromde uses advanced technologies, such as ready-mix road patch materials procured directly from trusted manufacturers, to facilitate immediate repairs whenever potholes emerge.

Tshering Norbu said that by implementing these strategies, the Gelephu Thromde was committed to ensuring roads free of potholes and improving the overall road infrastructure for residents.

“These materials not only guarantee effective repair of minor potholes but also promote sustainable and smooth traffic flow during road maintenance activities,” he said.

With the ongoing improvement of road infrastructure, Gelephu Thromde has set a benchmark for constructing high-quality infrastructure. The water treatment plant, built to the highest quality standards, has attracted attention nationwide, according to the thromde administration.

Tshering Norbu said that Gelephu Throm could serve as a model for other towns in the country. “Gelephu sets a prime example with its high-quality infrastructure. On a broader scale, Gelephu is poised to become a model town without a doubt.”

The improvement in the quality and durability of the road infrastructure has already led to enhanced transportation efficiency and safety within the thromde.

“Gelephu has become the most important destination for both local and international visitors. This proactive approach ensures smoother and safer road conditions for residents and commuters,” said a taxi operator, Namgay.

Jigmi Wangdi

The high turnover of medical nurses poses a significant risk to the quality of healthcare services in hospitals and clinics in the country. At JDWNRH, the attrition rate of nurses is now approaching 30 percent.

During the commemoration of International Nurses Day on May 12, Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk emphasised the grave repercussions of the attrition rate on delivering quality healthcare services.

He said that this trend could pose substantial challenges to the country’s healthcare system. “Today, the workload once managed by 100 individuals is now shouldered by 70 in the hospital. Tasks that were typically handled by four people now require the efforts of only three.”

Lyonpo said that despite the challenges, the number of nurses in the country was steady at around 1,500 but emphasised that these nurses have assumed additional responsibilities in hospitals due to the rise in patient numbers and overcrowding in emergency wards.

The biggest concern facing the sector, he said, was how to maintain the quality.

“I would like to take this opportunity today and plead with our nurses to not resign. To those Bhutanese nurses who are abroad and to those who have resigned and are in the country, I request you to come back,” urged Lyonpo.

Currently, nurses are the healthcare professionals resigning at the highest rate among doctors, dental surgeons, medical technicians, pharmacists, and other health workers and assistants.

The ministry is carrying out multiple measures to retain health workers.

National Medical Service (NMS) holds exit meetings with departing health workers to understand the reasons behind departure of health workers to address pertinent issues.

Lyonpo said that efforts were being made to enhance working conditions of the health workers, such as introducing overtime pay for extended shifts and establishing a clearer career pathway for health workers.

Nurses are recognised as the backbone of healthcare. They are celebrated as champions of compassion and care.

International Nurses Day is celebrated to honour the tireless efforts of nurses who promote health and wellness in local communities and provide compassionate care to their patients.

Dorji has seen many of his colleagues move to Australia. They’ve been urging him to join them Down Under, lured by the promise of studying, working, and supporting their families in Bhutan. For Dorji, the appeal of Australia’s opportunities for education, employment, earning potential, and aiding loved ones back home is simply too strong to resist.

Even if Dorji could scrape together funds for his higher education tuition and living expenses in Australia, he faced significant obstacles. Despite his efforts, as an average student, he struggled to achieve the necessary score in the English language test.

But Dorji has found an alternative plan. He’s set to depart for Europe next week, where the conditions align more favourably for him. Not only are the tuition fees lower, but the English language test score requirements are also less stringent compared to those for Canada or Australia. Additionally, the financial requirements, often referred to as “show money”, are considerably lower than what is typically demanded for applications to Canada or Australia.

As Australia, traditionally a top choice for Bhutanese students, tightens its regulations for international students, Europe emerges as a viable alternative. Education placement firms have stepped in, offering solutions to fulfil the aspirations of numerous Bhutanese seeking opportunities abroad. While some had hoped that stricter regulations in Australia would deter the departure of Bhutanese youth and working professionals needed in their home country, the accessibility and flexibility of European options have countered this trend.

