The document discusses the issue of whether students who took the leaked English II exam should have to re-take the exam. It provides perspectives from various principals and teachers. Most principals are waiting for guidance from the Bhutan Council of School Examination and Assessment (BCSEA). While some teachers think students should re-take the exam to ensure legitimacy, others think it would not be fair to students who have left for their homes. The BCSEA is scheduled to meet next month to make a decision.

1. THAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED
M O N D A Y , D E C E M B E R 2 9
KUENSEL
Bhutan Professional Services would like to felicitate Bhutan Hotels Pvt. Ltd. for its successful opening of Le Meridian,
Thimphu on December 25, 2014. It has been a privilege to have been associated with this landmark project as the Project
Management Consultant. We take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to all the consultants, contractors, specialist
vendors, and all those agencies who have been involved with this project for their support and cooperation.
Tel: 975 2 340345/ 17172249 www.bps.btEmail: basantraj@hotmail.com
Tshering Palden
The six-member Bhutan
Council of School Exami-
nation and Assessment
(BCSEA) board is tenta-
tively scheduled to meet
next month to decide on
whether a re-examination
of the leaked English II
paper should be con-
ducted.
Whichever way it de-
cides, parents and teach-
ers say that it would not
do justice to students but
some teachers have al-
ready started informing
students to start preparing
for the paper.
Most principals Kue-
nsel talked to say they are
waiting for the Council’s
instructions, while several
school authorities claimed
they weren’t even aware
that the paper had leaked.
Others learnt through the
media.
Rangjung HSS prin-
cipal, Tashi Namgyal said
the school is concerned
for the students. “We have
cautioned some nearby
students to keep studying,
in case they have to reap-
pear the paper,” he said.
Trashitse HSS prin-
cipal, Ugyen, said if they
redo the exam, it might
not be fair to his students.
He said that 98 per-
cent of his students come
from far-flung places and
mostly from humble fami-
lies.
“They said they did
well in that paper, and
now if they’ve to re-sit,
then we need to give them
some time to prepare,” he
said, adding that even
then it may not be fair.
The students, he
said, had no idea about
the leak, as they’re not
allowed to use mobile
phones in schools.
“If they had phones,
they could have got the
questions, but the school
rules prohibited it,” Ugyen
said.
Pg.2
The re-exam
conundrum
Three killed in fire
» Three people, including a minor were killed when a fire gutted their hut in Jakar
village, Bumthang on Saturday. The incident is suspected to have started from a
makeshift heating facility- a tin, used by the family to warm their house.
HOME
» Vegetables
have more health
benefits than meat
| PG.5
DZONGKHAG
» Martshala
blacktopped road to
improve accessibility
| PG. 8
IN BRIEF  WHAT’S INSIDE 
Rethinking education begins
with blueprint launch
Launch:
Dawa Gyelmo, Punakha
The Bhutan education blueprint
2014-2024, that is expected to
help the country rethink educa-
tion, was launched at the on-going
17th annual education conference
in Punakha.
His holiness the Je khenpo
launched the report, a result of
nationwide consultation and re-
search by Education Ministry, on
December 26 at Punakha dzong,
which Lyonchhoen Tshering To-
bgay released on December 27.
Project manager of the Bhu-
tan education blueprint, Phunt-
sho Wangdi, said some of the
main findings of the report were
to improve teacher competency,
school leadership competency
and to improve teachers’ language
proficiency in both English and
dzongkha as well as to develop
ICT in schools.
The other main findings were
to improve science, technology,
engineering and mathematics
subjects given the country need
for such professionals.
The blueprint report has iden-
tified eight shifts and 40 game
changing initiatives that are to
be rolled out in the next 10 years,
to improve student learning out-
comes and overall development.
The eight shifts include - en-
sure access and equity to edu-
cation, revamp curriculum and
assessment to enhance student
learning,
Pg.2
The report lists a host of recommendations to address issues in the educa-
tion sector
BCSEA
VISION
While the Council is yet to decide, teachers and
parents say they are concerned for students
“How can an
examination
be legitimate
if such
wrongdoing
is allowed,” a
teacher”
Kinley Tenzin
Teacher

2. HOMEPAGE 2 KUENSEL | Monday, December 29, 2014
ANNOUNCEMENT
BHUTAN NATIONAL BANK LTD.
BNBL/HRA/TH-01/2014/4537
To our valued customers
Our bank will remain closed from January 01, 2015
to January 02,2015 for year-end closing. Our ATM,
POS, B-Wallet and internet banking will be closed
during the period.
Inconvenience caused is regretted.
Management
YOUR RELATIONSHIP BANK
www.bnb.bt
YOUR RELATIONSHIP BANK
From Pg.1
“We thought it was only
a rumour as usual and didn’t
know of the confirmation
because there was no official
communication,” another
principal said.
Schools officially close
from December 18 each year
for their annual vacation.
Teachers said gathering chil-
dren for a re-exam would be
difficult.
A Kelki HSS Arts student,
Omnath Pokhrel, has not gone
to his hometown in Sarpang
and is waiting for the decision
from the Council.
He is worried if a decision
to re-conduct the examina-
tion is taken.
“I have even given away
my books after the exams,”
Omnath said, adding that his
family is also worried about
his results now.
Oblivious to the recent
developments, a Sarpang HSS
student, Rupa Subba, is at her
village in Dovan, Sarpang.
“I thought English II
paper was easier than the
other papers, so should there
be another test, I think I can
do it,” she said.
Teachers and parents said
it would be fair to those stu-
dents who will have to leave
their temporary jobs and head
for the examination.
Meanwhile, some parents
insist that it was not worth re-
doing the examination.
“The ministry has to give
some time for preparation
and what if one falls ill and
is unable to attend,” a father
of class XII student, Karma
Tenzin, said.
Others argue that no reex-
amination means accepting
cheating, which defeats the
purpose of conducting it.
“How can an examination
be legitimate if such wrong-
doing is allowed,” a teacher,
Kinley Tenzin, said.
Following complaints
and rumours, BCSEA began
investigating right after the
English II, the examination’s
last paper, was over on De-
cember 13. The Council took
a little more than a week to
complete its investigation and
confirm that the paper had
been leaked.
While some students
got the questions the night
before, some learnt about it
a few hours before they ap-
peared the paper. The Council
tracked up to 50 students who
had received portions of the
question paper.
The questions were
leaked from a school in Paro
through short message service
From Pg.1
raise learning outcomes of stu-
dents comparable to leading
international standards and
transform teaching into a pro-
fession of choice.
