Monthly Archives: December, 0

English guidebooks for students on writing short stories, essays, poems and letter writings are aplenty in bookstores across the country. That aside, they are virtually available. However, the situation is otherwise for Dzongkha guidebooks. They are literally non-existent on digital platforms as well as in the bookshops. So, a Dzongkha Teacher from Damphu Middle Secondary School in Tsirang released a Dzongkha Literature guidebook earlier this week.

The country is all set to reopen its border gates tomorrow. This is after more than two and a half years. However, the pandemic is still not over. And then there is the looming risk of monkeypox. To keep track of the situation, Health Minister Dechen Wangmo says the ministry will do random testing as part of its renewed surveillance. 

The news of baggage allowance for Bhutanese crossing the border for shopping has drawn mixed reactions from the people. While most people are against the idea, local businesses in the southern border districts are in favour of it. A baggage allowance would allow Bhutanese going to Indian border towns to bring in personal goods not exceeding Nu 3,000. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister said there is no such allowance.

With the system of Certified Builders instituted, the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement is now appealing the house owners in the country to use certified builders for private construction. The ministry certified the first three registered builders today. Certified builders are a firm or a company that has been certified by the government to carry out the construction of private buildings.

With just two days left for the country to reopen its borders to tourists, it is an exciting time for the handicraft shop owners in Paro town. For them, it is a time they have been longing for the past two and a half years. Tshongdue town in Paro can be called a hub of handicraft and souvenir shops but most of them closed down or switched business amid the Covid pandemic.

Guarding crops against wild animals has become a daily routine for many farmers. But not in Khamaed Gewog in Gasa. The farmers of Damji and Jabisa chiwogs have been saved from this hardship. Thanks to the portable electric fences which it received from the government in April this year.

After hearing of success stories of broiler farms from the neighbouring districts, a farmer in Pema Gatshel has started his broiler farm. It is the first broiler farm in the district. The owner Ngawang Tshering said he hopes to minimise the import of chicken in the locality. A broiler farm is one where chickens are raised for their meat.

The Tsirang district resident’s dream of getting an additional fuel depot is finally materialising. The State Trading Corporation of Bhutan began works to construct a fuel retail outlet in Damphu town beginning this month.

The reopening of the country’s borders is just three days away and Indians residing in the border town areas are equally happy and excited. This was the message conveyed by the Indian neighbours as Bhutan hosted members of the business community and relevant dignitaries of Indian border towns for a short meeting in Phuentsholing and Samdrup Jongkhar today.

Tour operators, guides and other stakeholders in the tourism sector are looking forward to revive their businesses as the government decides to do away with RT-PCR test requirements for incoming travelers from Friday. The government announced the relaxation of COVID restriction last evening stating that the end of the pandemic is in sight with high vaccination coverage and as the severity of the virus wanes.