Sharchokpa juice’ to hit market stands soon

The ‘Sharchokpa juice’ produced in the east is on its way and headed to the country’s markets from Shumar in Pemagatshel.

In street lingo Sharchokpa juice refers to a variety of home-brewed alcohol often produced and consumed in excess in the eastern part of the country.

And this time round, it is not the ‘proxy juice’ but the real orange squash which the Dungsam Gongphel Tshogpa have started to produce for the first time from 2 November  in Pemagatshel this year to produce orange pulp.

The tshogpa’s idea fortunately was harmonious with the potential of the dzongkhag in mandarin production. The soil and climatic condition, the altitudinal range favored the boom of healthy citrus trees which promised a good yield every harvest season.

The tshogpa members believed that such initiative could greatly benefit and help orange growers in the area to earn good money. Ultimately all factors gave birth to the farmers’ group called Dungsam Gongphel Tshogpa.

Their idea received further boost when the National Post Harvest Center (NPHC) and the Pemagatshel Dzongkhag Agriculture sector, chipped-in to establish a small fruit processing plant called Integrated Fruit Processing Plant (IFPP). The plant managed by the group, directly benefitted orange growers as they could sell farm produce to the plant rather than carry it to the market.

As planned, the plant started to function and bought small-size oranges for the purpose of pulping. The group paid farmers Nu 6 per kg for the small size oranges.

Unfortunately and unpredictably for the tshogpa things have currently started to go a bit awry.

A main reason for this was because the farmers did not on many occasions supply the small oranges to the plant and effectively it ceased to function. Rather than selling oranges to the group, farmers or orange growers in the area chose to take most of their produce either to the market or auction yards in Samdrup Jongkhar to sell in bulk to orange exporters, with whom they usually could bargain better prices.

The raw materials required to keep the plant running, became erratic and inconsistent.

The problem consequently choked the plant and it almost became a thing of the past except for the majestic building which housed the plant where there was hardly any activity inside.

In the midst of imminent despair a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the agriculture ministry (MoAF) intervened through agencies such as the NPHC, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC).

The ministry realized that farmers could greatly enhance their cash income through establishment of such farm-based agro processing facility.

With the expertise at their disposal, these agencies came through as a savior for the plant as they started analyzing the problems and find ways to make the juice factory roar back to life.

One definite and valid solution was to link this small scale production house with the Bhutan Agro Industries Limited (BAIL) at Wangchutaba, Thimphu.

With such linking in place, the market for pulp was secured and the plant could go ahead with orange juice production. DAMC supported the farmers’ group with equipment required for orange squash production worth Nu 3mn.

This is in addition to the technical assistance provided by the NPHC.

Study underway to help maintain nomads back home

The decline in number of yaks grazing by the patch of pastureland at the base of snow-capped mountains has been a cause of concern for the livestock department under Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF).

With increasing members of the nomadic community moving to urban centers, only few are left at home to carry on the tradition of yak-rearing. The department attributes such decline in yak farming to the increased incomes of the nomads due to the Cordyceps and more education the youths are receiving.

In the past, the wealth of a household was measured by the number of yaks they owned but this trend has now reversed.

The government has also realized that besides keeping the tradition of yak husbandry alive, these highlanders also play critical role to safeguard the country’s sovereignty. Their presence in the high altitude mountain ranges in the borders, often considered hostile for living has prevented encroachments.

With decreased yaks, the amount of yak products like chugo (hard cheese) and butter have started to become less and less in the market. Hence, the product is losing its popularity making it difficult for the herders who are already lack-luster about the sale of such products.

But, all hope is not lost. The livestock department will make a much called-for intervention through numerous initiatives which include diversifying the nomads’ products and put-up value addition to the existing products.

The yak cheese production at Haa which started last year is one such initiative.

Dzongkhag Livestock Officer (DLO) in Haa, Loden Jimba who is closely involved with the study, said the cheese production was meant for substituting chugo with high value products. He said that the nomads didn’t have such support from government to venture out with such schemes till date but now with the full support the nomads are able to venture into good business.

He said the officials from the Department made herd-to-herd visits and trained 20 nomads to boost their potential for dairy products.

However the DLO said that the nomads are still in need of the department’s assistance. Once they are confident, they will venture on their own.

“The cheese production encourages herders to rear more yaks and reduces the need to sell yaks,” said Livestock Extension supervisor, Sangay Dorji.

