The National Council today raised concerns over several unsatisfactory responses from government agencies to recommendations passed in the previous session. The house called for follow-up actions, including a question-and-answer session with relevant ministries and internal meetings with agencies concerned. Of the 29 recommendations submitted in the previous session, eight responses were found to be unsatisfactory.
During the session, each committee presented the background, implementation status, and responses received on their respective resolutions.
Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee, MP Sonam Tobgay, expressed dissatisfaction with the response to the third recommendation, which called for improving parliamentary oversight, civic engagement, and transparency to foster better governance.
The committee had submitted four recommendations based on its review of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s annual report 2023–2024.
Sonam Tobgay, the chairperson of the Good Governance Committee of National Council said “The speaker and relevant committees responded that they would not make an immediate decision but would instead submit the recommendations to the National Assembly for deliberation. A response will be provided based on the decision of the house.”
Likewise, the Economic Affairs Committee expressed dissatisfaction with three responses to the eleven recommendations on improving rural credit access in Bhutan.
The unsatisfactory responses were related to the recommendation on reassigning the No Objection Certificate verification process to the Gewog Administrations, enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of rural loans, and improving credit facilities for youth.
Sonam Tenzin, the deputy chairperson of the Economic Affairs Committee, National Council said “The National Council’s Economic Affairs Committee is 80 per cent satisfied with the responses from the follow-up report on the resolution of the 34th session of the National Council.”
Furthermore, the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee raised concerns over two responses to the nine recommendations from the review report on the state of the media.
The committee’s chairperson, said the response to the third recommendation calling for a clear and fair adertisement policy, as well as incentives and technical support for newspapers published in Dzongkha, was unsatisfactory.
Tshering, the chairperson of the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, National Council said “We submitted nine recommendations last year and received the responses through the cabinet office. However, we are not satisfied with two of the responses, one concerning the fair advertisement policy, and the other regarding incentives and technical support for newspapers published in Dzongkha.”
Similarly, the Special Committee for Education expressed dissatisfaction with two responses to the five recommendations on education-related legislation.
The recommendations urged the enactment of a comprehensive legislative framework and endorsement of the Draft National Education Policy 2024. The committee’s chairperson said that without progress on these key points, the implementation of the remaining recommendations remains stalled.
Tshering Wangchen, the chairperson of the Special Committee for Education of National Council said “The committee is not satisfied with the response, as the Ministry of Education and Skills Development continues to defer the timeline for enacting a comprehensive legislative framework and endorsing the Draft National Education Policy 2024.”
Furthermore, the good governance committee introduced the Review Report on the Rural Life Insurance Scheme in the house today.
Tashi Dekar/ Karma Wangdi
Edited by Kipchu