Ensuring high-performing
schoolsandschoolleaders,lev-
erageICTforlearning,enhance
valueseducationandwellbeing
and system transformations,
deliverycapabilitiesandcapac-
ity were other shifts.
The emerging challenges,
the report stated were achiev-
ingaccesstoeducation,quality,
equity and system efficiency.
To achieving access to edu-
cation, it was recommended to
accelerate school reform pro-
gramme initiative to improve
access for children in remote
areas, introduce pre-vocational
orientation, provide technical/
vocation courses as elective
subjects at middle and higher
secondary levels and revamp
the quality of programmes.
The report states that al-
though the education system
has produced the current work
force in the country, the main
challenge facing the education
sector was on how to increase
the proportion of students
achievingtheexpectedlearning
outcomesspecifiedfordifferent
stages of school education.
The report also stated that
with the changing world order,
the school curriculum also
ought to be dynamic, relevant
and contemporary to foster
the development of “Holistic
education-educationwithchar-
acter.”
It recommended to restruc-
ture the education pathways,
to allow for greater options in
choosing subjects, incorporat-
ingemerginglearningareasand
reviewcurriculumonheaviness
of content.
The minister has to moni-
tor and check the quality of
Rethinking education begins
with blueprint launch
“When we
see the menu,
everyone wants
to eat it but
the reality is
different”
Lyonchhoen
Tshering Tobgay
textbooks and streamline the
supply of teaching and learning
resources and a recommenda-
tionwasmadetoreformhistory
and geography curriculum.
It also recommended to re-
view selection process for prin-
cipals and to give autonomous
status to more schools, as well
astoreviseteacherpaypackage
and retain qualified and high
performing teachers.
Since access to nutritious
foodwasessentialforchildren’s
development,thereportrecom-
mended to enhance the knowl-
edge and skills of school mess
coordinator and cooks and to
strengthen school agriculture
programme.
Meanwhile, Lyonchhoen
Tshering Tobgay expressed
concerns on the school-feed-
ing program and nutrition
related issues reported across
the boarding schools. He urged
participantsattheconferenceto
focus and prioritise the feeding
program.
“When we see the menu,
everyone wants to eat it but the
realityisdifferent,”Lyonchhoen
said.
The re-exam conundrum
(SMS) among students.
Some teachers assigned
for evaluation hesitated on
whether they should report
to Phuentsholing or not.
They also called each other
to check if the evaluation still
continues after the confirma-
tion.
BCSEA secretary Kinga
Dakpa said that all planned
activities like the evaluation
would continue until the
Council board makes a deci-
sion.
“There will be no change
at all in the activities,” he said
in an earlier interview.
All ears: More than a hundred education officials are attending the on-going AEC
in Punaka

3. Monday, December 29, 2014 | KUENSEL
HOMEPAGE 3
Gelephu police arrested a
24-year old man from Mon-
gar for allegedly killing a taxi
driver on December 27.
The suspect, a trainee
at the Nyenjor institute of
Technical skills and human
value, allegedly in a drunken
state took a ride in the taxi to
Pemathang between 5.30 and
6.30pm. Pemathang is about
5km from Gelephu town.
While getting off the
taxi, he claimed to not have
money to pay the fare, fol-
lowing which a quarrel en-
sued with the driver. In the
heat of moment, he struck
the 54-year driver on the
head with a stone, which
sources said was crushed
on impact.
Another trainee of the
institute saw the body and
reported to Police. They also
saw him leave in the taxi.
The suspect was arrested
on the same night from Pel-
rithang, where he was stay-
ing with a relative.
Police said he would
be charged for involuntary
manslaughter.
Passenger allegedly
kills taxi driver
CRIME
Rinzin Wangchuk
All due processes of admin-
istrative laws should be ex-
hausted if agencies were to
take any action against civil
servants, according to High
Court’s justices who on Fri-
day reinstated a civil servant
after he was compulsorily
retired.
The National Land Com-
mission (NLC) and labour
ministry compulsory retired
labour ministry’s adminis-
trative and finance division
head, Ugyen Dorji in Sep-
tember.
He was then reinstated
after the court ruled that
the compulsory retirement,
based on NLC’s human re-
source committee finding
was illegal. Ugyen Dorji
appealed to the Thimphu
HC orders labour ministry to implement
lower court’s verdict
JUDICIARY
Court tells agencies to follow due administrative processes
“In this case,
the appellant
was neither
processed
through proper
administrative
channel nor
proven guilty...
Thromde officials
Picture story: The Royal Body Guards celebrated their 54th Raising Day on
December 27 in Dechencholing, Thimphu.
dzongkhag court, which
then revoked the compul-
sory retirement order.
Dissatisfied with the
district court’s ruling, NLC
appealed to the High Court
in October. The High Court
however upheld the lower
court’s verdict.
The HC’s judgment
stated that the due process
of administrative law must
be followed such as right to
appeal to the highest admin-
istrative authority and then
to the court of law to review
whether such administrative
action was in accordance to
provisions of the laws. “In
this case, the appellant was
neither processed through
proper administrative chan-
nel nor proven guilty as he
was not prosecuted through
the procedure established by
law,” the verdict stated.
Upholding the lower
court’s decision, the high
court reasoned that any
punishment or administra-
tive action must follow the
principle of natural justice
and under the doctrines of
the separation of powers en-
shrined by the Constitution
under article 1 section 13, no
administrative authorities or
committees are empowered
to sentence individuals ex-
cept by the ordinary court or
any other courts established
by law.
Ugyen Dorji was com-
pulsory retired, according to
statement submitted by NLC’s
representative to the court,
because he violated section
140 of the Land Act 2007,
and he was, therefore, liable
for misdemeanour and petty
misdemeanour. The commit-
tee also stated that his action
violated Bhutan Civil Service
Rules 2012.
The high court, however,
ruled that NLC and labour
ministry did not have the
authority to convict an indi-
vidual.
Ugyen Dorji appealed to
the district court on August
11 that NLC’s human resource
committee had written to
royal civil service commission
that the committee decided
to send him on compulsory
retirement, after finding him
guilty of violating the Land
Act 2007.
The committee accused
him of doing double transac-
tion for a 26-decimal land in
Chang gewog bought by an
individual from former Chang
gup, Kanjur in 2006. The land
was registered in two persons’
names, the real buyer and a
different person. Ugyen Dorji
was then working as Thimphu
dzongkhag’s land record of-
ficer when the ‘double trans-
action’ was done.
The labour ministry is-
sued his compulsory retire-
ment order on August 24,
and NLC issued the order on
August 28 when the case was
still under trial.