The program was implemented at Layna and Nubri herds where seven herders of Talung village and three herders of Nubri, Paro engaged the herds at Gomthang, Sep, Nubri, Gep, Layna, Judula, Larey and Kerela.

The production of Gouda rather than hard cheese was chosen since it fetched more returns. In addition, it is known that Gouda cheese has a safer shelf life compared to other types of cheese.

The cheese was produced by individual herds and stored at the cellar at Layna where curing and fermentation takes place. The cheese are then transported to Haa main cellar Chumpa where curing continues till the product is marketed and consumed.

“After having proven that it pays them better to produce Gouda cheese, the herders were convinced of many comparative advantages,” Dairy focal person, Tandin Wangchuk said. “Now, they are willing to continue the technology.”

Most of the herders are ready to take up the technology without the technical backstopping from the experts.

The program will be further strengthened and permeated to other herds in the gewog and to Eusu and Katsho gewogs as well. The product diversification like pasteurization of cream, production of soft cheeses and modification of improved cheeses with taste and flavors will be continued. Officials said there are lots of scope for herders to link with the tourism council to have yak shows and product marketing.

The products will be marketed to the hotels at Thimphu and Paro due to lack of market in local areas. The dzongkhag livestock sector of Haa has seemingly discussed with Tashi-Taj Hotel in Thimphu.  “The hotel management has promised to take minimum of three kgs of cheese per week throughout the year,” said dzongkhag livestock officer, Loden Jimba said.

Syringe wielding teacher earns compulsory retirement for his misconduct

The Dzongkha language teacher Tshokey, of Budhashi Community Primary School under Goshing gewog, Zhemgang, has been sent on compulsory retirement effective from November 20, 2012 after an internal investigation by the Ministry of Education confirmed that he had used a syringe to poke students.

The decision was made by Human Resource Committee (HRC) of the Ministry of Education (MoE) during their recent meeting.

The issue of the Dzongkha teacher poking multiple students with the same medical syringe was first brought to light by this paper in an issue on 17th October 2012, generating public outrage and also concern for the students.

Subsequently the MoE sent an investigation team headed by the District Education Officer which interviewed several parents and students and confirmed the use of the syringe. A report on the issue recommending compulsory retirement was sent to the MoE.

The errant Dzongkha teacher will now have to quit his job with immediate effect and end his career as a contract teacher but he can walk away with certain entitlements like his gratuity under the National Contract Teacher Agreement (NCTA).

The HRC found that the teacher had breached the National Contract Teacher Agreement in punishing students by poking them with a syringe.

Medical personnel from the Dzongkhag are currently in the school and are doing a thorough check up of the students to check for any potential diseases transmitted by the same syringe used to poke many students.

MoE officials said that if any future complications arise due to the actions of the teacher, the government will take care of the students. “The government will bear all medical expenses and the treatment will be done with full support from the government,” said a HRC member.

According to the World health Organization, the use of an unsterilized syringe on multiple occasions can lead to the possibility of dangerous diseases like HIV Aids, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Further medical literature showed that students are at risk of contracting Sepsis and can die through air bubbles.

According to one of the members of HRC, the official report by the investigation team has confirmed that such a mode of punishment was used. “Although his intention was clear, yet the means of punishment was very barbaric and there is no way the Ministry can protect such employee,” he said.“Although the HRC committee delved on the issue intensively, we went by the recommendation,” he said.

The issue first cropped up when one of the parents of affected child complained to local authorities this year. The issue was brought to the notice by parents expressing their concern over such an unethical and dangerous punishment. They said that if it continued unabated, it would risk their children contracting diseases.

Parents alleged that only four out of 80 students in the school were spared the syringe. Accordingly, the gewog authorities dispatched the Tshogpa of the affected chiwog to confirm such allegations. The Tshogpa reported back confirming that the punishment of students, by poking them with the same syringe, has been going on for some time.

This paper ran the story on October 17. All the parents of the victimized children, The Bhutanese talked to unanimously agreed and stood their ground about the teacher using the syringe. In addition to the parents local authorities including the Tshogpas of two affected chiwogs and the gewog Gup confirmed all the facts.

The MoE team visited the school in question, verified the accusation by taking statements from Principal, affected parents and local government authorities.

They also verified the accusation on basis of the evidences present in the form of physical marks and wounds.

After completion of the investigation and having found that the accusation booked against the teacher was true, they submitted the report to the concerned authorities. In the report, they spelt out all charges and possible reprimands.

