Bhutan Daily News 27-03-23

1.There are 4 candidates debating in Chukha.

2. The Bhutanese under-17 women’s team ended their SAFF Championship campaign in Bangladesh with another defeat yesterday. Playing against India in their last match, Bhutan conceded nine goals and did not manage to score a goal. Bhutan began the tournament with an eight-one defeat to Bangladesh. In the subsequent matches, Bhutan lost five-nil to Nepal, and nine-one to Russia. Meanwhile, the senior men’s team is in Nepal playing in the Three Nations Cup. Bhutan will look to bounce back from a narrow two-one defeat to Laos when the Dragon Boys face Nepal, tomorrow evening.

3. For nearly eight years now, Shali sub-post has made the lives of people in Gonpung-Shali Chiwog easier and more convenient. But with the increasing population, it has become difficult for the lone Health Assistant to provide timely and quality services. Today, the Health Assistant sees about 400 patients a month. A sub-post is a primary healthcare facility that has a permanent structure and is manned by one health professional.

4. Children who come in conflict with the law are given the opportunity to do community service if the alleged offense is not serious. This provision called diversion in the Child Care and Protection Act of Bhutan 2011, is an alternative measure of dealing with a child in conflict with the law other than a judicial proceeding. To help children who are sent for diversion programmes by courts, Nazhoen Lamtoen, a civil society organization, is linking up with seven community service groups in Punakha to set up diversion programmes.

5. Chirata, a medicinal herb considered critically endangered has become one of the main sources of income for the villagers of Lauri Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar. Today, about 60 households in the gewog cultivate chirata. They were encouraged to cultivate the plant following demand from the popular French luxury fashion house Chanel. The company uses it as one of the ingredients in a face oil known for its rejuvenating properties.

6. The live public debate for the National Council elections is in full swing with the poll day just 23 days away. This allows voters to choose the right candidate. But not everyone and particularly the younger generation is interested to watch the live debate. However, a group of students in Zhemgang managed to make time to watch the live debate held recently. The students who are members of the Democracy and Media Club in Zhemgang Central School say watching the live debate helped them better understand the parliamentary and electoral processes and the role of the National Council as the house of review.

7. To create awareness and encourage residents to maintain a clean and green city, more than 400 de-suups carried out a cleaning campaign along Norzin Lam in Thimphu on March 25. The campaign is a part of Thimphu’s greening and beautification programme.

8. The five National Council (NC) candidates of Trashigang pledged to resolve the goongtong and youth unemployment issues in the dzongkhag.

9. Global Money Week is an annual financial awareness campaign that aims to teach children and young people about money management, saving, investing, and entrepreneurship.