Cutting intake of teachers to aggravate unemployment problems

I could still hear the echos of pledges that the present Government made to zero the staggering unemployment figure. They've pledged colossally which to their favor translated into votes, ascending them to the governance. The people harbored mammoth expectations that the Government would honor all of it. However, things aren't happening as pledged and people's expectations are receding ashore. Many hopes will have to encounter a fatal fate, albeit a few getting green signals.  One of the pledges to bring full employment is succumbing to ill fate, when the Government could no longer absorb more than half of the B.Ed graduates trained for becoming teachers. For 200 plus B.Ed graduates, it is really worrying as they are rendered helpless and cornered by Royal Civil Service Commission. There are  handful vacancies which would come as a shock absorber from private schools, but they might come wrapped with the underscoring criteria of a few years experience in teaching which many of them doesn't possess. Along with these unemployed B.Ed graduates, their parents who expected and were shielded from worries of unemployment would get entrapped into the whirlpool of unemployment.

Disappointed B.Ed graduates

For this reason, the belief that the Bhutanese are good planners is untrue. This rather is indicative of miserable failure of proper planning. Where has planning gone wrong, the B.Ed graduates are inducted into training as per Human Resource Plan. Unless we are able to find glitch spot, the problem of unemployment would be a national conundrum. Why suddenly such major surgery is prescribed by RCSC despite the fact that they were trained teachers to be inducted into Royal Civil Service Commission on completion. Until this time, B.Ed graduates were guaranteed employment. But why not today?

Has the Government or RCSC thought of any alternatives in employing them? Are the curriculum and pedagogy of B.Ed program tailored so that they can compete to seek employment in private and corporate sectors along with any other graduates? These are questions that RCSC or government have to answer. If the practice of recruiting teachers were that of other graduates, the issue would have been a trivial and not-talk-worthy kind of thing. But the kind of practice we do and training they're given during the program undisputedly deserves the Government's attention. I am totally against the decision of the Royal Civil Service Commission and silence of the present Government on this. The Government has to see it through the hearts of many unemployed graduates' parents. 

My humble submission to the RCSC and the Government is that there is a need for major surgery in the planning process of  Human Resource Requirement. This will solve an unemployment problem  in  lots of ways. I personally feel that there is a missing link in the process of planning for Human Resources Requirement. Please train required Teachers for teaching rather than imposing undue social problems. If seats were not enough to accommodate all the graduates, the information should have been passed four years back. More importantly, RCSC, RUB and the Government, please don't make the blunder by taking in huge number of students for B.Ed program. I think the Government and RCSC have to press second or third thought on this.

Smooth coordination among RCSC, RUB and the Government (MoLHR) is called for in a future to ward off such unemployment drought.

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Eavesdropping along the corridors of JDWNRH

“Are you leaving?” ,  says a patient attendant. “Yes, she is discharged” , comes a reply from a smile-lit face of the other attendant. 

Next comes a heart-wrenching, heavy and hefty request for the one leaving, “Please pray for the swift recovery of my patient."

These are the talks that one could hear along the corridors of JDWNRH.  As I reflect on that simple, short, moving talk, my heart became swollen and heavy. I could feel the pain albeit helpless I walk along the corridors. It’s just a touching flight of sentiments I could hear. It’s deep and wounding. One would better know when you see pain-driven patients in multi-categorized wards of JDWNRH. The new are born and there are equaling numbers succumbing to the ailments. Witnessing those uncertain life realities is just abhorrent. In the drama of life, we are actually witnessing Heal and Heaven LIVE right under our eyes.

Source: Google

People from all walks of life are brought together by the sicknesses in themselves or with relatives at hospital, know each other by chance and cruelty of time parts away at a flight of an eye wink. This is a day in and day out at JDWNRH or any hospitals.

Of all, as I overhear those talks, the heavy, emotion-laden request,  “Please pray for swift recovery of my patient” , was heart-piercing. It’s sentimental.