Hailing from Trongsa, Tshokey was recruited in two years ago in 2010 under ‘Light Drukyul Project’.

Syringe wielding teacher earns compulsory retirement for his misconduct

The Dzongkha language teacher Tshokey, of Budhashi Community Primary School under Goshing gewog, Zhemgang, has been sent on compulsory retirement effective from November 20, 2012 after an internal investigation by the Ministry of Education confirmed that he had used a syringe to poke students.

The decision was made by Human Resource Committee (HRC) of the Ministry of Education (MoE) during their recent meeting.

The issue of the Dzongkha teacher poking multiple students with the same medical syringe was first brought to light by this paper in an issue on 17th October 2012, generating public outrage and also concern for the students.

Subsequently the MoE sent an investigation team headed by the District Education Officer which interviewed several parents and students and confirmed the use of the syringe. A report on the issue recommending compulsory retirement was sent to the MoE.

The errant Dzongkha teacher will now have to quit his job with immediate effect and end his career as a contract teacher but he can walk away with certain entitlements like his gratuity under the National Contract Teacher Agreement (NCTA).

The HRC found that the teacher had breached the National Contract Teacher Agreement in punishing students by poking them with a syringe.

Medical personnel from the Dzongkhag are currently in the school and are doing a thorough check up of the students to check for any potential diseases transmitted by the same syringe used to poke many students.

MoE officials said that if any future complications arise due to the actions of the teacher, the government will take care of the students. “The government will bear all medical expenses and the treatment will be done with full support from the government,” said a HRC member.

According to the World health Organization, the use of an unsterilized syringe on multiple occasions can lead to the possibility of dangerous diseases like HIV Aids, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Further medical literature showed that students are at risk of contracting Sepsis and can die through air bubbles.

According to one of the members of HRC, the official report by the investigation team has confirmed that such a mode of punishment was used. “Although his intention was clear, yet the means of punishment was very barbaric and there is no way the Ministry can protect such employee,” he said.“Although the HRC committee delved on the issue intensively, we went by the recommendation,” he said.

The issue first cropped up when one of the parents of affected child complained to local authorities this year. The issue was brought to the notice by parents expressing their concern over such an unethical and dangerous punishment. They said that if it continued unabated, it would risk their children contracting diseases.

Parents alleged that only four out of 80 students in the school were spared the syringe. Accordingly, the gewog authorities dispatched the Tshogpa of the affected chiwog to confirm such allegations. The Tshogpa reported back confirming that the punishment of students, by poking them with the same syringe, has been going on for some time.

This paper ran the story on October 17. All the parents of the victimized children, The Bhutanese talked to unanimously agreed and stood their ground about the teacher using the syringe. In addition to the parents local authorities including the Tshogpas of two affected chiwogs and the gewog Gup confirmed all the facts.

The MoE team visited the school in question, verified the accusation by taking statements from Principal, affected parents and local government authorities.

They also verified the accusation on basis of the evidences present in the form of physical marks and wounds.

After completion of the investigation and having found that the accusation booked against the teacher was true, they submitted the report to the concerned authorities. In the report, they spelt out all charges and possible reprimands.

Hailing from Trongsa, Tshokey was recruited in two years ago in 2010 under ‘Light Drukyul Project’.

The inaugural Eleven “Friends of Police”