Ugyen Dorji appealed
to the court to investigate
whether he alone should be
held accountable for a lapse
that occurred about eight
years back. He also submit-
ted that the NLC human re-
source committee only took
some verbal statement from
him, but never questioned
him.
The court verdict also
stated that, if a civil servant
committed a crime, or was
involved in corrupt activ-
ity, the concerned agency
should report it to police
and Anti-Corruption Com-
mission, which would then
forward the case to court.

4. PAGE 4
PERSPECTIVES
KUENSEL | Monday, December 29, 2014
MANAGING DIRECTOR - Bachu Phub Dorji, MANAGING EDITOR - Ugyen Penjor, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR - Thinley Dorji,
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER - Karma Dupchu, PRINTING GM - Karma Nima, CIRCULATION MANAGER - Ugyen Norbu, KANGLUNG REGIONAL MANAGER - Ugyen Wangdi
MY COUNTRY, MY TOWN
On thromdes again
P
ublic opinion on electing 20
thrompons and their team as early
as 2016, it seems, is divided. But that
is good. We need different opinions,
if not debate on important issues,
including the thromde issue.
By 2016, there will be 20 thrompons, 140
thromde thuemis (representatives) and 20 yenlag
throm thuemis. The law says it and we will have
them under the recently amended Local Govern-
ment Act. The Election Commission is of the view
that it is now or never.
This is good. If having local governments in
place, especially the thromde tshogde can ensure
balanced regional development and improve the
lives and opportunities of people outside Thimphu
and Phuentsholing, it is high time, if not late. The
Local Government Act empowers, rather mandates,
the dzongkhag tshogde to promote balanced socio-
economic development, planned growth of a town
by preparing urban development plan among a
host of other responsibilities.
Towns outside the capital and a few dzongkhags
are suffering from lack of planning although each
dzongkhag has a municipal body today. Residents
want them to develop like other towns because then
opportunities would follow. A good example is the
value of the land in the town and in its vicinity.
But at the moment, there seems to be a lot of
questions than answers. The main issue here is that
will having 20 thrompons and 160 elected repre-
sentatives in the next two years serve public inter-
est? The joke going around is that the job market
would improve by 2016 as it ensures at least 20 well
paid jobs, as thrompons, and more than 100 other
posts for school dropouts.
The serious question is are we biting more than
we can chew? Electing about 180 people is not only
expensive, but it is going to cost the government by
millions every month. We have strong election ma-
chinery in place led by the Election Commission of
Bhutan and we will somehow manage the election.
The question is why the rush. And this arises from
that fact that some of the dzongkhag thromdes will
be idle after having a tshogde in place. Places like
Gasa, Lhuentse and Dagana do not have a proper
town in place. Towns are not developing because
there are no economic activity or money with the
government to develop them.
But, whatever the misgivings, it is decided by the
Parliament and we will have elections in 2016. What
we are most interested in, at this stage, is the future
of our towns. The Local government Act empowers
the thromde tshogde to bring changes. If having
20 thrompons can improve life outside the capital
through better amenities, foster balanced socio-
economic development and stop people heading
to the capital, there is nothing like it.
MY SAY
Ingenuity: If there is a shortage of water, securing what is yours is not a bad
idea Photo by Thinley Dorji, Kuensel, Thimphu.
You litter but who cleans?
Sir,
I wish officials from
National Environment
Commission and the De-
partment of Roads come
across this letter. I pray they
do. It is an important issue
from the environment per-
spective.
Recently I was returning
from Wangdue and parked
in queue some distance
from Dochula towards
Wangdue.
As soon as I reached
there, I was greeted by a
long line of momo, thukpa,
milk and butter tea, ara
fried with eggs, and many
more. Well it was a chilly
afternoon and the thukpa
warmed me up. They were
more than fifty vehicles in
the queue and one or the
other in the cars bought
something.
The vendors left as
soon as I paid the money.
After finishing the thukpa,
I hunted for a place to
dispose the plastic cup but
there was no garbage bins
along the road.
As I looked around to
throw the cup, I discovered
lots of plastic cups, papers,
wrappers, and aluminum
foil containers below the
road and on the road.
I am not judging those
who threw them but if the
vendors are using them
to earn money then they
should also be responsible
to take care of the waste.
There is no two way
about it. You litter, you
clear.
The concerned agen-
cies should inspect these
places and ensure rules are
adhered. I have pictures to
show NEC if they need for
them to take action.
Tshering Palden
Babesa
Contact Circulation Department, at 327463 for additional
copies of Lomo, 2015, during office hours.

5. HOME
PAGE 5Monday, December 29, 2014 | KUENSEL
Dawa Gyelmo, Punakha
Education is highly prone to
corruption and with the cen-
tralisation of schools; corrup-
tion is likely to increase, anti
corruption commission chair-
person, Dasho Neten Zangmo
said.
Dasho Neten Zangmo
spoke on corruption and
education yesterday at the on-
going 17th annual education
conference in Punakha.
Being a big sector with
huge resources and budget
makes the education sector
prone to corruption, and the
central school policy would
mean additional resources for
the system.
Dasho said that since every
parent demands for the best
education, corruption could
occur in various forms such
as tuitions and admissions.
Now with better facility central
schools, parents could bribe
teachers for admission.
Citing an example of Viet-
nam, Dasho said that admis-
sion files must be covered with
an envelope, which contains
money.
“I was told that the anti cor-
ruption commission has been
actively involved in school
examination in Vietnam,” she
said. “The teachers while con-
ducting examination looks the
other side when students cheat
because they receive money to
allow students to copy.”
She said in the global cor-
ruption report 2013 on educa-
tion, there were examples of
African and Asian countries
and how they were trying to
intervene.
“Responsibility doesn’t just
end by completing an audit
clearance, rules or admission
forms,” she said. “There were
many examples, where rules
Education sector is prone to corruption
17th AEC
were followed but government
lost huge amount of money.”
Responding to Pemagat-
shel district education officer’s
question on if there were any
rules in place to punish those
filing irrelevant or wrong com-
plaint to ACC, Dasho Neten
Zangmo said there is a rule to
punish such people, if found.
However, she said doubts
were placed when things were
not done transparently. “Trans-
parency is must to prevent
people from filing such com-
plaints,” she said.
“Responsibility
doesn’t just end
by completing an
audit clearance,
rules or admission
forms,”
Dasho Neten Zangmo
Chairperson ACC
Tenzin Namgyel, Kathmandu
That meat is an integral part of
the Bhutanese diet is indicated
from the amount the country
imports annually.
According to the Royal
Monetary Authority’s annual
report, published early this
year, import of meat increased
from Nu 642M in 2011 to Nu 1B
in 2012.