It appears that the next wave of migration may be towards Europe. Despite warnings about the challenges of living and working in Europe, education consultancies find it increasingly feasible to facilitate Bhutanese students’ journeys to European countries. Bhutanese have a proven ability to adapt. Their upbringing, often involving tasks like tending to cattle, transporting manure to fields, and walking long distances to school, has instilled resilience. Thus, the prospect of working long hours and earning in Euros is unlikely to deter them.

We will witness numerous individuals like Dorji, along with their families, departing for Europe. This trend isn’t inherently negative. We recognise the inevitability of people seeking better opportunities elsewhere, especially if the current circumstances fail to provide sufficient motivation to remain. While we ponder the reasons behind the recent exodus of Bhutanese citizens, we find ourselves lacking in providing viable solutions to address this issue.

Even after dedicating 15 years to a state-owned enterprise with a respectable salary, Dorji remains convinced that Europe holds the key to his future. Despite acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a new environment and work culture, it appears that financial considerations weigh heavily in his decision.

The floodgates have now opened, and we will see a significant increase in the number of Bhutanese individuals departing for Europe. The conditions have become more favourable, facilitating Bhutanese participation in this saga of exodus.

There will be significant repercussions across various sectors. The government, corporations, and the private sector are poised to lose even more professionals as the exodus to Europe intensifies.

Beyond the immediate impact on consumer demand, the departure of skilled and trained professionals will likely lead to an acute shortage in critical service delivery across different sectors in the country.

KP Sharma  

The Gyalsung training 2024 will begin on September 5, the Gyalsung Headquarters has announced.

The training is for Bhutanese youth born in 2005 who have completed registration and passed the medical screening.

The training will be divided into two cohorts due to capacity limitations at the four Gyalsung academies.

According to the Gyalsung Headquarters, enlistment notices and joining instructions for the enlistees will be sent to their registered email or phone number by July 31.

The notices will be sent out at least one month before the enlistment date, which will include important details like the enlistment date, the assigned academy, and information about transportation to the academy.

The Gyalsung Headquarters announced changes to the inaugural Gyalsung training 2024 owing to capacity constraints at the four Gyalsung academies. As a result, the training will take place in two cohort, each lasting three months.

The training will be held at the four Gyalsung academies: Khotokha Gyalsung Academy in Wangdue, Jamtsholing Gyalsung Academy in Samtse, Gyalpoizhing Gyalsung Academy in Mongar, and Pemathang Gyalsung Academy in Samdrupjongkhar.

The training for the first cohort will begin on September 5 and end on December 3.

According to the Gyalsung Office, enlistees must report to their designated academy between August 31 and September 2, 2024.

The training for the second cohort will start on December 16, 2024, and end on March 15, 2025. Enlistees have to report to their assigned academy between December 11 and 13, 2024.

The Gyalsung training 2024 curriculum will span three months and mainly focus on fundamental military training and national education.

༉ སྐྱེས་ལོ་༢༤ ལང་མི་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ གལ་སྲིད་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༩ ལུ་ འཛམ་གླིང་ནང་ གངས་རི་མཐོ་ཤོས་ཅིག་ཨིན་མི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ཚུགས་པ་ཅིན་ འབྲུག་མི་ཚུ་ དཔའ་ཉམས་བསྐྱེད་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ རྒྱ་མཚོའི་གནས་ཚད་ལས་ མཐོ་ཚད་མི་ཊར་༨,༨༤༨ གུ་ འཛེགས་ནི་གི་ དཔའ་བཅའ་མི་ འབྲུག་མི་འགོ་དང་པ་ཨིན་པས།

ཁོ་གིས་ ཁོ་རའི་ མི་སྡེ་བརྡ་བརྒྱུདཔ་ ཨིནསི་ཊ་ག་རམ་ནང་ བཀོད་མི་དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ གངས་རི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནིའི་དོན་ལས་ སྒར་༢ པ་དང་༣ འི་དོན་ལུ་ ཉིནམ་༢ དང་༣ གྱི་ཧེ་མར་ འགྱོ་སྡོད་འོང་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

གནས་ཚུལ་བཤད་མི་ཚུ་དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ གངས་རི་གུ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༦ གི་དྲོ་པར་ འཛེགས་ནི་གི་ ལས་རིམ་ཡོདཔ་སྦེ་ གཏན་འཁེལ་འབད་ཡི།

