Introduction and deliberation on the historic Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2022 in the National Assembly (NA) hall occurred on the first sitting of the eighth session of the third parliament on November 7, this year
The member of the National Service Core Working Group (NSCWG) Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) elucidated detail about the Gyalsung Bill to the house.
The Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan is His Majesty’s vision to institutionalize Gyalsung to empower all the Bhutanese youth to participate in the process of nation-building to further enhance the security, peace, unity, harmony, and sovereignty of our nation.
The objective of the Gyalsung program is to actualize the innate potential of all the youth of Bhutan to make them productive and worthy citizens in the services of the Tsa-Wa-sum.
Following are the main objectives of the Gyalsung Program underpinned by Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) while introducing the Bills to the house.
1. Endow the youth of Bhutan with the knowledge, skill, and values to actualize their potential in this rapidly changing world and contribute the realizing the national goals and aspirations.
2. Empower the youth with the capabilities and attributes needed to succeed academically and professionally.
3. Enhanced the awareness of the youth about the challenges that our country faces and meaningfully engage them in finding and implementing a collective solution.
4. Encourage volunteerism among our citizens to foster of selfless services in enhancing the well-being of our people.
5. Ensure that we prepare the future generation to fully shoulder their sacred responsibilities of upholding and promoting the unity, peace, security, and sovereignty of our nation for all the times to come.
It is obligatory for all the youth who have attained the age of 18, upon completion of grade twelve to undergo a one-year integrated training program.
In the first three months, the Cadets are taught basic military training followed by various pieces of training such as national education and life skills, specialized and other relevant training.
The National Services consist of three phases.
1. National Service Training
National Services cadets shall undergo a one-year training program which shall include three months of Basic Military training. This will be followed by specialized skill training in various areas that are critical for personal self-development as well as enhancement of self-reliance and national security.
2. National Service Duty
Upon completion of the one-year training program, Gyalsung may be called for both mandatory Duty and Voluntary Duty until the age of 35 years.
3. National Service Reserve.
Upon completion of National Service Duty, National Service Personal shall remain as Reservist until they attain the age of 45 years at which point, they complete the national service obligations. Thereafter, they may volunteer to join the De-Suup.
The five Gyalsung Academies are under construction across the country.
The Gyalsung training has to be started in 2022, however, due to the invincible pandemic, works remain pending and couldn’t start.
Nevertheless, the first batch of Gyalsung Training will be expected to commence in 2024.
The National Assembly and the National Council have passed and adopted the Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2022 with the support of all the 45 NA members present and all the members of the National Council after further deliberation.
On November 8, 2022, the National Council of Bhutan started the session, reading the scared Royal Kasho on the Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan by the chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan.
As per the command of His Majesty, Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) a member of the National Service Core Working Group reaffirmed the aims of the Gyalsung Program to the upper house.
In addition, not only single youth, all youth should know the country’s challenges, national goals, aspirations, and developmental progress of our country.
During the session, some of the members of parliament (MP) stated their doubts and concerns about some sections of the bill and sought clarification.
Gasa MP, Dorji Khandu sought clarification on eligibility for Gyalsung Training for the youth who have not completed class 12 and remain in the village, differently-abled youth, and the issues concerning the requirement of the Medical Fitness Certificate.
Dasho Sonam Kinga cleared the doubt and said that every youth who is eligible for Gyalsung training will get equal Gyalsung opportunities regardless of caste, religion, social background, economic status, place of birth, and education qualification.
The young Bhutanese who attain the age of 18 has to undergo the mandatory one-year training whether he/she completed class 12 or not.
Further, Dasho also mentioned that for the differently-abled youth, if they are determined and show a willingness to serve the country, the NSCWG is planning to come up with an alternative solution to give them the best training.
For the Medical Fitness Certificate, Gyalsung will adopt Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) where the youth can get a medical fitness certificate from national, regional, and Dzongkhag hospitals.
Bumthang MP, Nima also sought clarification on the remuneration of the staff of Gyalsung Headquarters, Gyalsung Academies, and Governing Council because Gyalsung will recruit the staff from departments like civil servants, Royal Bhutan Police, Army, Bodyguards, and the Construction sector.
Dasho said that the staff will get their remuneration as per the department’s pay rules and regulations.
For instance, the civil servant who is serving in Gyalsung will get their remuneration based on the civil servants’ pay rule and regulation, and the staff who are from Royal Bhutan Army will get their remuneration as per RBA’s pay rule and regulation.
The chairperson, Duty chairperson of the national council of Bhutan, and members of the national council expressed their esteem and gratitude to His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo for such a novel initiative brought during their tenure.