This means, Bhutanese on
an average consume around 70
kilograms of meat a year. To re-
duce dependence on imports,
the agriculture ministry plans
to establish farms and abattoirs
in the country.
While Bhutanese feel that
consuming imported meat is a
less sin than slaughtering ani-
mals, eating meat is like slaugh-
tering the animal according to
His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa
Rinpoche.
“If there are no consumers
there would not be butchers,”
said His Holiness Gyalwang
Drukpa Rinpoche during an
oral transmission of Awalok-
iteshvara, the compassionate
Buddha to more than 1,000,
Buddhist devotees who are at-
tending the 6th Annual Drukpa
Council in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Recollecting the Bhutanese
culture of not killing, His Holi-
ness said people should con-
tinue with the culture for both
spiritual and health benefits.
“Some 30 to 40 years ago,
Bhutanese would only eat the
meat of animals that died from
falling off the cliffs,” His Holi-
ness Gyalwang Drukpa said.
The prevalence of more
meat shops in towns, His Holi-
ness, said is an indication of the
society consuming more meat.
“Keeping in mind the essence
of compassion in Buddhism
one should not eat meat,” he
said. “The more we consume
meat, the more diseases we
get.”
When people consume
meat, it’s believed that the
five elements are gradually
disturbed and could result in
disharmony.
A veteran vegetarian Dr
Julia Jus who spoke on the ben-
efits of being vegetarian at the
ADC said 26 percent of meat
eaters manifest high blood
pressure, compared to two
percent of vegetarians.
According to The Journal
of the American Medical As-
sociation, 1961, heart disease
would be reduced by 97 per-
cent if people switched to a
vegetarian diet.
She said adopting a vege-
tarian diet also helps the plan-
et. A vegetarian diet according
to her consumes 1/10 -1/20 the
energy and natural resources of
a flesh food diet creating more
food to feed the hungry.
Evidence gathered and
shared in a 20 year research
by T. Colin Campbell in The
China Study concluded that
whole foods, plant based diet
is best for the heart, cancer and
cancer prevention, diabetes,
kidney disease, mental health
and more.
“Diseases can only thrive
in a body that is in an acidic
state and lacks both oxygen
and enzymes,” Dr Julia said.
“A vegetarian diet that consists
of mostly fruits and vegetables
ensures that the body remains
alkaline.”
Vegetables have more health
benefits than meat
DIET
Participants at the Annual Drukpa Council are served vegetarian meals

6. PAGE 6
REGIONKUENSEL Monday, December 29, 2014
Required: 4WD Hilux
(hire). Contact 17113110.
Sale: Maruti car.
Contact 17634147.
Sale: Sonata 2011 model
GLS. Interested buyers
may call 17170595.
Sale: GRED Pvt. Ltd
offers homes for two,
three, four bedroom
apartments, twin
duplex, shops, godowns,
hotel and building for
sale within Thimphu.
Contact 17564277/
17872620/ 17740854.
Rent: Flats near RIM.
Contact 17621914.
Sale: Garment shop.
Contact 77747350.
Sale: Shop at main
town. Contact 17843606.
Rent: Single room
for rent at Pipaldara,
Phuentsholing. Contact
17760800.
Rent: Office and shop
space in Thimphu town.
Contact 17337777.
Sale: Land at Phobjikha
near Gangtey Goenpa
(perfect location for
resorts). Contact
17608146.
Sale: Land near
Amankora, Paro.
Contact 17660050.
Vacancy: Urgently
required a chef with
experience. Call 17170595
for any queries.
Vacancy: Machine
operator, class 12 passed
candidates for Adruka
Pvt Limited. Contact
17799339.
Vacancy: Sale girls,
class X with computer
knowledge. Contact
17170641 (Paro town).
Announcement:
Contact Zenith Cargo to
carry your goods from
Kathamandu-Bhutan.
Call 9851022305/
zexim@wlink.com.np.
Sale: Hi-design bags
& Titan watches at
20% discount from 23rd
December at Kushu
Enterprise, main town
Thimphu.
Announcement: Buy
delicious pizza from
Green Pizzeria and get
a coupon for buy 5 get 1
free offer. We surprise
our regular buyers with
free side dishes. Contact
17572569/77346332 for
home delivery service.
CLASSIFIEDS
TO ADVERTISE IN KUENSEL:
Call 326191 or fax 326638; or email us at
advertisement@kuensel.com.bt; TO
SUBSCRIBE: Call 327463; FOR NEWS:
Call 324684/322483
Security agencies have found
that close to four dozen Chi-
nese study centres and other
monasteries are present along
India’s frontiers with Nepal
and Bhutan and are allegedly
indulging in propaganda pro-
grammes.
The development comes
at a time when both the coun-
tries are often witnessing in-
cidents of incursions by Chi-
nese PLA troops along the icy
frontier in Jammu and Kash-
mir leading to long-standing
border disputes between the
two neighbours.
A report prepared by the
lead intelligence gathering
agency at these two frontiers-
-Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)-
- said that 22 China Study
Centres (CSC) have come up
in the Nepalese territory, with
11 of them operating bang on
the 1,751 km long Indo-Nepal
border.
The SSB, raised in 1963
in the wake of the Chinese
aggression, is also the desig-
nated border guarding force
at these open borders under
the command of the Union
Home Ministry.
“These centres are propa-
gating subjects of Chinese
culture, traditions, teachings
and economy to the popula-
tion in Nepal which is a cause
of concern along the border
areas as India’s frontiers with
Nepal and Bhutan are open
and unfenced without any
restrictions on the move-
ment of the citizens of either
of these countries,” a source
said, quoting the report.
The report, accessed by
PTI, said these centres are
giving special impetus on
propagation of their work
in the fertile ‘Terai’ areas of
the Himalayan nation, espe-
cially Jhapa and Ilam districts,
which have strong trade, eco-
nomic and ethnic ties with
India.
The force has time and
again prepared special re-
ports on these centres which
security agencies feel are in-
dulging in “anti-India propa-
ganda” even as the CSCs
maintain that they aim to
teach Chinese language to lo-
cals and disseminate cultural
information about China and
its various art forms.
Apart from the CSCs, the
snoop wing of the border
guarding force has reported
that 22 monasteries have
also come up along the bor-
der areas with Bhutan in the
Indian territory between
the districts of East Sikkim
to Jaigaon, a small town in
West Bengal near the Bhutan
border, also known as the
gateway to the neighbouring
country at Phuentsholing.
“These monasteries have
come up in the last four-five
years but their growth ratio
is doubtful as there is no pro-
portionate Buddhist popula-
tion where they are situated
and operating. These centres
are supposed to carry out re-
ligious activities,” the source
said.
