BBSCL

Reports maintained with the Royal Bhutan Police show an increase in the number of inmates seeking psychiatric services in the last two years. In 2023, Chamgang Central Prison in Thimphu recorded eight inmates requiring psychiatric care. The number rose to 16 last year, with four cases recorded this year to date. While the country’s prisons lack dedicated mental health centres...

The Royal Audit Authority’s review report on the Local Government Development Grant found that most local government funds are being allocated to farm roads and Lhakhang development. The report states that key sectors such as education, health, and livestock are given the least priority. The 2024 Annual Grant Guideline prioritises projects with economic and social benefits that will boost local...

The people of Merak in Trashigang are gearing up for the first ever Rhododendron Week. The event, which aims to promote tourism in the east, will showcase a variety of locally made products, including souvenirs, traditional clothes, and cultural performances. The weeklong festival will take place at Sheytemi in Merak Gewog from April 3 to April 9. Women in Merak...

In Punakha, efforts are underway to revive the district’s cooking oil self-sufficiency. The district administration is encouraging people to grow mustard to meet the domestic demand for cooking oil. Officials have supplied mustard seeds worth around one million ngultrum to all the gewogs in the district. The initiative aims to reduce the import of cooking oil, boost economic opportunities and...