We need more rehab homes We find that the cases of drug abuse and trafficking are showing no signs of abating. Every other day, the media reports of young people being sent behind bars for possession, consumption or sale of controlled narcotic and psychotropic substances. The Chukha dzongkhag court has so many such cases that some even call the court the highway court. Office of the Attorney General received 500 drug- related cases last year alone. This number is alarming, as more individuals could be involved in one case. Some of them could be repeat offenders. Imagine 500 people going to jail each year, and most of them being youth, what would happen to this land of happiness? Going at this rate, the future does not look so happy. Families are broken, more poor people drown into poverty. The impacts […]
On road infrastructure, stray dogs, banking systems, pedestrian safety, women safety and human-wildlife conflict
Let’s build better roads The arrival of monsoon has opened the floodgates for problems like blocked drains, floods and the frequent roadblocks all over the country. With every monsoon, let alone the farm roads the national highways are also repeatedly getting blocked. For the people caught in the roadblocks situation, no matter how important their purpose of the journey, they have to wait for the roads department and other relevant agencies to clear the block. Some travelers land up even quarreling with roads officials coaxing them to open the roads for traffic. In the face of severe slides, there is only so much the officials can do. For years, we have seen this process repeat each year even claiming lives of commuters. I would like to urge the agencies and ministries concerned to build roads with quality such as looking […]
On employment, traffic rules, the use of social media and women in politics
No vacancies for B. Ed science graduates? On Royal Civil Service Commission’s recent vacancy announcement for the B. Ed graduates for 2018, many shared their disappointment over the government having less vacancy for B. Ed science graduates. Of about 205 vacancies announced Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology had three vacancies each. This was shared on social media pages several times. What is to happen to the other graduates? It is only when such issues are shared and discussed that we recognize the failure in our education system and planning. In the last 10 years, Kuensel reported that teachers’ attrition was highest last year with about 345 teachers leaving the profession. Of that, 260 teachers had voluntarily resigned. While the country is witnessing rising unemployment rate among youth, increasing attrition rate in any sector or department should be viewed as a […]
On food safety, organic farming, erratic ATM service and traffic problems
Is fish we import safe? Fish imported from Andra Pradesh in Assam said to contain Formalin (Formaldehyde) is used to keep fish fresh for long period. Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing agent. Food Safety Authority is Assam had found that people have been using fish that contain Formaldeye in the periphery of Guwahati and Rangia in Assam. Rangia is only 50 km from Samdrup Jongkhar. So for the safety of our people, we may need to suspend the import of fish into the country. Givinda Humagai Gelephu (Published on July 16, 2018) Teachers in the heart of education system Teachers, who are working tirelessly round the clock, are the cornerstones of our education system. Many of our teachers are working in the most remote parts of the country. There are about 167,000 students in the country. We are proud of our […]
On motorist awareness, sexual harassment, stray dog menace and ACC investigation of Loden Foundation
Speed breakers and awareness on zebra crossing needed in Kanglung This is to express my concern over the growing number of pedestrian and vehicles plying in Kanglung. There are paths along the road for the pedestrians. I am thankful to traffic police for monitoring the traffic especially during events like the chancellor’s cup. The problem is, some drivers are speeding in the absence of traffic police and many more do not adhere to the zebra crossing rules. This is a concern for pedestrians and is becoming extremely dangerous especially for the students. Places with zebra crossing such as Kanglung primary school, Kanglung Shedra, way to Dantak area but most drivers are reluctant to comply with the traffic rules. There are also cases where some students were nearly hit by car. Many people also have to use the main road to […]
Overseas jobs, teachers day celebration, media literacy and pedestrian safety
Migrant workers rehabilitation programme More than 2,000 overseas jobs were on offer last week at a job fair in Thimphu. Employers from countries, including Kuwait, India and Japan, had come to look for jobseekers in the country. This means that Bhutan is emerging as a supplier of labour force for countries in the Middle East, India, and other countries around the world. Accordingly, it has become important for the labour ministry to conduct awareness programmes about the welfare of the migrant workers for youths in the country. It is important for youths to have adequate knowledge about benefits and working conditions before they decide to go for foreign employment. Embassies in the employer country should also provide such awareness programmes upon their arrival in the employer country. The migrant workers should be informed about their welfare, services, and perks provided […]