Want to see and understand how people suffer of sicknesses? Our Regional Hospital, JDWNRH is a Store House.  

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The Selfless Jewel King

At 16, when youngsters of his age were enjoying their youthfulness, an enormous, heavy responsibility of shouldering a landlocked country befell him. He beheaded his youthful life when his father, the then 3^rd King, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk left untimely for a heavenly abode. However, he stood more than strong to spearhead his country that he’d planned ahead. His vision for his country was sky clear and farsighted. He is a man above extraordinary. He is our selfless Jewel King, His Majest Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

From oceanic noble steps that he strode for his country and people, following are a few ripples from many that make him a role model for an entire world.

At his age as a Monarch, is beyond stretch of my imagination how he could lead small, landlocked country, wedged between two economic titans. However, he was firm and by then he’d his focus made clear on paths that he shall walk for his country. He was formally crowned two years later, hitting the annuals of world record as youngest reigning monarch then.

Started rigorous decentralization process in a bid to fast track decision making process, and this has finally led to Constitutional Democratic form of governance. Though people were reluctant to accept the noble priceless gift from throne, His Majesty was confident on his part to usher his country into Constitutional Democracy. Through his farsighted lens of leadership, he’d seen it timely for the transition. This profound action of his shall be an epitome for all leaders around the globe.

Putting his life as secondary in the interest of nation’s sovereignty, His Majesty personally led the troops to flush out illegal militants who camped by southern belt. He is a great warrior in many ways. This brave action of his shall be an epitome for all leaders around the globe.

Source: Google Images

His Majesty is a great thinker: he whispered eloquently to the world that Gross National Happiness is a better measuring stick for economic development of the nation than Gross Domestic Product. He is a father of Gross National Happiness. This brainchild of him, climbed to the world stage when UN happily gave a nod to it by introducing Internal Day of Happiness on 20^th March every year.  This noble think of his shall be an epitome for all leaders around the globe.

He travelled extensively to the remote pockets of the country, tirelessly through rugged terrains and climbed snowcapped mountains to understand conditions dwelling around his subjects. He’d brought about immeasurable developments within his reign of 34 years as a Monarch.  This tireless effort of his shall be an epitome for all leaders around the globe.

For the first time in the history of nation, he abdicated his kingship to ascend his heir to the throne. At his age then, his health and intellectual capabilities were invaluable to continue reigning for next decade. But he gave away his throne to his successor. This hallowed action of his shall be an epitome for all leaders around the globe.

During the golden reign of 34 years, the nation had witnessed an unprecedented growth and prosperity in a whole gamut of social-economic and political spheres.

Long Live His Majesty, the 4^th Drukgyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk!

PS: My tribute through small account of His Majesty, the fourth Dragon King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck as nation gears to celebrate 60^th Birth Anniversary. Any statistical errors and omissions could be excused as article is just a minute fraction from his ocean wide initiatives and developments.

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Bhutanese Cuisine

I can feel every taste-bud of my tongue yearning for a Bhutanese Cuisine. Right after I landed to Bangkok, I could feel reluctance of my tongue for non-Bhutanese foods. What could be special dish for Thais went into dustbin when it was on my plate. It’s really difficult for my tongue to accept those foreign meals. My eyes could feast upon skycrappers and crowd around but I could feel my stomach grumbling for Bhutanese food. But no way could I find one around. I felt the same when I visited to Kolkata the previous year.

 

Bhutanese Beef Chilli

At Shah Ahlam, Selangor, in Malaysia where I came for a short training, it seems fairly better off than Bangkok. Here, because Indian and Chinese makes a certain proportion of Malaysian populace, has imported spicy meals into the country. But there are a few of it. At least grumbling of my stomach could be suppressed.  

Malaysian Nasi Lemak

Many people adapt fairly well with any meals but in my case it’s really typical one. In a sight, I can make a taste whether it would abode well with my tongue or not. Keep aside giving a try I prefer looking for one that gives a better appearance to eye of tongue. I could see how choosy I’m. If at all it’s possible for implantation of taste buds, I would happily do it. So, that my tongue can accept anything that world has to offer.