These Buddhist institu-
tions have also been reported
to have come up at Kalim-
pong which is a sub-division
of Jalpaiguri district of West
Bengal. An Army Mountain
division is located on the pe-
ripheries of this hill station.
Similar monasteries have
also been reported to be
working in Malbazar, another
sub-division of Jalpaiguri dis-
trict and the neighbouring Al-
ipurduar district of the state.
India shares a 699-km
border with Bhutan. The
SSB has recently moved a
proposal to the government
to strengthen and revamp
its existing intelligence wing
along these borders.
Government has also ac-
corded the 70,000 personnel-
strong force a Rs 658 crore
modernisation budget which
SSB is utilising in procuring
surveillance and other gadg-
ets and weapons.
The Economic Times
Four dozen Chinese centres,
monasteries along Indian
borders
BORDER
The development comes at a time when both the countries are often witnessing
incidents of incursions by Chinese PLA troops along the frontier in J&K.

7. daffynition
ecotip
riddlemeree
todayinhistory
quotefortheday
happybirthday
featheredfriend
1Q4u
infobyte
beaupeep
FEBRUARY 27 ANSWERS
Monday’s Cryptic Xword
DIVERSIONMonday, December 29, 2014 | KUENSEL PAGE 7
Across 1 Marbles, 5 Cellars, 9 Swarmed, 10 Netball,
11 Notes, 12 Sheepfold, 13 Cervantes, 15 Lay-by, 16 Title,
18 Assailant, 21 Purchases, 24 Usage, 25 Cheerio,
26 Freedom, 27 Look out, 28 Sayings.
Down 1 Masonic, 2 Reactor, 3 Lampshade, 4 Sides,
5 Canoeists, 6 Lit up, 7 Anatomy, 8 Solidly, 14 Transport,
15 Leisurely, 16 Topical, 17 Torpedo, 19 Abandon,
20 Thermos, 22 Harpo, 23 Sifts.
CLUES Across
1 Fights waste (6)
4 Keep making jam (8)
9 Reverse some undertaking? (6)
10 Interferes and is turned out (8)
12 Refuse to agree to project (5,3)
13 A three-horsepower Russian vehicle (6)
15 Dandy heard to grind his teeth (4)
16 Soothing application can save father
suffering (10)
19 Reckoned it’s deliberate (10)
20 Bring in a number to help - sharpish (4)
23 Does he issue bank statements? (6)
25 They’re pressed into use to distribute by
air (8)
27 Crumbs! See Svengali’s strange spell (8)
28 Equip a girl for naval war service (6)
29 Edge to the left when travelling in Britain
(4,4)
30 Cut by a quarter? That’s serious (6)
Down
1 Apparently boards the wife’s offspring (7)
2 Training session for the players (9)
3 Lock oil? (6)
5 Fled before the start of the storm (4)
6 Drunken purser is disposed to stagger (8)
7 They meet in the centre of the ring (5)
8 Trap seen, ran out (7)
11 Collar the boy - he’s a hoodlum (7)
14 Sporting official may help us get a job (7)
17 Tying up in port (9)
18 Guarantees certain bonds (8)
19 Some are fantastic at a language used by
Spaniards (7)
21 Seaside resort complaint (7)
22 Run a series of lectures (6)
24 Andean carrier makes the French hold
strike (5)
26 Being old, agreed about being dropped (4)
Solution Next Week
dictator
A male potato
The Big Easy
MEANING Nickname for New
Orleans, USA, referring to the
laid back attitude to life that jazz
musicians and local residents indulge in there
ORIGIN The name wasn’t in common use until the publication of
James Conaways’ novel of the same name in 1970. Prior to that
New Orleans was known as the Crescent City.
the confectionery riddle
q: What is brown
and sticky?
a: A stick!
1852
Emma Snodgrass arrested in
Boston for wearing pants.
JUDE
Law
1972- Actor/
Producer
“Name the greatest of all
inventors. Accident.”
Mark Twain1835-1910
Black-throated
Sunbird
(Aethopyga saturata)
Go Green
leftovers makeover - lettuce
Keep the greens fresh by
wrapping them in a damp paper
towel and storing in an open
plastic bag in the fridge.
Its natural habitats are subtropical
or tropical moist lowland and montane forests
If you went out into space,
what would happen before you
suffocated?
You'dexplodebecause
there'snoairpressure.
KUENSEL
TO ADVERTISE
call 326191 or
fax 326638;
email: advertisement@kuensel.
com.bt
TO SUBSCRIBE
call 327463
FOR NEWS call
324684/322483
NU. PER UNITS OF FOREIGN
CURRENCY
as of yesterday
NOTES
Buy Sell
US $ 62.65 64.70
POUND 97.45 100.15
EURO 76.40 78.50
YEN (100) 52.05 53.50
HK $ 8.05 8.30
AUS $ 50.90 52.30
SING $ 47.40 48.75
Courtesy BNB

8. KUENSEL | Monday, December 29, 2014
DZONGKHAG
PAGE 8
Yangchen C Rinzin,
Samdrupjongkhar
Although connected with a
gewog centre (GC) road, driv-
ing on the remote Martshala
road in Samdrupcholing
Dungkhag has always been
a tedious task given the road
condition throughout the year.
Not anymore. Villagers
will not have to worry about
the road getting blocked next
summer as the 13km Martsha-
la GC road will be blacktopped
soon with the works and
human settlement minister
Dorji Choden recently inau-
gurating it.
Martshala gewog would
have Samdrupjongkhar’s first
blacktopped GC road. Con-
structed in 2008, the road
would serve 23 villages and
about 664 households.
Awarded to M/S K.D
Builders Pvt Ltd, department
of roads’ chief engineer based
in Samdrupjongkhar, Dorji
Gyeltshen said, the contract
period is for 13 months and
they would soon mobilise ma-
chines and labourers.
“We’ve mobilised Nu
37.7M under the small devel-
opment project (SDP) but only
30 percent of budget has been
released,” he said. “Along with
the blacktopping, we would
also construct pavement, base
course, drainage and broaden
the narrow stretches.”
According to a press re-
lease, the GC road blacktop-
ping is a pledge made by
the government in the 11
Plan after it was found that
the road has been unable to
reap the benefits due to poor
condition.
Martshala gup Yenten
Dorji said blacktopping the
road would reduce travel
time by 20 minutes, which at
present takes more than one
hour.
The gup said it would also
help boost their income from
ginger and orange, the main
cash crops.