In a move to enhance police public partnership, coinciding with the celebration of 47th Police Raising day on 1 September, the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) launched a new project called “Friends of Police.”
The first eleven volunteers with representation from civil service, business community and film industry were enrolled under the Police Public Partnership.
At the launch, the volunteers were issued a jacket inscribed “Friends of Police”, an Identity card along with the Khaddar by the Chief of Police Brigadier Kipchu Namgyal besides introducing them to the congregation of high level guests.
The goal of the project, according to the police, is to recall all elements of the police, community and local government to work in solidarity to search for solutions to ensure security and safety within the individual communities.
The police chief said that such a project will take police service to the community and also make community aware of police duties and functions. “With first eleven volunteers registered today, we’re aiming to rope in as many in the partnership by taking the project to all 20 Dzongkhags,” said the police chief.
The works and human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said, it is a very positive and a sincere effort to bring down crime in the country.
“Friends of Police” is also geared to instigate community participation not only in self policing but to help bring two parties closer. But equally important, it is also an attempt to professionalize police service to make it prompt and effective.
The “friends of police” are expected to partner in fire fighting and any other disasters while also participating in community patrolling. Besides, they will also help police in crowd control during major events, traffic safety and giving guidance to pedestrians, counseling and also to interact with police in problem solving.
The main essence remains to foster and transpire goodwill for the police that exist among our citizens. It is to transform the police image, open up channels of communications and provide a reservoir of goodwill, feedback, intelligence and manpower.
The chief of police said the rationale behind choosing the first eleven volunteers is for the good omen towards success of the project. Eleven is the dice number of AP Geynyen, the main protecting deity of Bhutan.
One of the volunteer, Ugyen Tshering with the Information and Communication Services (ICS) of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests said “I am looking forward to work closely with police towards fostering bond between police and community”.
For Bap Tandy of Forest Fire Management Section also of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, it was a long awaited opportunity for him to repay the gratitude to the police.
As per the statistic with the police, Thimphu alone has witnessed 1043 counts of crimes in 2009, 2543 in 2010 and already 1207 till May last year. The crime committed in the capital averages to staggering 1250 counts. This outnumbers the crimes committed in 19 Dzongkhags combined.
For instance, in 2009, all added crimes in 19 Dzongkhags were only 1797 seeing a small drop to 1656 in 2010. Only 806 crimes were reported till May from other Dzongkhags exclusive of Thimphu, the capital city. From this, it can be deduced that crime is concentrated in the capital.
There are 3,975 police personnel including 246 women with the RBP and 97 civilians with 113 personnel are undergoing training.

Hitches and Glitches keep electricity away from Zhemgang

The most far-flung communities of Zhemgang have eagerly waited for the day when all their homes are lit-up and the villages are no longer the dark desolate picture of backwardness.

The communities in the remote and poverty-stricken dzongkhag remained highly expectant when power supply was announced to be transmitted from the source and to be switched on by 15 July this year. This was according to the contractual period.

The people of upper and lower Kheng have been waiting for more than a year now, preparing themselves to brighten their home. Many bought electrical fittings, wires, tube lights and electric bulbs in preparation.

However the signs of its arrival to illuminate the rural homes could not happen in time owing to the geographic location, inaccessible terrains and the absence of motorable roads. The regions of upper and lower Kheng targeted to be lit up is now delayed by few more months when in the first place it was already extended from scheduled time.

“The poles have been erected long time back and no wiring has been done yet,” Bardo Gup Kinzang Gurmey said. He said that the people were elated of electricity coming and was supporting the works but many times works get stalled.

He also said that no one is coordinating the work if contactor is not present in the site and such poor coordination delays the project besides the location of villages which is unavoidable.

The Contractor with Lhawang Construction Company, Sangay said with no bridge and an absolute need to carry huge electrification materials, it is the most arduous task in a region like Kheng for the laborers. He said that the materials cannot be carried laborers and transformers need to be ferried on boats while crossing Rindhibi River incurring extra costs.

He said that rural electrification is different from other any other project and is difficult to meet the time limit. “Works progress very slowly when required materials cannot reach the site, he said. Though people are elated with the prospect of electricity they are helpless when huge materials need to be carried to various sites.

Another bottleneck for electrification in far- flung areas is procurement of labors. The furthest village is about four days walk from the road point and not many laborers are willing to carry materials and work under such circumstances.

“The laborers have to carry 19 Transformers in various places climbing mountains and crossing rivers,” Sangay said. He said he is worried about how to carry the transformers to sites like to Bardo gewog which is about four days’ walk.

Sangay said that many laborers drop their work after reaching to certain distances and he has to look for another group of laborers who are willing to work till the end of the project in such remote places. “Some dropped their work without any notice and in one case, some of my workers has collected money from few households and disappeared,” said Sangay.

He said that he project was supposed to complete within 11 months but was unable due to the vast area and scattered settlement.

On a brighter note, villagers are paid certain amount depending upon the size of the hole they clear to erect electric poles while the electrical technicians toil on the technical works. This according to Sangay has helped the project to develop faster.

However electrification in lower Kheng region would complete within extended time and the upper Kheng would be completed by April next year. More than 16,000 households will benefit from this project.

Teacher plays ‘Doctor’, injects students with unsterilized syringe as punishment

Medical literature shows students are at risk of contracting HIV, Hepatitis, Sepsis, and can die through air bubbles. Some students already have sores

A strict disciplinarian Teacher is always feared but the students in a distant phase of their lives do cherish lessons from that teacher, but not punishments that scar lives and contract diseases or even cause death.