Thai Beef Ball

I was dumbfounded that taste of water here is different than Bhutanese one. Ours it is superior in lot of ways, at least my tongue feels this way in ways. 

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When taxes are looked as only internal source of revenue

Many Bhutanese are having hard time wrestling with a record number of taxes being imposed, from vehicles to fuels to telecommunication services. There is only one reason behind; to curtail outflow of Indian Rupees which had our economy pushed into ailing stage. The government of the day had this reason gilded in their minds even for imposing 5% tax on telecommunication services. And this is ludicrous. I cannot sketch zigzag lines to draw a link, keep aside the possibility of drawing straight lines to link how calling through mobile phones would contribute to outflow of rupees after all we recharge in Bhutanese currency and money we consume is in Bhutanese currency irrespective of the destination countries. I don’t find it radical and justified measure in none of n-ways.

I had my mobile e-loaded on 1^st of October for Nu. 50 through my B-Wallet, and following message is what I got;

“Your account has been recharged successfully with Nu. 50, talk time received is 47.5. The recharge amount is arrived based upon 5% Tax charged against Nu. 50.”

This message is irritating at mind, deceitful in action and ear-drum disturbing. If it is at all a witty cheat, I would prefer not receiving this message. Every time you recharge and this disturbing message pops up. I think everyone would prefer going unnoticed than painstaking brunt one needs to bear.

Carrying heavy taxes is wallet-tearing, Source: Google

By token of this post, I am sure that I’m not being projected stingy, unpatriotic and disloyal to my country. I feel there many noble ways of being generous, patriotic and loyal to our own country than by dragging to contribute in this way. The telecommunication services are already costly and taking away 5% could mean adding to it further. Also, this could have adverse impact on service providers. Instead of prosperity, these businesses might take a recession. Through the lens of business perspective too, I cannot see any white spot. Through the prism of curtailing rupee outflow, I couldn’t see any rays being reflected. I find it ridiculous.

What next? This is the question that is impendingly high at the doorstep of citizen’s mind. 

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Running round the clock

Eve of Blessed Rainy Day,

I pushed my last post.

Since then I took a lengthy pause,

With the blessings of Blessed Rainy Day.

There has been traffic of works,

That was trivial but urgent.

Also there has been series of calls,

These had my time in a stall.

I could neither compose,

Nor walk along all of blogger reads.

It was time I got self-imposed,

To have missed many blogger treats.

Days were just crammed,

Compartmentalized and jammed.

I could find no passage,

As aisle of Blogosphere is clogged.

Source: Google

Thus, I am into hibernation,

Through the days of self-imposition.

Sooner I shall wake up,

And walk along with my dear Bloggers.

My hopes are high,

To glide and fly,

Days, weeks, months and years,

Through the path of Bloggers.

Until next time I write,

Unwinding my time,

I am pushing my wishes,

To all my Blog friends.

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Blessed Rainy Day 2014 (23rd September, 2014)

Happy Blessed Rainy Day to all my Blogger friends.

I swam through an ocean of past, my youthful days, those days that were jammed with memories, the memories of past Blessed Rainy Days; a day before Blessed Rainy Day, our heart would be bubbling with excitement. The night would past with a nap. The time a cock signals a birth of day at 3 in the morning, we’d be out of bed ready for a bath, the cleansing bath believed to rinse off sinful demerits we have had accumulated until date. Everyone would ensure timely bath is taken anyhow. For those who haven’t taken bath for long, it would be an annual bath they’re taking. Interestingly, there are many in remote villages who’d fit into this category. But, today, the situations have changed radically and I can’t construe it the same.

Those memories were triggered by a call I received from my cousin brother. He said that he has planned this year’s Blessed Rainy Day at Paro, for family-friends gathering concurrently.