གངས་རི་ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ མ་འཛེགས་པའི་ཧེ་མར་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སྡོད་སྒར་༤ བརྒལ་འགྱོ་དགོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནི་ལུ་ ཡོངས་གྲགས་ཡོད་རུང་ དཀའ་ངལ་དང་ གདོང་ལེན་ཡོད་མི་དེ་ ཀུམ་བུ་ཟེར་ས་ལུ་ ཁྱེགས་ཡོད་མི་ལུ་བརྟེན་ཨིནམ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ གངས་རི་གུ་ འཛེགས་སའི་རྩ་བ་དང་ རྩ་བ་དང་པ་དེ་ མི་ཊར་༥,༩༠༠ དང་ སྒར་༢ པ་དེ་ མི་ཊར་༦,༢༠༠ དང་༦,༤༠༠ བར་ན་ ཆགས་མི་དེ་གིས་ཨིན་པས།

གངས་རི་རྩ་བའི་ སྒར་༣ པ་དེ་ མི་ཊར་༧,༣༠༠ དང་ ལྷོ་ཀཱོལ་དེ་ མི་ཊར་༧,༩༢༥ གི་ ས་གནས་ཁར་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

གངས་རི་གུ་འཛེགས་ནི་ མཇུག་བསྡུ་ནིའི་དོན་ལས་ མི་ངོམ་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཉིན་གྲངས་༧༥ བྱིན་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ གལ་སྲིད་ འཆར་གཞི་དང་འཁྲིལ་ཏེ་འགྱོ་བ་ཅིན་ འབྲུག་གི་རྒྱལ་དར་ མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༨ དང་ ཡང་ཅིན་༡༩ ལུ་ འཕྱར་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

 

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ གངས་རི་གུ་འཛེགས་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ དཔའ་བཅའ་མི་༤༡༤ ཡོད་མིའི་གྲས་ལས་གཅིག་ཨིནམ་ད་ བཅའ་མར་གཏོགས་མི་ཚུ་ཡང་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་༧༠ ལས་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ མང་ཤོས་ར་ ཡུ་ཨེསི་ཨེ་ལས་ ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནི་དེ་ གཞུང་འབྲེལ་ཐོག་ལས་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༠ ལས་ སྒོ་ཕྱེས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ཐོ་བཀོད་དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅན་ ནེ་པཱལ་གྱི་ ལྟ་བཤལ་བཀོད་ཚོགས་དང་ གངས་འཛེགས་ལས་སྡེ་ དེ་ལས་ གངས་རི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནིའི་འཆར་གཞི་ཡོད་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ཚར་བའི་ཤུལ་ལས་ ལག་ཁྱེར་ལེན་དགོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་མི་ཚུ་གི་ཁ་གསལ་ཚུ་ ནེ་པཱལ་ལྟ་བཤལ་བཀོད་ཚོགས་ནང་ ཐོ་བཀོད་འབད་དེ་ ལས་རིམ་ནང་གྲལ་གཏོགས་འབད་མི་ འགྲུལ་སྐྱོད་ལས་སྡེ་ཚུ་དང་ བརྗེ་སོར་འབད་དགོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡ ལས་ མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནི་གི་ སྔོན་འགྲོའི་ལས་རིམ་ཚུ་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ཡོདཔ་ལས་ སྒར་༣ པ་ལུ་ལྷོད་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ ལོག་ངལ་འཚོ་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ ཁ་དམའ་ས་ལུ་ཡོད་པའི་ སྒར་ནང་འོང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ གངས་རི་གུ་ ངོ་མ་སྦེ་ འཛེགས་ནིའི་དོན་ལས་ གནམ་གཤིས་གནས་སྟངས་ལེགས་ཤོམ་ཅིག་ལུ་ བསྒུག་སྡོད་དགོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དེ་བཟུམ་མའི་ བྱ་རིམ་དེ་གིས་ གངས་འཛེགསཔ་ཚུ་ མཐོ་ཚད་བདེ་སྒྲིག་འབད་ནི་ལུ་ ལྷན་ཐབས་དང་ གྱེན་འཛེགས་ནི་གི་ གདོང་ལེན་དོན་ལས་ གྲ་སྒྲིག་འབད་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ ནེ་པཱལ་གཞུང་དང་ ཐོ་བཀོད་ཡོད་མི་ལས་སྡེ་ པོའི་ནར་ ཨེཌ་བིན་ཅར་ནང་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

