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Not Happy, Grossly Unfair

21 November 2008

In a most reassuring initiative towards realising GNH, the Gyalpoi Zimpoen’s office and the Gross National Happiness Commission have launched an income poverty intervention measure called Rural Economy Advance Programme. Among other things, the programme will identify the people whose income and living standards need urgent attention.

This noble initiative comes at a time when the nation is tussling with income disparity, poverty, equity and justice, and operationalising GNH. It beckons us to rethink some of our lofty ideals and interpret them in more holistic terms.

Bhutan Living Standard Survey 2007 shows that 23.4 percent of the Bhutanese are poor. 30.9 percent of the poor live in rural areas while 1.7 percent live in the urban areas. The survey also shows that the further the dzongkhags are from Thimphu, the poorer they are.

The Millennium Development Goal Technical Report 2008 shows that the number of people suffering from food poverty has increased to 37,300.

The report points out that the foremost challenge to tackle poverty lies in reducing the significant disparities of income and food levels and basic living conditions, among others.

Now we have a government that is proclaiming equity and justice and yet contemplating a pay rise. The pay hike proposal, drawn up by the Pay Commission favours politicians and senior civil servants, which is likely to aggravate income disparity among the educated.

The Ministry of Finance prepared a different pay hike proposal to narrow the gap between upper and lower echelons of the civil service, which is more sensible. But the decision-makers seem to favour the former proposal which pays them more. In a decision that runs in the face of democracy and justice, the government refused to put up the two proposals on the internet for public scrutiny, foolishly claiming that to do so would be too expensive.

The government also claims that the “top-down” approach of the salary hike is justified because, while the people in the upper echelon of the government machinery are indispensable, those in the lower rungs are easily replaceable. And this from a government which claims to encourage blue-collar jobs.

Income disparity runs contrary to the very philosophy of GNH and the DPT government’s stated principle of equity and justice. If our Ministers and Dashos draw ever more salary and allowances while roadside workers continue to eke out their existence on a mere 3,000 something ngultrums a month, there is neither equity and justice, nor dignity of labour, nor respect for blue-collar jobs.

The nation’s move towards realising GNH and equity and justice has to start with small things that affect the common people, not big ideals that concern the leaders. For large doors swing on small hinges.

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Comments

10 Responses to “Not Happy, Grossly Unfair”

  1. pd on November 21st, 2008 12:29 pm

    There is always so much talk about balanced development…but most of the big businesses, institutes and offices end up rooted in Thimphu. Perhaps it’s high time we relocate some offices and promote the use of IT as a means of communication rather then having to travel all the way to the capital for everything!

  2. pola on November 21st, 2008 4:52 pm

    Two proposals shuld be on the Internet, why government refuesed to do?

  3. kinley on November 22nd, 2008 5:29 pm

    It is time Bhutan really thinks about its small economy. The on-going global economic crisis may not have directly had a huge impact as of now, but the risks at hand are enormous. When bigger economies can swirl down under the pressure of the global meltdown, Bhutanese economy will not be able to withstand even a slightest pinch. The consequences could be disastrous.

    While there is a serious need to strengthen the economy, there is so much only Bhutan can do. The ideal is always beautiful and we have all the idealism we can ever boasts of-Gross National Happiness. This philosophy in itself is dynamic but how we can make this practical or possibly closer to reality is the big question. GNH will be a success only if it translates into results.

    We have been hearing in bits and pieces, that ECONOMIC INDICATORS to empirically measure GNH is underway. Let’s see if it is any different from other indices of economic growth and practical. The bigger question is whether the policy makers are making any headway in achieving GNH genuinely.

    At the surface, it seems nothing really has been done because a few policies framed by the government are strongly opposing the principles of GNH. For example, the pay hike proposal for the civil servants is still questionable. The idea here is to distribute the wealth equally, if not, to at least enable the poor people to improve their living standards. But the pay hike will raise the bar between the rich and poor.

    The government’s policy of top-down pay hike in isolation is another problem. Had it been a bottom up raise, then it could be an understandable move. And it is logical to make such a move as this would mean that the government is taking some sort of cognizance to improve the lives of the common people.

    But there is a reasonable solution too. The pay hike should also come with an equal hike in the income tax. So that there is equity in another form.

    Poverty will remain a long term issue for Bhutan. There is still a section of population who still has to worry about their next meal. There are many who do not have proper education, proper health care and food. Government therefore needs to take stock of thee pertinent issues. And constantly work towards it. The government should rather push forward all those projects that are oriented towards poverty reduction making this its top priority.

    His majesty’s office has been taking these issues seriously. But ultimately it is the government that should answer the call of the people. And if the government fails to do so, from the start itself, there is not much we can hope.

    For the poor and the hungry Bhutanese, let’s give hope! And perhaps, Hope is what GNH has been giving us, that we would be happy, all of us, one day!

