60 Free Tickets-Patients referred Outside Bhutan

Bhutan Airlines is providing 60 free seats for those patients requiring referral outside Bhutan in commemoration of the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

Bhutan Airlines CEO Phala Dorji announced this program at an event to mark the private airline’s second anniversary of international services on 10^th October. “He said that the government is incurring heavy expenditure for referring patients to India and the airline felt such support should outweigh any other issues”-Kuensel excerpt. Indeed a greater help to many fortunate.  

I contacted through Bhutan airlines Toll-free and directed to a Lady who was much more comfortable talking partially English and Dzongkha as much as I am. She was kind enough to take all my queries and clear doubts.  

These are what she has for an information, their program of 60 free air tickets for Paro-Calcutta-Paro sector applies only to a patients but not to an escorts. One important document that they would be asking is an authentic Referral Letter from Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital and natural air fitness letter.

Sixty free seats comes with a loss of Nu. 677520 as of today’s base fare Nu. 11292 per person for the company. Off course an assembled sum is huge though the impact would be minimal to a multinational company as those referred would differs in their referral timing and not fly on same time. Free tickets only to patients means another paid ticket if you are availing the services. In this case the cost for their genuine program of free ticket comes to Nu.5646 per person. One part Bhutan airlines sacrifices Nu. 677520 for free tickets and other Bhutan airlines adds up Nu.677520 to their income from the escorts paid tickets. So does this mean a business mind flowered?

The intent of my writing is not to disregard their noble arrangements, we have our appreciation and gratitude to Bhutan airlines services of this calibre.  

However, it’s of my own opinion as I am also one of many who has a plan and planning for the referral outside Bhutan.

Well, first thing the doctors and hospital make sure the fitness of the patients are looked up and their referral assigned. Those patients whose ailment are not so serious or who can bear the discomfort & can take ground route are not eligible for air transfer. While patients who would not fare well tussling ground route are given free flight provided their air fitness granted.  

Referred patients are mostly their second or third which means they are calculative with their financial planning, their improved health stability do not qualify for flight. So grounded with land transport. Their visit to hospital outside Bhutan does not end with this rather awaits another for better on review treatment. So with only free tickets to patients, I have a feeling that certain section of general public financially unsound or lagging behind would not take up this services undermining the generosity the company has highlighted.

It should be final and binding that Bhutan Airlines is giving away only free seats to patients. So it is sensible to take ground route if the patients would errands through buses, trains or Auto Rickshaws than availing this services. The cost of transport will be less for the patients who are going to Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore India.  

I am one repeating escort, I did my mathematics and choosing to tussle and bargain the land transportation. My apology if there is any sentiments directly or indirectly beached with this writing. And my appreciation to Bhutan airlines and hopeful this program would cover up indefinite stuck individuals and part some sense of care, gratitude and support built health.  

The Kingmaker

The sudden demise of third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk has ponder unconceivable duty to then the sixteen year old teenage, the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk, making him the world’s youngest king. During his reign (1972-2006) Bhutan has witnessed unprecedented development from road to telecommunication, international facelift and the democratization being the gift to the people from the throne.
“The future of the Nation lies in the hands of the people” his address to the nation on his coronation was an awestruck and later his devolvement from the power was a national debate. However, his majesty the king gifted the nation and her people a safe, secured and prosperous Bhutan. He has this addressed in December 2006 to the people “ As I hand over my responsibilities to my son, I repose my full faith and belief in the people of Bhutan, who are the true custodians of our tradition and culture, and the ultimate guardians of the security, sovereignty and the continued well-being of our Country”
 Less than a decade years ago people then led a life of why worry about the whole world, when one can lead a happy-go-lucky life. Now with the power instilled on the mind of old and new thinkers the setup is a different thing. More of the individual rights being accounted, majority the winners and the Social media a firecrackers.
The perpetuation of the current setup has sparked and seen so many changes cropped up at many levels. Your excellence rewarded and the vindictiveness tormented and pulled to pieces. Tittle-tattle on some ruthless individual or responsible officials is helping newspaper earn their revenue and social media unrest. Nonetheless many withers on the vine.      
So many private and national events has already surpassed in the name of His majesty the 4th king’s sixtieth birth anniversary. I got a feeling some flawed the others mentioning the same dedication but rather a business oriented to their stands, while other few were genuine.
Bhutan entered the Genius World Record, planting the maximum number of trees in one hour time beating previous record set by neighboring Assam, India. The Royal Textile Academy/Textile Museum hosted an exhibition, “A TRIBUTE TO HIS MAJESTY THE FOURTH DRUK GYALPO – A KING OF DESTINY.”
Similarly on the same loyalty Tourism Council of Bhutan declared this year as Visit Bhutan Year 2015 without any incentives to the tour operators. A failed initiative with decreased international tourists’ turn-up to date.
On 11th November 2015 our His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the kingmaker turns sixty. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk is undoubtedly one of the revered and greatest leaders the world has ever seen.  An icon and a kingmaker’s development philosophy roars high at home and away at world stage, his legacy a champion package.
11th November 2015 is forty two days away from today. This day will see the culmination of the yearlong celebrations that Bhutan will be observing to celebrate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty. To mark this occasion I heard a rumors of another week long bonanza holidays in the month of November for all. In the capital, I have a feeling that the Norzin Lam again will be jam packed with stalls of usual not so well grandeurs display.
In life that for every son, deep within, his father is a role model. His Majesty the fourth King has his shoulder soldiered to the sons. Now it’s the son’s duty to take further, nourish and be thankful for what we were given. My sincere and deepest respect to our kings. May his Majesty’s sixtieth be exemplary, his health profound and the legacy the history.

Blessed Rainy Day-2015

A festive season has kick started, favorable weather is pacing up and famers’ harvest approaching. Peak season for tourism is on roll in Bhutan and a jackpot September to the people in Thimphu just begun last Friday.

The week long Thimphu Dzongkhag (State) holiday was ignited with Thimphu Drupchoe on 19th, blessed rainy day tomorrow and Thimphu Tshechu the following days. Today was only day in a week office runs regular. Conversely, I have a feeling that for some of the government employees’ holiday would have started from the preceding Friday marking Monday on leave.

Tomorrow the Blessed Rainy Day marks an end of farming and the beginning of the harvest season bidding farewell to September rain. In Bhutan it is believed that on this day all natural water resources are considered to be hallowing and clean. Brother in-law talking on this natural annual event he said “bathing with fresh flowers water on this day would cleanse all the wicked deeds, clear obstacles and resolve defilements."

The very traditional believe of bathing runs obsolete and ignorant in me but not the charm of having grand feast all together with family. Anyway I am going to soak bath with lesser intuition believe I have.

Traditionally to this day family members would gather at one place and began with morning porridge and tea, treat themselves with best food and liquor throughout the day. Today pot luck and picnic are common scenes besides treat from the restaurants. Archery and Khuru (dart) are chose one games in this day. Off late women in western Bhutan has also picked up this beautiful game.

To keep the charisma of this year’s blessed rainy day and friendship of two villages I am joining my village folks from Tsheldang for a Khuru match against Buli. We have competed a year before and it was in favor of my village, Tsheldang. This year they have their vengeance with us, hopefully with good team mates technically and diplomatically. It was funny that this time my team captain informed me to memorize few traditional song dance numbers.

So to this stunning setup by our ancestors, I take pride to show the world our beautiful tradition of Blessed rainy day. Regards and prayers to everyone for a beautiful day and happy Thimphu Tshechu.