“Villagers have to carry
their goods to the dungkhag
when the roads get blocked,”
he said. “Given the road’s con-
dition, drivers refuse to travel
citing high costs of mainte-
nance and fuel.”
Another villager Jigme
Dorji said many farmers have
already planned to buy Bole-
ros on loan to transport goods
Martshala blacktopped road to
improve accessibility
Lyonpo Dorji Choden inaugurates the blacktopping ceremony in Martshala
CONNECTIVITY
and people. “This will help us
sell vegetables since the place
where we market our vegeta-
bles will be blacktopped too.”
Chief engineer Dorji
Gyeltshen said the depart-
ment would soon blacktop
Serthi gewog in Samdrup-
jongkhar and Nanong gewog
in Pemagatshel under the
project tied assistance (PTA).
Under SDP II, they plan to
blacktop GC roads in Gom-
dar, Orong and Wangphu in
Samdrupjongkhar and Khar
and Chokhorling in Pemagat-
shel.
Meanwhile, only 10km
of stretch is left to complete
the 36.25km GC road in Lauri
gewog.
*Prices as of yesterday
(In Nu)
Dzongkhag Diesel Petrol Kerosene LPG
Thimphu (DPCL) 53.14 61.72 15.35 491
P/Ling (Damchen) 51.45 59.79 13.86 456
Fuel Prices
Note : All timings in local. Timings are subject to change. Call Drukair toll free No. 1300 for latest flight information.
DrukAir
Date Route Flight No. Departure Arrival
December 30 Bangkok to Paro KB 121 07:20 am 09:20 am
December 30 Bangkok to Paro KB 151 06:00 am 08:00 am
December 30 Dhaka to Paro KB 301 09:20 am 10:40 am
December 30 Paro to Dhaka KB 300 07:30 am 08:50 am
December 30 Paro to Gaya KB 124 11:40 am 12:20 pm
December 30 Gaya to Paro KB 125 01:00 pm 02:40 pm
December 30 Paro to Bangkok via Bagdogra KB 130 11:30 am 04:30 pm
December 30 Paro to Bangkok KB 150 03:40 pm 07:40 pm
December 30 Paro to Kathmandu KB 400 11:30 am 12:35 pm
December 30 Kathmandu to Paro KB 401 01:15 pm 02:50 pm
December 30 Paro to Delhi KB 204 09:10 am 11:00 am
December 30 Delhi to Paro KB 205 12:00 pm 02:50 pm
December 30 Paro to Kolkata KB 210 08:00 am 08:40 am
December 30 Kolkata to Paro KB 211 09:20 am 11:00 am
Bhutan Airlines (Tashi Air)
December 30 Bangkok to Paro via Kolkata B3701 06:30 am 09:55 am
December 30 Paro to Bangkok via Kolkata B3700 10:45 am 04:15 pm
December 30 Paro to Bangkok via Kolkata B3702 09:55 am 01:55 pm
Note : All timings in local. Timings are subject to change. Call Bhutan Airlines toll free No. 1234 for latest flight information.
FLIGHTS

9. Monday, December 29, 2014 | KUENSEL
HOME
PAGE 9
Dechen Tshomo
To address the mounting
waste disposal problem in the
capital, Thimphu thromde
will begin works to extend the
Memelakha landfill starting
next month.
The 3.41-acre dumpsite
will be extended by 0.98 acres
with a network of pipes and
a tank for leachate collection.
Works are expected to com-
plete by April next year.
Thimphu Thromde’s head
of solid waste management
Yeshi Wangdi said the exten-
sion is to provide a safety
measure for the current land-
fill.
“The issue of leachate
generation from waste during
rainy days will also be control-
led with the new network of
pipes underneath,” he said.
According to thromde offi-
cials, 55 percent of the collect-
ed waste is organic followed
by 17 percent paper waste,
and 12 percent plastics. With
privatisation of waste collec-
tion and disposal, the organic
waste will be decomposed at
the compositing plant and the
recyclable waste will be dis-
posed at the transfer station by
Greener Way. This way, waste
disposal at the landfill is ex-
pected to reduce by almost 90
percent.
Yeshi Wangdi said the new
landfill is expected to last more
than a decade with the new
disposal trend of three metric
tons a day.
“We don’t have to find an-
other landfill site at least for
next 30 to 40 years,” he said.
Japan Environmental and
Sanitation Center in collabora-
tion with Thimphu thromde
designed the blueprint for the
new landfill.
Until 2010, the disposal
site was used as an open
dumpsite without any major
infrastructure.
Japan International Coop-
eration Agency (JICA) funded
the project worth Nu 3.2M.
Thimphu city produces
25 metric tons of waste every
day. The Memelakha landfill
is located about 12 kilometres
from the city, and was built in
1993.
Memelakha landfill to be
extendedA network of pipes and a tank underneath would address the issue of leachate
WASTE
ZAKAR
TOMORROW’S
Good day
Bad day
laza
sogza
shedza
Max Min
Source: Meteorology Division, DHMS, MOEA,
For any weather information : call hotline 339673
WEATHER
DECEMBER 29, 2014
WWWWW
New approached
r
oad
Lecheate
collection tank
New extended
area for
disposal
Current
disposal area
Gabion
wall
Source: Thimphu thromde
An overview of the landfill

10. KUENSEL | Monday, December 29, 2014
WORLD
PAGE 10
AirAsia Indonesia flight
QZ8501 to Singapore missing
An AirAsia Indonesia airliner
flying from Indonesia to Singa-
pore with 162 people on board
has lost contact with air traffic
control.
Flight QZ8501 went miss-
ing at around 06:20 local time
(23:20 GMT).
The plane, an Airbus A320-
200, disappeared midway into
the flight of more than two
hours and no distress call was
issued.
Indonesian military planes
and aircraft from Singapore are
searchinganareaoftheJavaSea.
The flight left the Indone-
sian city of Surabaya in eastern
Java at 05:20 local time (22:20
GMT) and was due to arrive in
Singapore at 08:30 (00:30 GMT).
The missing jet had re-
quested a “deviation” from the
flight path due to bad weather,
AirAsia said.
Indonesia’s transport min-
istry said the pilot had asked
permission to climb to 38,000 ft
(11,000m) to avoid thick cloud.
AirAsia, a budget airline
which owns 49% of AirAsia In-
donesia, is based in Malaysia
and has never lost a plane.
However, 2014 has been
a difficult year for aviation in
Asia: Malaysia’s national carrier
Malaysia Airlines has suffered
two losses - flights MH370 and
MH17.
Flight MH370 disappeared
on a flight from Kuala Lumpur
to Beijing in March with 239
passengers and crew. The
wreckage, thought to be in
southern Indian Ocean, has still
not been located.