པོའི་ནར་ ཨེཌ་བིན་ཅར་གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་མི་ ནི་པིཤ་ ཀར་གི་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༧ ལས་༢༡ བར་ན་ འཛེགས་ནི་གི་ དམིགས་གཏད་བསྐྱེད་དེ་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཁོ་གིས་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་གིས་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༤ པའི་ཤུལ་ལས་ གངས་རི་རྩ་བའི་ སྒར་༢ པ་ལུ་འཛེགས་ནི་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ནི་ཨིནམ་ད་ གལ་སྲིད་ གཟུགས་སྟོབས་སྒྲིང་སྒྲིང་སྦེ་ སྡོད་པ་ཅིན་ ཁོ་གིས་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༧ ལུ་ མ་འུནཊི་ ཨེ་བ་རེསི་གུ་ ལྷོད་ཚུགས་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

པོའི་ནར་ ཨེཌ་བིན་ཅར་གཞི་བཙུགས་འབད་མི་ ནི་པིཤ་ ཀར་གི་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ འཕྲོད་བསྟེན་གནས་སྟངས་ སྒྲིང་སྒྲི་ཡོད་པའི་ཁར་ གངས་རི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ནི་ལུ་ གྲ་སྒྲིག་སོང་སྟེ་ཡོད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ སྤྱི་ཟླ་༤ པའི་ཚེས་༡༠ ལུ་ ནེ་པཱལ་ལུ་ལྷོད་དེ་ ཉིནམ་༢ ཀྱི་ཤུལ་ལས་ ཨི་བ་རེསི་གི་ རྩ་བའི་སྒར་ནང་ལས་ ལ་བཤལ་འགོ་བཙུགས་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ནི་པིཤ་ ཀར་གི་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ མཐར་འཁྱོལ་ཅན་ཅིག་སྦེ་ གངས་རི་གུ་ འཛེགས་ཚུགས་ནིའི་དོན་ལུ་ གྲ་སྒྲིག་འབད་བའི་བསྒང་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ གངས་རི་གི་ སྤྱི་ཏོག་གུ་ འབྲུག་པའི་རྒྱལ་དར་ འཕྱར་ཚུགས་མི་དེ་ དང་པ་འོང་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་དམག་སྡེའི་སྦྱོང་བརྡར་སྤེལ་ཁང་ལས་ འགོ་དཔོན་གྱི་ སྦྱོང་བརྡར་མཁར་འཁྱོལ་ཡོདཔ་བཞིན་དུ་ རྟ་གུ་ཞོན་མི་དྲག་ཤོས་ཅིག་ཨིན་པའི་ཁར་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༢ ལུ་ ཨའི་ཨེམ་ཨེ་ཨཱེལ་ཊི་ སཱཊི་ཡཱན་ཌ་ ཅཱའོ་དཱ་རི་རྟགས་མ་ཡང་ ཐོབ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འཇིགས་མེད་དཔལ་ལྡན་རྡོ་རྗེ་དེ་ བསྟན་སྲུང་དྲག་པོའི་དམག་སྡེ་གི་ སྡེ་གོང་ཅིག་ ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

 

 

ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།

 

སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༢ ལུ་ སྤུ་ན་ཁ་ ཨྱོན་རིག་པའི་འབྱུང་གནས་ཀྱི་ ཕུཊ་བཱོལ་རྩེད་ཐང་ནང་ བི་ཨོ་བི་ ཨམ་སྲུའི་རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ལིག་མཐར་འཁྱོལ་རྩེད་འགྲན་༢༠༢༤ གི་ འགོ་འབྱེད་ནང་ ཨྱོན་རིག་པའི་འབྱུང་གནས་(ཁེན་ཇར་ཧོནམོ་)ཀྱིས་ གཱོལ་༡༢-༠གི་ཐོག་ལས་ དར་དཀར་ནང་སྡེ་ཚན་ ཕམ་བཏང་ཡོད་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

