Chapter 4

Chapter FourEmergence of Modern Bhutan

Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck (1955)

ü    He was born in Dechenchholing Palace on 11^th November 1955.

ü 1972, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Planning Commission.

ü On May 5, 1972, he was installed as the Choetse Poenlop.

ü On June 2, 1974, he was installed as the Fourth King of Bhutan at the age of 17, so he became the youngest Monarch in the world.

ü During the coronation, the King pledged to serve Bhutan and its people with fidelity and with best of ability.

The Contributions of His Majesty the 4^th King

Reform Goals

            a.       To achieve economic self-reliance and the wellbeing of the people

b.      To create necessary infrastructure in all the areas of development

c.       To develop human resources

d.      To have balance between modernization, development, values and cultural heritage

e.       To achieve developmental plans with peoples participation

Guiding Principles of Bhutan’s Development

i)        Economic Self-reliance.

ii)      Environmental Preservation:

            iii)    Balanced Development between Modernization and Culture and Tradition:

iv)    Decentralization and Devolution:

v)      Cultural Preservation:

The Gross National Happiness (GNH) has become the development philosophy of Bhutan.

i.                        Political Reforms:

a)      Council of Ministers:

ü  Lhengye Zhung Tshog was the oldest institution because it originated in 17^th century.

ü  It underwent changes during 3^rd King.

ü  It again changed during the Fourth King.

ü  In 1998 during 76^th Session of National Assembly of Bhutan, King issued a Royal Edict, Kasho to elect a Council of Ministers.

ü  By this Edict, King handed over most of his powers to the Council of Ministers.

ü  Six Ministers were elected by Tshogdu for a term of five years.

The Six members were:

i)                    Lyonpo Jigme Y. Thinley,

ii)                  Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba,

iii)                Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk,

iv)                Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup,

v)                  Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji; and,

vi)                Lyonpo  Thinley Gyamtsho.

ü    The King became the Head of the State:

ü    The head of the government was rotated amongst the minister for a term of one year each according to the vote they secured.

ü    Lyonpo Jigme Y. Thinley was the First head of the government.

ü    In 2003, the Council of Ministers was expanded with 4 new Ministers.

They were:

ü  Lympo Jigme Singye

ü  Lympo Leki Dorji

ü  Lympo Wangdi Norbu

ü  Lympo Ugyen shering

ii)Constitution:

ü In September 2001, His Majesty the Fourth King issued Royal Decree about the drafting of a constitution.

ü The main purpose of the Constitution is to ensure justice, liberty, unity, happiness and wellbeing of the people for all time.

ü It has 34 articles.

ü It insists on two party systems than a multi-party system for political stability and success of democracy in Bhutan.

ü Committee was formed from the Monk Body, People, Judiciary and the Royal Government.

ü On 26^th March 2005, the first Draft of the Constitution was released.

iii)Royal Civil Service Commission(RCSC):

ü   Till 1982, Bhutan didn’t have a commission to recruit Civil Servants in different jobs.

ü   The recruitment of civil servant was becoming complicated.  Therefore, His Majesty appointed RCSC.

ü   RCSC is headed by Secretary appointed by the King. (At present it is a constitutional post and Chairman is the head of the commission)

ü   The Commission conducts the Civil Service Examination for graduates and engineers for various jobs.

iv)Decentralization and people’s participation:

ü  It was a major reform of 4^th King.

ü  Decentralization means sharing of powers.

ü  People’s participation means participation in developmental process.

ü  It gained special preferences in the beginning of Five Year Plan in 1981.

ü  Till 1980, everything was centralized.

ü  The King felt that the centralization is increasing the dependency of people on government for rural development.

            Features of Decentralization:

ü    District Development.

ü    Effective programmes by Dzongkhag.

ü    Reduction of Bureaucracy and cost.

ü    Optimum utilization of resources.

ü    Greater people’s participation in decision making.

Decentralization and People’s participation resulted in establishment of Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogdue (DTY) and Gewog Yargye Tshogchung (GYT).

DYT and GYT are established as a partnership between people and the Government.

a)(The Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogdue) (DYT)

ü  Our country is divided into 20 Dzongkhags and 205 Gewogs.

ü  DYT was established in 20 Dzongkhags in 1981.

ü  The Members were:Dzongdag, the Sector heads and the Gups.

ü  The Members are guided by the Chathrim.

ü  Till 2003, DYT was headed by Dzongdag but in 2003, the Chairperson is elected from the members.

ü  The DYT decisions are taken on 2/3^rd majority.

ü  The outcomes of DYT are placed before the Tshogdu for approval to become the part of national development plan.

b)The Gewog Yargye Tshogchung) (GYT)

ü  King sensed that GYT will bring greater participation and more rural development.  Therefore, GYT was established in 1991.

ü  DYT provided the framework of GYT.

ü  It is headed by the Gup and assisted by Mangap, Tshogpasand Chipons.

ü  During the meeting every households should send a representative of minimum age of 18 years.

ü  The members are elected by villagers through a secret ballot through simple majority.

ü  GYT brought a balanced development in the Kingdom.

ü  The development of the power through DYT and GYT from the center to make design has been one of the greatest achievements of Fourth King.

                                                     

Significance of GYT

ü  It ensured greater participation at the grass root level

ü  At the gewog level, people can identify and prioritize their needs which resulted in rural development

ü  It ensured balanced socio-economic development in all the 205 gewogs

ü  Greater responsibility was given to all the people.