MH17 was shot down over
Ukraine in July, killing all 298
on board.
The flight was supposed to
arrive early this morning. Hours
later the families of the passen-
gers gathered here have very
little information.
Airport officials are keeping
them well away from the media
and trying to make them com-
fortable.
The AirAsia incident comes
at the end of a difficult year for
air travellers in the region, and
the scenes at Changi airport
today are reminiscent of those
in Kuala Lumpur immediately
after MH370 went missing in
March: anxious relatives wait-
ing for any news on their loves
ones, a media frenzy, but no
answers.
There were 155 passengers
on board, the company said in
a statement:
138 adults, 16 children and
one infant
Two pilots and five cabin
crew were also on board
Most on board were Indo-
nesian
Several were from other
countries, including a UK
national, one French person,
a Malaysian, a Singaporean
and three South Koreans
Dozens of passengers’ rela-
tives have been gathering at
Juanda airport in Surabaya and
Singapore’s Changi airport to
hear news.
AirAsia’s Chief Execu-
tive Tony Fernandes tweet-
ed: “Thank you for all your
thoughts and prayers. We must
stay strong.”
AirAsia Indonesia operates
domestic flights round the In-
donesian archipelago as well
as international services to Ma-
laysia, Singapore, Australia and
Thailand.
BBC
How the e-retailers keep us spending
It’s your birthday! It’s our birth-
day! It’s the blue cross/man-
ager’s special/Christmas/Ra-
madan Rush/Valentine’s Day/
Grandparents’ Day sale....
The tactic of pinning dis-
counts to calendar events in
order to drive up sales is a long
established technique - and it
continues to send profits soar-
ing on the net despite the 24/7
hour nature of online retail.
Electronic retail industry
body Experian and IMRG have
predicted an online spend of
£748m ($1.1bn) by UK shop-
pers alone on 26 December, the
day after Christmas when shops
traditionally slash prices.
That follows an estimated
£636m ($994m) shopping spree
on the net on Christmas Day it-
self, said Experian.
So if you’re still wearing
your festive onesie, and you’re
in the mood for some serious
bargain hunting without leav-
ing the house, don’t despair if
you find your dream discounts
have already sold out - you’re
probably not far away from the
next opportunity to grab a good
digital deal.
Savvy online retailers are
seeing enormous profits from
both introducing events estab-
lished in one country to another
- or completely manufacturing
their own.
Chinese retail giant Ali-
baba has reaped the benefits of
putting its weight behind the
Singles Day sale - a celebra-
tion originally created by some
university students in the early
1990s for Chinese people not in
relationships - in 2009.
This year it shipped a record
278m orders - worth $9.3bn
(£5.9bn) on 11 November
(11/11) the day itself.
Two years ago Alibaba
trademarked the term “Dou-
ble-11”, which is a popular nick-
name for the event in China.
More than 27,000 global
brands took part in the sale,
which has now officially be-
come the world’s largest retail
day.
“Lots of clients from the
brands side have for the first
time approached the Singles’
Day as an event on its own,
and earmarked it as a signifi-
cant retail operation, as major
as Christmas and the Chinese
New Year,” Shaun Rein from
China Market Research in
Shanghai, said.
One diary date that might
prove a little more difficult
to globalise is nonetheless a
fascinating example of mon-
etising local cultural consumer
demand.
Senegalese Muslims, who
account for 90% of the popula-
tion of Senegal, celebrate a re-
ligious festival they call Tabaski
(more widely known as Eid-al-
Adha) by getting together for a
meal featuring a traditionally
slaughtered ram.
Relatives living abroad and
unable to attend have tradition-
ally sent home money at this
time (a generous total of $1.3
billion (£0.8bn) was dispatched
to Senegal for Tabaski in 2010)
- so last year a local start up
called Niokobok began accept-
ing orders from overseas for live
rams, with buyers receiving a
picture of their family receiving
their four-legged gift as part of
the deal.
Within Senegal itself “on-
line retail is only just begin-
ning”, Niokobok chief executive
Laurent Liautaud said, but this
year the firm received 1,000 or-
ders from ex-pats.
“We... see it’s people think-
ing about their relatives, and
wanting to make them happy,
so they want to send a gift,” he
said.
But will data eventually lead
to the death of the seasonal
sale?
Online retailers collate such
a wealth of information about
consumer habits and spending
patterns that there may well
be natural peaks and troughs
around which to build incen-
tives, argues Simon Collister,
senior lecturer at the London
College of Communications.
“Rather than public events
leading retailers, they could use
their own data to drive spend-
ing,” he said.
“[Brands like] Amazon are
already using algorithms to pre-
dict your behaviour.”
This might also minimalise
the logistical headache faced
by firms trying to co-ordinate
timely delivery during a season-
al rush - following Black Friday
online sales this year Marks
and Spencer admitted that its
expected delivery times had
doubled from five to 10 days.
“Some of the big retailers
have caught up, and are being
clever in integrating online and
physical stores,” said Mr Col-
lister.
“Have we reached the
peak of online-only retail? We
are seeing the rise of click and
collect. The larger brands can
compete with low prices online,
but you are able to reserve your
goods and pick them up.
“Shops still have the con-
venience factor - you don’t have
to wait in for a delivery.”
BBC
BUSINESS

11. Monday, December 29, 2014 | KUENSEL
ADVERTISEMENTPAGE 11
NOTICE INVITING
CONSULTANCY SERVICE
BHUTAN INFOCOMM AND MEDIA
AUTHORITY
BICMA/PRO/2014-15/1148
The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority invites
sealed bids from eligible consultancy firm for up
gradation of online licencing System and Design &
Development of the website of this office.
The RFP document can be purchased from the
Authority’s office from December 26, 2014 till
January 26, 2015 during the office hours and shall
be submitted on or before 12 noon of January 27,
2015.
For details please visit www.bicma.gov.bt or visit
the office during office hours.
Director
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
On account of annual closing of accounts for 2014, the Bank shall remain closed for
public transactions on the 1st January 2015.
Valued clients are requested to complete their banking transactions for 2014 on or
before 31st December 2014.
Our ATM service will be available as usual for the convenience of our
clients.
We wish all our clients a very Happy New Year, 2015.
TO ADVERTISE IN KUENSEL: Call 326191 or fax
326638; or email us at advertisement@kuensel.com.bt;
TO SUBSCRIBE: call 327463;
FOR NEWS: call 324684/322483
ANNOUNCEMENT
BHUTAN FOOTBALL
FEDERATION
BFF/ADM-7/2010/11320
Bhutan Football Federation is conducting the U-19
selection camp at Gelephu from January 18 to
24, 2015. Interested players who want to come
for selection have to report on January 17, 2015.