སྤྱི་ཟླ་༥ པའི་ཚེས་༡༡ ལུ་ མི་དབང་རྒྱལ་ཡུམ་ཚེ་རིང་གཡང་སྒྲོན་དབང་ཕྱུག་མཆོག་གིས་ གསང་ཆེན་ཆོས་འཁོར་བསྐྱར་བཟོ་ལས་འགུལ་གྱི་ དབུ་རྩེ་ངོ་མའི་ས་ཁོངས་ནང་ ས་བཅུད་བུམ་གཏེར་ བཙུགས་གནང་ཡོདཔ་ད་ བསྐྱར་བཟོ་ལས་འགུལ་དེ་ རྒྱ་གར་གཞུང་གི་ མ་དངུལ་རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཐོག་ལས་ སྤྱི་ལོ་༢༠༢༡ ཟླ་༦ པའི་ནང་ འགོ་བཙུགས་ཡོད་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

༉ འགྲུལ་པ་ཅིག་གིས་ ས་གནས་ནང་འཁོད་ལུ་ འགྲོ་འགྲུལ་འབད་ནིའི་དོན་ལས་ གླ་འཁོར་ཅིག་ སྔ་སྲུང་འབད་བ་ཅིན་ གླ་ཆ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༡༢༠ ལས་༡༥༠ ལེན་མི་དེ་ ལམ་འགྲུལ་ཉེན་སྲུང་དང་སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་དབང་འཛིན་གྱི་སྒྲིག་གཞི་༢༠༢༡ ཅན་མ་ལས་ འགལ་བ་ཨིན་པས།

ད་ལས་ཕར་ འབྲུག་བཟོ་སྐྲུན་དང་སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་དབང་འཛིན་གྱིས་ མི་མང་གི་རྒྱབ་སྐྱོར་ཐོག་ལས་ ཁྲིམས་འགལ་འབད་མི་ གླ་འཁོར་དེད་གཡོགཔ་ཚུ་ དམ་དམ་སྦེ་ར་ ངོས་ལེན་འབད་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

གླ་འཁོར་དེད་གཡོགཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་མི་གླ་ཆ་ལུ་ མ་གནས་པ་ཅིན་ དབང་འཛིན་གྱི་ བཅའ་ཡིག་དང་སྒྲིག་གཞི་གི་ དོན་ཚན་༢༥༨ དང་འཁྲིལ་ཏེ་ འགྲུལ་པ་ཚུ་ལས་ གླ་ཆ་ཐེབས་ལེན་མི་ཚུ་ ལོག་སྤྲོད་བཅུག་ནི་ཨིནམ་མ་ཚད་ ཉེས་བྱ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༡,༠༠༠ དེ་རེ་ བཀལ་ནི་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

འགྲུལ་པ་ཚུ་གིས་ གླ་ཆའི་ཤོག་ཁྲམ་ལེན་བལྟ་དགོཔ་ད་ དེ་ཡང་ གླ་འཁོར་ག་རའི་ནང་ བཞག་དགོཔ་ཨིནམ་ད་ གལ་སྲིད་ དེ་ལས་ལྷག་སྟེ་ གླ་ཆ་ལེན་པ་ཅིན་ དབང་འཛིན་ལུ་ གློག་འཕྲིན་དང་ ཡང་ན་ སྒྲུབ་བྱེད་ཀྱི་དོན་ལུ་ བརྒྱུད་འཕྲིན་གཏང་དགོཔ་ཨིན་པས།

དབང་འཛིན་གྱི་ འགོ་དཔོན་ཅིག་གིས་ སླབ་མིའི་ནང་ གླ་འཁོར་དང་ མི་མང་བཱསི་ཚུ་ལུ་ ཉིན་མ་དང་ ནུབ་མོའི་སྐབས་ གླ་ཆའི་ཁྱད་པར་མེད་ཟེར་ཨིན་པས།

ཟླཝ་༦ གི་བར་ན་ འབྲུག་གླ་འཁོར་ཚོགས་པ་གིས་ ཟླ་རིམ་གྱི་ གླ་འཁོར་ཟད་འགྲོ་ཚུ་ དབང་འཛིན་ལུ་ སྤྲོད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དབང་འཛིན་གྱིས་ སྤྱིར་སྙོམས་ཀྱི་ ཟད་འགྲོ་ཚུ་རྩིས་རྐྱབ་སྟེ་ ལུང་ཕྱོགས་ག་རའི་ནང་ འདྲ་མཉམ་སྦེ་ བདེ་སྒྲིག་འབད་དོ་ཐོག་ལས་ ཆ་འཇོག་གི་དོན་ལུ་ གཞི་རྟེན་མཁོ་ཆས་དང་སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་ལྷན་ཁག་ལུ་ ཕུལ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

