BHUTAN TODAY The New Perspective

Prioritized expenditures in both Dzongkhags and Gewogs on agriculture and livestock sectors By Tashi Namgyal/Thimphu Against the capital outlay of Nu.50,000 million for the 12th Plan, an expenditure of Nu. 16,810.95 (33.62%) million was reported as of this year for the Local Governments (LGs). Gasa Dzongkhag reported the highest expenditure with 78.57% and Samdrup Jongkhar has the lowest expenditure with …

On average, a Bhutanese cigarette smoker smoked 111 cigarettes per month and spent an average of Nu 1,416 a month BY Chimi Wangmo The prevalence of use of any tobacco product Bhutan was 23.9% (32.9% for men, 11.8% for women), as per WHO’s STEP survey released recently. WHO also states that amongst the current tobacco users, 10.6% used smoked tobacco, …

The report also reveals that eastern region had the highest prevalence of current alcohol consumption By Tandin Wangchuk The Non-communicable Disease Risk Factors: Bhutan STEPS Survey Report, 2019 throws some interesting facets to alcohol production and use in the country. It reveals that in Bhutan, NCDs are estimated to account for 69.0% of all deaths in 2016. Four main groups …

Observers say the appointment of Lyonpo Karma Dorji into a key government position would garnerpolitical milestones for DNT in a constituency once considered DPT’s fort By Rinchen Dorji The appointment of Karma Dorji as the new labour and human resources minister by the government could, subtly, herald the end of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa’s reign in the constituency-once touted as their …

By Tashi Namgyal/Thimphu Emotions have stirred in the Nyamrup camp as the news of a newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) being selected as the Labour Minister jolted ruling party MPs as well as electorates. Serving Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) MPs and party supporters have lambasted the decision of the Prime Minister (PM) in ignoring seasoned aspirants to fill the …