The COVID 19 pandemic hit almost all aspects of business and governance. It did not spare the National Council (NC), too. However, NC Chairperson, Lyonpo Tashi Dorji said members of parliament (MPs), including himself got out of their usual duties and comfort zones to assist the government during the pandemic. And it was because the country needed people to guide, serve as front liners, give suggestions and to play roles as demanded by the need of the hour.
“During the first two lockdowns, I had the opportunity to serve in Thimphu coordinating and supporting other Desuup Nyamros in the field and in the third one I had the opportunity to serve for more than a month in Phuntsholing. During the recent one, I was in Wangduephodrang for the entire lockdown period helping the Desuups and other frontline workers,” Lyonpo said, adding, he has been fortunate to serve in several of the Desuung related activities which are meant to uplift the lives of Bhutan’s youth in general.
“MPs unanimously came forward to shoulder befitting responsibilities of government’s efforts right from the initial stage of the pandemic. MPs geared to provide crucial feedbacks to the government which I consider invaluable in furthering improvements in the collective efforts. Furthermore, MPs trained as De-Suups began to volunteer as frontline workers during lockdowns,” the Chairperson said, adding that with easy access for the constituents to their respective MPs, during lockdowns MPs have unconditionally risen to the needs of the hour by getting involved in programming movements of the stranded people, sorting out emergency issues, disseminating information on preventive measures and helping the sick get timely medical services.
On the contrary, Lyonpo said that normally one of the ways in getting the views of the public is through the Hon’ble Members visit to their respective constituencies and getting opinions from the general public either through Zomdhu or informal discussions during their stay there. “Because of the pandemic and lockdowns, there were some disruptions and members could not visit their respective constituencies,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said there are several ways of deciding the agendas for the sessions. “Back in 2018, right after assuming the office we finalized our roadmap of agendas to be deliberated during our term, in addition to bills originating from the other house of the parliament and issues raised by general public through their elected Members. For the upcoming session, right after the 28th session of the National Council, we have identified the agendas and it has already been assigned to relevant committees, so despite the challenges, respective committees have already started working on it,” he said.
When asked what he thought is the reason behind Bhutan’s successful handling of the pandemic, the Chairperson said the answer is simple and straight forward. “It has got everything to do with the visionary and farsighted leadership of His Majesty the King. Since the outset of COVID-19 pandemic, His Majesty has been at the forefront of the preparedness and response plan against the pandemic ensuring and keeping the country and people safe and secure,” he said, adding that with clear guidance and Kidu support from His Majesty, measures are put in place to control the spread of the virus at the right time, to vaccinate on time all eligible citizens, to get loan deferment and interest waiver support to individuals affected, to get financial support for those who lost their source of income and vulnerable youth are taken good care. “With continued prayers conducted by the Zhungtshog Dratshang and other religious organizations and moreover His Majesty the King being the symbol of unity, I have noticed every citizen collectively combating the pandemic unlike other countries, where people are divided within their own communities because of political differences and beliefs,” he said.
Lyonpo further added that in the last two years, the virus has not really hit the other parts of the Nation, like the south, which he said is to do with people living in the border areas too, “who guarded us well”. “We all know that the people living in the porous border faced most of the hardships and challenges during this pandemic period. We really need to be thankful to the responsibilities that they have shouldered,” he added.
Apart from this, Lyonpo underlined that the country needs to acknowledge the hard work put in by all the frontline workers who served for months and years, risking their own lives and sacrificing their time from their family. “They have given priority to the national interest with dedicated continuous service and never backed out in taking their responsibilities.”
Back in Thimphu and with Bhutan moving on with the second phase of combating COVID 19, the NC Chairperson is sharpening his axe for the forthcoming National Assembly Session. Lyonpo said that the agendas for the upcoming National Council session and the Joint Sitting of the Parliament would be follow-up Report on the Resolutions of the 28th Session of the National Council: Royal Bhutan Police (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2020; Biodiversity Bill of Bhutan 2021; Framework Agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance; Drafting of Civil Liability Bill/Tort Bill; Budget Bills, comprising Budget Appropriation Bill for FY 2022-2023 and Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for FY 2021-2022. The others are the Civil Society Organizations (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2021; the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2021 and United Nations Convention against Corruption (Amendment).