འགོ་དཔོན་གྱིས་ བཀོད་མིའི་ནང་ གླ་འཁོར་གྱི་གླ་ཆ་དེ་ རྩིས་བཏོན་ལམ་ལུགས་དང་འཁྲིལ་ཏེ་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ད་ དེ་ནང་ ལོ་བསྟར་རྒྱུན་སྐྱོང་ཟད་འགྲོ་དང་ ཐོ་བཀོད་བསྐྱར་གསོ་ ཉེན་བཅོལ་ དེད་གཡོགཔ་གི་ ཟླ་རིམ་དངུལ་ཕོགས་ཚུ་ ལྟ་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་གླ་ཆ་ཚུ་ཡང་ གཞི་རྟེན་མཁོ་ཆས་དང་སྐྱེལ་འདྲེན་ལྷན་ཁག་གིས་ ཆ་འཇོག་འབད་དགོཔ་ད་ གླ་འཁོར་དང་ རྒྱལ་ཁབ་ཀྱི་ བཱསི་ཚུ་གི་གླ་ཆ་དེ་ ཟླཝ་༦ གི་བར་ན་ ཚར་རེ་བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་དོ་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

བཅའ་ཡིག་དང་སྒྲིག་གཞི་གི་དོན་ཚན་༢༦༣ དང་འཁྲིལ་བ་ཅིན་ གླ་འཁོར་དེད་གཡོགཔ་ཚུ་གིས་ དང་པ་ར་ འགྲུལ་པ་ཚུ་ལུ་ གཙོ་རིམ་བཟུང་དགོཔ་ད་ གལ་སྲིད་ སྔ་སྲུང་ཨིན་པ་ཅིན་ འགྲུལ་པ་ཐེབས་འབག་མི་ཆོག་ནི་ཨིན་རུང་ སྔ་སྲུང་འབད་མི་ཚུ་གིས་ འགྲུལ་པ་ཐེབས་བཙུགས་མིའི་ གླ་ཆ་བགོ་བཤའ་རྐྱབ་ནི་ལུ་ ཉན་པ་ཅིན་ འབད་ཆོག་ནི་ཨིན་པས།

དུས་ཅི་ གླ་འཁོར་གྱི་ གླ་ཆ་བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ད་ ནང་འཁོད་རྒྱུན་འགྲུལ་གྱི་དོན་ལུ་ ཀི་ལོ་མི་ཊར་རེ་ལུ་ གླ་ཆ་དེ་ སྡོད་ཁྲི་༥ ལས་༦ ཡོད་མི་ གླ་འཁོར་ཚུ་ལུ་ གླ་ཆ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༢༤.༠༦ དང་ སྡོད་ཁྲི་༧ ལས་༨ འབད་མི་ གླ་འཁོར་ཚུ་ལུ་ གླ་ཆ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༢༦.༧ དེ་ལས་ སྡོད་ཁྲི་༩ ལས་༡༢ ལུ་ གླ་ཆ་དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༣༠.༨༡ ལུ་ ཡར་སེ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

ཁྲོམ་ནང་ལས་ ཕྱི་ཁར་འགྱོ་མིའི་ གླ་ཆ་དེ་ཡང་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༢༢.༠༨ དང་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༢༤.༧༡ དེ་ལས་ དངུལ་ཀྲམ་༢༨.༥༣ ལུ་ བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་ཡོདཔ་ཨིན་པས།

གླ་འཁོར་དང་ བཱསི་གི་ གླ་ཆ་བསྐྱར་ཞིབ་འབད་མི་ཚུ་ དབང་འཛིན་གྱི་ཡོངས་འབྲེལ་ནང་ལས་ འཐོབ་ཚུགས་ནི་ཨིན་པའི་གནས་ཚུལ།

 

ཨོ་རྒྱན་རྡོ་རྗེ།