Just back after visiting a beautiful landlocked small, but actually happy country Bhutan. It is what they say it is. They measure success in terms of Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The previous King actually switched the Country to democracy from absolute monarchy. He gave up his power, something very difficult for leaders to do. The people worship him, and this is not forced or contrived but when you speak to them, they actually mean it. They do not just praise their King, they believe their King is praiseworthy. That speaks for the quality of governance.
Being a land locked country they depend heavily on India. All imports come through India and in return Bhutan exports its power generated through various hydroelectric projects to India, this is their biggest industry. The country is clean, despite depending on tourism as the second major industry. Indians are the biggest contributor to their tourism since 2015. The Bhutanese hold India and Indians in high esteem and this feels good.
Strangely despite importing fuel from India, the cost of diesel and petrol is much lower than what is available to us in India. Possibly Bhutan has a lower tax structure or being a strategic friendly country, India must be subsidising the fuel cost. Maybe Bhutan does not have an oil pool account.
The country is mountainous, yet in seven days there, we did not face even one power outage, one does not see generators too often. This speaks volumes of their distribution system which is mainly overhead power lines. So one wonders, why do their conductors not short, why do their lines not get damaged by falling trees, given a green cover of 72%? Unfortunately, one cannot study this infrastructure so one cannot get a better view on what they do to ensure power flows without interruptions. Whatever they are doing, it is worth emulating and India with it close ties should transfer this technology sooner than late.
The roads are maintained mostly by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), what lovely roads and despite the rains and quite a few landslide effected portions, the roads were a treat to drive on, almost no potholes? All roads had drains to ensure the water did not flow over the top of the road. Something that our Ghats roads lack. The airport road in Goa is an example of a road built by the BRO, it is now more than 10 years and the road is almost perfect. Surely, we can use the same technology which we export to build good roads for ourselves.
Bhutan became a democracy and has elections. They use similar systems like our election commission but at every corner in villages and in towns at different places they have a board, ELECTION BULLETIN BOARD. This board is for political parties to stick their election posters. This way there is no visual pollution all over the walls of buildings, there is no defacement of any property. Since there are no elections at present, the Government is using these boards to create awareness on breast feeding.
What is remarkable is that they have managed to maintain the building identity. In Goa we have sloping roofs which was a hallmark of Goan architecture. In other parts of India we have different other aspects. However, as development came, we have wiped out these distinctive features even though in the rules we have to provide for the same, they are ignored. In Bhutan, every new building has the same distinctive features like sloping roofs and painting of doors and windows with motifs. This way the traditional artisans have not lost their value and are still required because despite the modernity, the distinctive features are maintained.
Last but not the least, tourism, which has close parallels with Goa. Every tour group has a guide and driver, both attired in traditional Bhutanese costumes. This gives a good impression of the customs and culture. The guides and drivers speak impeccable English. This is because the medium of instruction is English and Bhutanese language is only one subject. Yet, there is no issue of language between them, they have not forgotten their roots just because they have studied in English, they are proud of their culture and wear it on their sleeves.
They have many monasteries and forts and going to any is a pleasure because the environment is clean and green. The reason for this seems to be that they have a good garbage collection system. Despite a stray dog problem like most parts of India, the bins kept for collections are basically large square containers made using chicken wire mesh, with the opening at the top and a door on the side for removal. This ensures that dogs cannot mess things up. They are strategically located all over and periodically cleaned so tourists have no issue disposing their waste properly. Recently, there were news reports of the garbage dumped along the roads and inside some forts in Goa. A dirty tourist attraction is not an attraction at all.
During discussions on tourism when the draft regional plan 2021 was done, one of the issues that came up was charging charter tourist a certain fee or ensuring a minimum spend. Nothing happened about this proposal and so charter operators collect the bulk of the money abroad and spend a little in Goa/India while leaving the State to pay for all the infrastructure viz roads, garbage collection, provide water, etc. Bhutan, insists that every non SAARC visitor spends 250 USD a day, this money has to be deposited with the travel agent before arrival. Of this the Government takes 60 USD a day as a tax. The rest is to be spent for food board and travel. What an idea Sirji?
At the end of the tour the operators thank the tourist, because they have contributed to the exchequer and the Government actually gives it back in the form of free education and medical. What a Country Sirji. We should send our Netas to Bhutan to pick up a few ideas on good governance.
(The author prefers to write rather than chat in a balcao)