“During the first two lockdowns, I had the opportunity to serve in Thimphu coordinating and supporting other Desuup Nyamros in the field and in the third one I had the opportunity to serve for more than a month in Phuntsholing. During the recent one, I was in Wangduephodrang for the entire lockdown period helping the Desuups and other frontline workers,” Lyonpo said, adding, he has been fortunate to serve in several of the Desuung related activities which are meant to uplift the lives of Bhutan’s youth in general.
“MPs unanimously came forward to shoulder befitting responsibilities of government’s efforts right from the initial stage of the pandemic. MPs geared to provide crucial feedbacks to the government which I consider invaluable in furthering improvements in the collective efforts. Furthermore, MPs trained as De-Suups began to volunteer as frontline workers during lockdowns,” the Chairperson said, adding that with easy access for the constituents to their respective MPs, during lockdowns MPs have unconditionally risen to the needs of the hour by getting involved in programming movements of the stranded people, sorting out emergency issues, disseminating information on preventive measures and helping the sick get timely medical services.
On the contrary, Lyonpo said that normally one of the ways in getting the views of the public is through the Hon’ble Members visit to their respective constituencies and getting opinions from the general public either through Zomdhu or informal discussions during their stay there. “Because of the pandemic and lockdowns, there were some disruptions and members could not visit their respective constituencies,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said there are several ways of deciding the agendas for the sessions. “Back in 2018, right after assuming the office we finalized our roadmap of agendas to be deliberated during our term, in addition to bills originating from the other house of the parliament and issues raised by general public through their elected Members. For the upcoming session, right after the 28th session of the National Council, we have identified the agendas and it has already been assigned to relevant committees, so despite the challenges, respective committees have already started working on it,” he said.
When asked what he thought is the reason behind Bhutan’s successful handling of the pandemic, the Chairperson said the answer is simple and straight forward. “It has got everything to do with the visionary and farsighted leadership of His Majesty the King. Since the outset of COVID-19 pandemic, His Majesty has been at the forefront of the preparedness and response plan against the pandemic ensuring and keeping the country and people safe and secure,” he said, adding that with clear guidance and Kidu support from His Majesty, measures are put in place to control the spread of the virus at the right time, to vaccinate on time all eligible citizens, to get loan deferment and interest waiver support to individuals affected, to get financial support for those who lost their source of income and vulnerable youth are taken good care. “With continued prayers conducted by the Zhungtshog Dratshang and other religious organizations and moreover His Majesty the King being the symbol of unity, I have noticed every citizen collectively combating the pandemic unlike other countries, where people are divided within their own communities because of political differences and beliefs,” he said.
Lyonpo further added that in the last two years, the virus has not really hit the other parts of the Nation, like the south, which he said is to do with people living in the border areas too, “who guarded us well”. “We all know that the people living in the porous border faced most of the hardships and challenges during this pandemic period. We really need to be thankful to the responsibilities that they have shouldered,” he added.
Apart from this, Lyonpo underlined that the country needs to acknowledge the hard work put in by all the frontline workers who served for months and years, risking their own lives and sacrificing their time from their family. “They have given priority to the national interest with dedicated continuous service and never backed out in taking their responsibilities.”
Back in Thimphu and with Bhutan moving on with the second phase of combating COVID 19, the NC Chairperson is sharpening his axe for the forthcoming National Assembly Session. Lyonpo said that the agendas for the upcoming National Council session and the Joint Sitting of the Parliament would be follow-up Report on the Resolutions of the 28th Session of the National Council: Royal Bhutan Police (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2020; Biodiversity Bill of Bhutan 2021; Framework Agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance; Drafting of Civil Liability Bill/Tort Bill; Budget Bills, comprising Budget Appropriation Bill for FY 2022-2023 and Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for FY 2021-2022. The others are the Civil Society Organizations (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2021; the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2021 and United Nations Convention against Corruption (Amendment).