Eligibility date of birth- January 1, 1997 and after.
Food and lodge will be provided.
Note: The players must bring their ORIGINAL
CID, parents census details & consent letter.
Please contact Mr. Ngawang Dhendup- 17677799
and 322350 (O) for more information.
General Secretary
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
BHUTAN POWER CORPORATION
LIMITED
(Registered Office Thimphu)
Human Resources &
Administration Department
Thimphu
The Bhutan Power Corporation Limited is pleased to
announce 11 vacant post for various position.
All interested applicants are requested to visit our
website: www.bpc.bt for detailed information and
other related criteria.
For further details, please contact the Manager,
HRMD, HRAD, Head Office, Thimphu at 02-
337637 or 17265487 during office hours.
Management
NOTIFICATION
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Department of Industry, Company Registry Division
Thimphu
This is to inform all the unlisted public companies and private companies which fall
within small and medium companies (SMCs) category defined in section 3 (e) of
the Accounting Standards Rules for Companies in Bhutan, 2012, that the annual
audited accounts to be submitted as part of Annual Returns under section 57 of
the Companies Act, 2000 shall be prepared in accordance with the Bhutanese
Accounting Standards for SMCs, as mandated by section 4 of the Accounting
Standards Rules for Companies in Bhutan, 2012.
Please note that failure to implement BAS for SMCs with effect from January 1,
2015 will be amount to violation of Companies Act of Bhutan, 2000 and shall invite
severe penalties under section 140 of the Companies Act.
Registrar of Companies
INVITATION FOR QUOTATION
GEWOG ADMINISTRATION
DOPSHARI
Dopshari/act-2014/15
1. The Gewog Administration, Dop-Shari, paro Dzongkhag invites sealed
quotations from eligible and qualified suppliers registered having valid licence
for “The fabrication galvanization & supply of GI Irrigation Channels
under Dop-Shari Gweog”.
2. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding procedures
specified in the RGoB Procurement Rules and Regulations, and are open to all
bidders as defined in section V of the bidding documents.
3. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information Gup, Gewog
Administration, Dop-Shari from 9:00am to 4:00pm during office hours
from December 11, 2014 to January 15, 2015.
4. A complete set of bidding documents in English may be downloaded from the
Dzongkhag website www.paro.gov.bt and must produce revenue receipts
for payment of non-refundable fees of Nu. 500 to the address below during
submission of bids.
5. Bids must be delivered to the address at: Gup, Gewog Administration, Dop-
Shari, Paro Dzongkhag on or before 10:00 am January 16, 2015. Electronic
bidding “Shall not” be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened
physically in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend
in person at the above address at 10.00 am on January 16, 2015.
6. All bids shall be accompanied by a bid security of Nu. 20,000.
Gup

12. Printed and published by Kuensel Corporation Limited, PO Box 204, Tel: 975-2-322483/324688, Fax: 975-2-322975, www.kuenselonline.com ISSN 0259 1499
KUENSEL | Monday, December 29, 2014
HOME
PAGE 12
Kinga Dema
There was a time when Bhu-
tanese tour operators could
relax and play archery during
the lean tourist season.
Not anymore. This is how
Yangphel tours and treks’ CEO
Karma Lotey emphasised the
need to make Bhutan a year-
round destination. He was
speaking to tour operators
mostly new entrants to the
industry at their induction
program last week.
The scenario today,
Karma Lotey, said is differ-
ent from the past with many
hotels, tour operators and
guides.
“There are so many rooms
to be filled in hotels and
guides to be employed dur-
ing the lean season,” he said,
adding many tour operators
also have their own fleet of
transport that remain idle as
well.
With the impact of lean
Bhutan, no more a seasonal
destinationIt’s time tour operators start promoting Bhutan as a year-round destination
TOURISM
A group of tourists from India visit the Punaka dzong yesterday
season felt by the industry,
Karma Lotey said it was time
for all hoteliers, tour opera-
tors, guides and transporters
to come together with the
Tourism Council of Bhutan
(TCB) for new ideas.
The Thai initiative, Karma
Lotey said was a good one
that benefitted the tourism
industry during the lean sea-
son. “We should not be afraid
of taking initiatives or the
government doing so on our
behalf,” he said.
Karma Lotey, who is also
the former chair of Associa-
tion of Bhutanese Tour Op-
erators, said lean season ini-
tiatives such as the Dochula
festival are products that
already exist and only needs
to be packaged well and pro-
moted.
“Right now, we have the
same itineraries, sell the
same products that is more
like copy and paste,” he said,
empahsising on the need for
more innovation.
Peak season for Bhutan,
Karma Lotey said was only
about four months a year
where as Bhutan enjoys a fa-
vourable weather throughout
despite other months being
categorised as lean season.
Etho Metho tours and
treks director Sangay T Wang-
chuk also emphasised on the
need for a strong collabo-
ration, which the industry
lacked today. As one of the
oldest tour agencies in the
country, Sangay T Wangchuk
said they had their own share
of issues.
Another speaker, a tour-
ism expert from Singapore
Barkathun Nisha said Bhuta-
nese working in the tourism
industry were like raw dia-
monds waiting to be polished,
therefore, the need to invest
more in training and develop-
ment of human resource.
Despite tourism being in
its infancy, Barkathun Nisha
said Bhutan has done a bril-
liant job but there was lack
of clarity and collaboration
among stakeholders.
Citing Singapore’s success
in tourism, she said hotel oc-
cupancy in Singapore, on an
average, is 87 percent while
the average room rate a day
for a four-star property was
USD 261.
Today Singapore is well
known as a destination for
casino, medical and educa-
tion tourism through which
revenue earnings stand at
about USD 24B. “We must
look at tourism that doesn’t
get affected by demand where
people are willing to spend
despite the economic down-
turn,” she said.
Singapore, according to
Barkathun Nisha, also had its
own share of leaner months
like September during which
they didn’t get visitors be-
cause of weather.
“We now have the Formu-
la1 race in September where
we get enormous visitors
and also earn a premium of
40 percent,” she said, adding
tour operators must support
government when it experi-
ments something new. “Ulti-
mately, it’s the customers we
are targeting.”
Meanwhile, the three-day
induction program ended on
December 27 with a session
on quality accommoda-
tion and high-end tourism
policy. TCB officials said the
program was organised fol-
lowing feedback from vari-
ous stakeholders in the wake
of increasing tour operators,
tourist arrivals, and global
competition.