Lastly, the house of review has adopted the Bill with all 24 members present and voting in favor of the Bill. Further, the Bill will be submitted to Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent as per Article 13 (6) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The member of the National Service Core Working Group (NSCWG) Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) elucidated detail about the Gyalsung Bill to the house.
The Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan is His Majesty’s vision to institutionalize Gyalsung to empower all the Bhutanese youth to participate in the process of nation-building to further enhance the security, peace, unity, harmony, and sovereignty of our nation.
The objective of the Gyalsung program is to actualize the innate potential of all the youth of Bhutan to make them productive and worthy citizens in the services of the Tsa-Wa-sum.
Following are the main objectives of the Gyalsung Program underpinned by Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) while introducing the Bills to the house.
1. Endow the youth of Bhutan with the knowledge, skill, and values to actualize their potential in this rapidly changing world and contribute the realizing the national goals and aspirations.
2. Empower the youth with the capabilities and attributes needed to succeed academically and professionally.
3. Enhanced the awareness of the youth about the challenges that our country faces and meaningfully engage them in finding and implementing a collective solution.
4. Encourage volunteerism among our citizens to foster of selfless services in enhancing the well-being of our people.
5. Ensure that we prepare the future generation to fully shoulder their sacred responsibilities of upholding and promoting the unity, peace, security, and sovereignty of our nation for all the times to come.
It is obligatory for all the youth who have attained the age of 18, upon completion of grade twelve to undergo a one-year integrated training program.
In the first three months, the Cadets are taught basic military training followed by various pieces of training such as national education and life skills, specialized and other relevant training.
The National Services consist of three phases.
1. National Service Training
National Services cadets shall undergo a one-year training program which shall include three months of Basic Military training. This will be followed by specialized skill training in various areas that are critical for personal self-development as well as enhancement of self-reliance and national security.
2. National Service Duty
Upon completion of the one-year training program, Gyalsung may be called for both mandatory Duty and Voluntary Duty until the age of 35 years.
3. National Service Reserve.
Upon completion of National Service Duty, National Service Personal shall remain as Reservist until they attain the age of 45 years at which point, they complete the national service obligations. Thereafter, they may volunteer to join the De-Suup.
The five Gyalsung Academies are under construction across the country.
The Gyalsung training has to be started in 2022, however, due to the invincible pandemic, works remain pending and couldn’t start.
Nevertheless, the first batch of Gyalsung Training will be expected to commence in 2024.
The National Assembly and the National Council have passed and adopted the Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2022 with the support of all the 45 NA members present and all the members of the National Council after further deliberation.
On November 8, 2022, the National Council of Bhutan started the session, reading the scared Royal Kasho on the Gyalsung Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan by the chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan.
As per the command of His Majesty, Dasho Sonam Kinga (Ph.D.) a member of the National Service Core Working Group reaffirmed the aims of the Gyalsung Program to the upper house.
In addition, not only single youth, all youth should know the country’s challenges, national goals, aspirations, and developmental progress of our country.
During the session, some of the members of parliament (MP) stated their doubts and concerns about some sections of the bill and sought clarification.
Gasa MP, Dorji Khandu sought clarification on eligibility for Gyalsung Training for the youth who have not completed class 12 and remain in the village, differently-abled youth, and the issues concerning the requirement of the Medical Fitness Certificate.
Dasho Sonam Kinga cleared the doubt and said that every youth who is eligible for Gyalsung training will get equal Gyalsung opportunities regardless of caste, religion, social background, economic status, place of birth, and education qualification.
The young Bhutanese who attain the age of 18 has to undergo the mandatory one-year training whether he/she completed class 12 or not.
Further, Dasho also mentioned that for the differently-abled youth, if they are determined and show a willingness to serve the country, the NSCWG is planning to come up with an alternative solution to give them the best training.
For the Medical Fitness Certificate, Gyalsung will adopt Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) where the youth can get a medical fitness certificate from national, regional, and Dzongkhag hospitals.
Bumthang MP, Nima also sought clarification on the remuneration of the staff of Gyalsung Headquarters, Gyalsung Academies, and Governing Council because Gyalsung will recruit the staff from departments like civil servants, Royal Bhutan Police, Army, Bodyguards, and the Construction sector.
Dasho said that the staff will get their remuneration as per the department’s pay rules and regulations.
For instance, the civil servant who is serving in Gyalsung will get their remuneration based on the civil servants’ pay rule and regulation, and the staff who are from Royal Bhutan Army will get their remuneration as per RBA’s pay rule and regulation.
The chairperson, Duty chairperson of the national council of Bhutan, and members of the national council expressed their esteem and gratitude to His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo for such a novel initiative brought during their tenure.
Lastly, the house of review has adopted the Bill with all 24 members present and voting in favor of the Bill. Further, the Bill will be submitted to Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent as per Article 13 (6) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