  4. Dawa on November 22nd, 2008 7:05 pm

    Observer, Never ever mind to keep up educating people and opening their eyes to see through in such manner. The news paper as you Observer as an independent voice could do much. you have began the good work and will do well educating people, and shaping government in their decision. The days are gone for such overlooking things. His majesty’s grant of freedom is to shape such old rates who has been eating the rice under authority veil.
    People might not be writting you like me but surely they have applaused you for this article.

    thanks
    Dawa

  5. jun on November 28th, 2008 1:45 pm

    What could we expect from MPs like Tshering Penjor, Haa MP Ugyen Dorji and several other female MPs!!!. We need to do something to save our country. I cannot imagine what will happen to Bhutan if we do not have the supervision of our noble king.
    Our PM is a king of rhetoric who speaks so much and does nothing good. He just hangs on to traditional style of governance- the hierarchic Boss-Subordinate bowing and zhu zhu la la. Other than that he has no idea of building a sound economy base for the country.
    New ministers like Dorji Wangdi and Nandalal are lost in the world of lyonpo. Not knowing how to be a lyonpo, they are in a confused state compounded by their inability to speak out what they think.
    Thakur Singh Powdel, A lyonpo from whom ppl expected so much but he was rather estimated too highly. Already most of us are dismayed by his inability to bring about any positive change in the education system.He is a bit of a scarecrow.
    Lyonpo Dr Pema Gyamtsho is lost in confusion trying to differentiate himself from a farmer. He thought an agriculture minister must go to the farms and do what farmers are doing rather than make plans and policies to uplift our farmers who for so long have been trapped in a net of generational poverty. He is a high profile farmer.
    Zangley a shallow and artificial human being who claims to profess everything under the sun did not yet smell the rotting health system.He is satisfied by the gesture that pemagatshelpas showed him by giving him tshogchang.
    Other MPs and NCs just contemplating on how much they could save for the rest of their term if the proposed salary hike comes through. They are the ones who chose their status and ego over saving the environment which could have been done by setting on a low power car rather than buying prados and other big cars.It would have also set a noble example for the general bhutanese public contributing positively to the health of the general bhutanese economy and significantly to the environment in which the MPs also dwell.

  6. dorma on December 4th, 2008 11:58 am

    Hey hold on!!!! excuse me la…., dont be a barking dog. if you were in place of one of those Lyonpos what could you have done within this short period of time. your answer could be “NOTHING”. You are talking about the democracy just because you were influenced by other far developed countries. Our country’s democracy is just the beginning and dont expect everything to happen within the short period of time. You might be knowing that our country’s democracy is one of the youngest democracy in the world. Just keep your eyes and ears wide open, i grauntee you the development will surely take place. i think you are too young to criticise on our Lyonchen because not only himself had contributed a lot but also his grate father Late Gyaduen Thinley Dorji had contributed a lot for development of the country. And i must say two of them were god gifted to us. “THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU PIN POINT ON OTHERS”.

  7. jun on December 4th, 2008 7:29 pm

    hey dorma,
    what are u talking about? What have the lyonchen’s father contributed to the country? Could you please elaborate a bit. By the way for your kind information Bhutan is still a LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY!!!

  8. dorma on December 5th, 2008 11:58 am

    helo jun!……first can you tell me if you were in place of one those lyonpos, what processe could have taken place for the development??? yea, i know that our country is a least developed country la coz its just a first step for constitutional democracy. i think i rele dont need to answer what our lyonchen’s father had contributed, for the information why dont you ask your grandparents at home la? i think they must be having lots of information about it….’SOONER OR LATER OUR LYONPOS WILL SURELY DEVELOP THE COUNTRY” keep watching Mr jun……………….

  9. Sonam on December 9th, 2008 6:36 pm

    Hey Dorma…sorry for the intervention but couldn’t resist being a part of the conversation…. I think there is nothing great about Lyonchen and his father’s service to the nation or for that matter of any of the Lyonpos. Given the opportunity anybody would do what is mandated or commanded by the King. Infact they did more good for themselves accumulating enough wealth. And just because Gyaldon Thinley was serving in HMs court, JYT got the best of education and the opportunity to serve. But I am even more apprehensive of how much JYT has served the nation. Same goes with most of the Ministers. many of them had the advantage of their parents serving in important posts and the system then was flexible (or do I say corrupt??) to favour your own relatives and siblings to important positions. For these reasons…Kinzang dorji and Thinley Gyamtsho deserve more respects for rising from the soil.

    So I think its all a matter of opportunity and paying the right card at the right time!!!

    And I am definitely not happy with the DPT Government’s performance in the last almost one year…and mind you…one year is not a short time…

  10. Sonam on December 9th, 2008 6:38 pm

    For me :service to the nation” is when you go beyond your responsibilities and serve beyond your mandates while occupying such an important position where you can make a huge difference. Otherwise you are just working for the salary that you receive at the end of the month and thats for yourself and definitely not service to the nation…

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