 

Source: Google

Since I came to Thimphu after completing my undergraduate to look out for job in 2012, we have had similar gatherings for last two years. So, without a tinge of hesitation on a plate of my decision, I pressed an endorsement button for this intimately family plan he’d come up. This is one of a few days we could have family-friends get-together which otherwise is seldom possible. I cannot afford to toss away this day without a colour of memory for it. The hassle and bustle of daily affairs won’t arrange such beautiful gathering so frequently. This out-of-blue, seldom-tip-toeing day, emerging out of marshy daily schedules, must be put alight to savor the merriments in an uncertainly life we hold ourselves. So, the day has to be earmarked for important, entertaining, memory making activities. Also, day is a religious one and has to be religiously passed.

For my foreign friends, FYI; Blessed Rainy Day marks an end of monsoon season and beginning of harvest season. The day is declared a government holiday across the nation. On this day, people take bath at a particular auspicious time as determined by an astrologer, with a belief that it would cleanse off all the bad deeds and pollutions of life that would’ve accumulate bad karma. I suggest you guys to take bath on this day (tomorrow, 23^rd September 2014) to rinse of your negative karma.

Happy Blessed Rainy Day to all. Thruebab Trashi Delek!

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Freely Littering Mentality

I have heard stories from Singapore, Australia and USA, from the people who’ve visited these countries.

For the first time visitors, they were surprised to have meted out with unusual, un-Bhutanesely encounter; in Singapore, people are not allowed to carry edibles while traveling by bus. It’s simply unbelievable.

In Australia, friends and relatives who had been there say that if you wear your white T-shirt for a week, it would be still with any dust on it. It’s same with the car, you need not wash for weeks. It’s simply amazing.

In USA, every single person takes care of litter, if one is seen littering, another person who has seen you littering would reprimand you, it’s not the concerned authority who is doing that. If they see fights or beating children or women, the case would be reported in a wink and police would zoom in from nowhere. Everyone takes responsibility of the society. It’s just wonderful.

I feel the story would be the same of many countries.

Talk about our country, it’s just the other way; we can take anything we like in public transports provided the space is available. Everyone litters care-freely. You buy a chocolate and wrapper goes on the ground. You drink a bottle of coke, it crumbles on the ground. The litters cannot reach its designated place despite numerous Green Bins put up by the municipality in towns, and Bins put up by schools as social contributions. Unfortunately, people who advocate proper use of bins end up littering outside freely.

 

Source: Google

There are myriad reasons for Bhutanese to gather and aftermath is the chunk of litters. In any gatherings, be celebrations, Tshechus, watching movies in a hall, going for picnics, queuing up to receive blessings, the by-products are litters, the trash from edibles and drinks.

Unlike, everyone taking responsibility in the mentioned countries, none of us take responsibility to care our own trash. It’s a story of SOMEBODY, NOBODY, ANYBODY and EVERYBODY, where responsibility gets shifted between the four to have none taken responsibility at the end of the day.

We’ve had enough awareness and policies being framed. But none has proved successful: one time, we’d defaulters fined but it didn’t work. Another time, we’d rigorous awareness campaigns to see that aftermath of those campaigns itself were garbage. It didn’t work either. What next?

I feel we have gone wrong at the root. Children were never taught to litter properly for our parents as children weren’t taught by their parents either. The repercussions of this flaw seem almost irreversible. We’re moving ahead without a way to turn back and rectify the foul steps that we’ve trodden.

Until date, no think-tanks could successfully think through to put a brake to this perennial issue we’ve been going with. We know there is a national call waiting for an answer. That answer everyone must ponder. All that we’ve ticked are incorrect answers. We bear hopes that we could tick a right answer one day sooner.

If we could replicate of Singaporian, Australian and American on ourselves, Bhutan would be an epitome of green environment. I could see a lot of elements worth emulating and importing from these countries.  But at this pace of litters we produce, Memelakha(a site identified for dumping trashes) would be everywhere across the country in no longer.

Everyone: you & I, parents, teachers and the government need to brainstorm over this perpetual issue of litters. What could be hit-the-nail answer to the call waiting in line?

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