In a similar case scenario the crude methods employed by a teacher of a school in the remote crevices of Zhemgang have surpassed all levels of rationality and medical safety standards.

Medically, a syringe is used to inject vaccines into the patient’s body but for the particular teacher of Budhashi Community Primary School in Goshing, Zhemgang, it is a weapon to punish the students. And the syringe he uses is raw and unsterilized which carries every risk to transfer diseases among the students.

The students of the school describe their dzongkha teacher as one of the strictest teachers in the school and the most feared by students. The fear in the minds of the students is not one that is generated to a productive or creative end, for students spend the entirety of the lesson period focused on how not to get punished by the teacher, rather than concentrate on the contents of lessons.

For these young minds going to school is more like being banished or exiled into a land of terror.

The teacher is feared especially for his primitive punishment technique of using a syringe to poke the students as punishment. Sources say that if a student fails to do their homework or misbehaves in the classroom, they are bound to get pierced. Students who move their hands get it on their hands and likewise on their buttocks and other body parts.

Goshing Gup, Sangay Letho had sent the Tshogpa of Lamtang village, Dorji Lungtse to the school to confirm the reality of such punishment used by the teacher.  The Gup’s son also happened to be a victim.

“My son refused to go to school one day fearing getting poked with the needle,” said Gup Sangay Letho. He added that then he needed to confirm all the rumors doing the rounds at the time.

The Gup said, “The tshogpa has confirmed the punishment but the accused teacher was on leave that day.” In addition, he also said that the same teacher once thrashed all students in the assembly ground.  The issue was then raised during the Teachers – Parents meeting and it was suggested that such corporal punishments be abolished.

The Gup also said that the teacher fills the syringe with water and injects the kids.

Lamtang Tshogpa Dorji Lungtse said, “I went to the school and confirmed that the teacher is using a syringe to poke students as a punishment.” He added that the all students were complaining about the teacher using needles to poke them.

The Tshogpa said that the teacher punished the students violently on various parts of their body and students who were injected have swollen and wounded body parts.  The issue is yet to be put up to the Gewog Yargay Tshogchung (GYT).

Parents of the victimized kids The Bhutanese talked-to unanimously confirmed the accusations against the teacher. The parents have however been unable to lodge any formal complaints with the relevant agencies against the teacher for his brutal tactic of punishing students.

In this wild escapade of the ‘syringe-wielding-teacher’ only four out of 80 students in the school were spared the crude torture. The Tshogpa said these are the students who are very cautious in whatever they do in the class.

According to the World Health Organization the use of an unsterilized syringe on multiple occasions can lead to the possibility of dangerous diseases like HIV Aids, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. There is also danger of infection and Sepsis or blood poisoning from such unsafe medical practices.

However, a big danger according to several medical journals is that an untrained person may end up pushing in air bubbles into the veins of a patient which can either cause death or lead to massive organ damage.

An eight year old student described to his mother the teacher’s punishing tool, as a full-sized syringe which was very painful when poked it in his buttocks. The student was pricked twice and one of the wounds led to formation of boils. The parents of the kid had to take their child to the nearest Basic Health Unit for treatment.

“My son was poked on his buttocks twice and later he suffered from boils which took a long time to heal,” Leki Pelzang from Lamtang said. His son had shifted a little in his sitting position while the teacher was teaching and there he was pricked. “The wounds are still very much visible,” he said.

Leki Pelzang said his son reluctantly goes to the school fearing the punishment he may get for the slightest slip in the presence of the dzongkha teacher.

Another parent, Chezang, 46 from the same village said the children usually become sick suffering from fever. “The wound disables kids making them unable to walk,” he said. Chezang informally tried to find out how the empty needle landed up in the wrong hand but the Health Assistant of Goshing BHU denied giving out any such needle.

Chezang’s youngest son studies in the school.

Sangay Dorji, who has his sister in the school said she was sick for four days without any reason. She was bedridden and unable to move her legs. She took leave writing a leave letter. Sangay asked if there was a legalized and standing rule from Ministry of Education to do such things.  He said that a Class VI science subject had a topic/chapter on injection. He suspects if the needle made its way to school during such a lesson.

The Zhemgang Dzongkhag Education Officer (DEO) Sangay Chophel said that the case has not yet reached the dzongkhag.

“We disseminated circular to every schools about use of no corporal punishment and if this is true the teacher would be dealt according to the law of the country,” said the Zhemgang DEO. The teacher was not available for comments.