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India-Bhutan Literary Festival - Mountain Echoes A Literary Festival “Mountain Echoes” was held in Bhutan from 17-20 May, 2010. The festival, sponsored by the India-Bhutan Foundation, was organized by ‘Siyahi’, a leading literacy consultancy in India. Her Majesty, the Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, was patron of the Festival. This was the first ever India-Bhutan Literary Festival organized in Bhutan with the aim to provide a platform for authors from both countries to engage in a cultural dialogue and celebrate tales of shared landscape in the Himalayan region. The leading authors, publishers and poets from both sides participated at the Festival. The participants from Indian side included Gulzar, Chetan Bhagat, Sanjay Hazarika, Patrick French etc, and from the Bhutanese side, Dasho Karma Ura, President, Centre for Bhutan Studies, Dasho Kinley Dorji, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Sonam Kinga, Siok Sian Dorji etc. participated.
The Festival was inaugurated by Her Majesty, the Queen Mother on 17th May 2010. Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley delivered the key note address focusing on GNH. The Indian delegation received an audience with HM the King at India House on 18 May. The Minister for Home and Culture, RGoB hosted cultural show and dinner for the delegation on 19 May.
The Literary Festival “Mountain Echoes” generated tremendous interest among the government, academicia, literary circles, school children and general public of Bhutan. This was evident from their overwhelming participation in various sessions, which saw animated discussions. The event received unprecedented media coverage both in print and audio visual media. Visit of Cabinet Secretary, GOI to Bhutan Cabinet Secretary, GOI, Mr. K.M. Chandrasekhar visited Bhutan from 5-7 March 2010. During the visit, Mr. Chandrasekhar received audience with HM the King and called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan, besides meeting his Bhutanese counterpart. Mr. Chandrashekhar also delivered a lecture on ‘Functions of Cabinet Committee of Secretaries and relationship between bureaucracy and politics’.
Third (3rd) meeting of the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) on bilateral mega hydropower projects was held in New Delhi on 22-23 March 2010. The RGoB delegation was led by Hon’ble Minister for Economic Affairs, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk and included Ambassador of Bhutan to India, representatives from Department of Energy, RGoB and concerned RGoB PSUs such as Bhutan Power Corporation, etc. GOI delegation was led by Additional Secretary (Financial Advisor), MEA and included Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Joint Secretary (North), MEA, Joint Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power and representatives of the CEA, CWC and the concerned PSUs.
Visit of Shri P. Chidambaram, Minister of Home Affairs of India Shri P. Chidambaram, Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs of India, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministries of Home and External Affairs visited Bhutan from August 21-24, 2009. During the visit, he had an audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan, His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo and called on H.E. the Prime Minister. Bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest were discussed. Prime Minister of Bhutan hosted a banquet in honour of Shri Chidambaram.
Visit of Shri Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of PM on Climate Change, to Bhutan The former Foreign Secretary and the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India on Climate Change, Shri Shyam Saran visited Bhutan from July 27-31, 2009. Shri. Saran called on the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley and attended a meeting at the National Assembly Conference hall with Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the National Environment Commission, Secretaries and other senior government officials. He also received an audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan and His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo. Visit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Shri Vinod Rai visited Bhutan from 14-17 September 2009. He received audience with HM the King and called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan. The delegation had detailed interactions with the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) of Bhutan. CAG also gave a talk on the relationship between the Public Account Committee (PAC) of the Parliament and the Supreme Audit Institutions (CAG in India and RAA in Bhutan) to the members of RAA and the PAC of Bhutan. Visit of Foreign Secretary, Smt. Nirupama Rao Foreign Secretary, Smt. Nirupama Rao accompanied by Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) visited Bhutan from 12-14 September 2009. This was her first visit abroad since assuming charge of the Foreign Secretary. FS had an audience with His Majesty the King of Bhutan, the 4th Druk Gyalpo and called on Prime Minister. Issues of mutual interest were discussed. The 2nd meeting of the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) on bilateral mega hydropower projects was held in Thimphu from 21-24 August 2009. The Indian delegation was led by Principal Advisor (Finance), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and included Joint Secretary (North), MEA, Joint Secretary (Hydro), Ministry of Power and representatives of the Central Electricity Authority, Central Water Commission and the concerned Indian PSUs. The delegation also visited the Phunatsanchhu-I project site. On the sidelines, the 6th meeting of the Phunatsanchhu Hydropower Project Authority and the 28th (last) meeting of the Tala Hydropower Project Authority were also held. Visit of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Navin Chawla visited Bhutan from 26-30 October 2009. He received audience with HM the King and called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan. CEC also gave a talk on the "Political Parties: Lessons from Indian Democracy". The 5th Plan Talks were held in Thimphu from 27-30 October 2009. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs. The Bhutanese delegation for the meeting was led by the Foreign Secretary. All projects under the GOI assistance to Bhutan's 10th FYP and ongoing projects of the 9 th Plan were reviewed and discussed. During the visit of the King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, to India in December 2009, the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Manmohan Singh, as a gesture of solidarity with the Government and people of Bhutan, announced assistance of Nu/Rs 25 crores towards rehabilitation and reconstruction works for the damage caused by the earthquake in Bhutan in September 2009. Ambassador of India to Bhutan, H.E. Pavan K Varma handed over the cheque to the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley on 26th January 2010. The Government of India provided assistance of Nu/Rs 10 crores towards rehabilitation and reconstruction works for the damage caused by the unprecedented floods in Bhutan in May 2009. Ambassador of India to Bhutan, H.E. Pavan K Varma handed over the cheque to the Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley on 21 July 2009. The 62nd anniversary of Independence Day was observed with a ceremonial function in the morning of 15th August at the Embassy Residence. From the Royal Government of Bhutan, Dasho Penjor, Zimpon (Chamberlain) to His Majesty the King, Dasho Tashi Phuntshog, Cabinet Secretary, Acting Foreign Secretary Mr Thinley Penjor and Chief of Protocol Mr Singhe Dorji attended the ceremony. The Flag Hoisting ceremony was also attended by officers and other ranks of the Indian Military Training Team, Border Road Organisation, Indians on deputation with the Royal Government, visiting Indian artistes, Representatives of Indian Public Sector Units and other members of the local Indian community. Over 300 members of Indian community were present in the function.About 300 invited guests including the leaders, government officers, business community, prominent people of Bhutan and Indian community members attended the evening reception hosted by Ambassador. Noted dignitaries who attended the function included HRH Prince Jigyel U.Wangchuck and HRH Prince Khamsum Singye Wangchuck, Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley, Speaker of the National Assembly Lyonpo Jigme Tshultrim, Chairman of the National Council (Upper House) Lyonpo Namgay Penjor, the Cabinet Ministers, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Lyonpo Tshering Tobgye and the Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye. The reception was followed by a performance by renowned Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas and her troupe. The performance was highly appreciated by the audience. The visit was sponsored by ICCR. The 60th anniversary of India's Republic Day was observed in the morning of 26th January at the Embassy Residence. From the Royal Government of Bhutan, Dasho Penjor, Zimpon (Chamberlain) to His Majesty the King, Dasho Daw Penjo, Foreign Secretary and Dasho Sonam Tshering, Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs attended the ceremony. The Flag Hoisting ceremony was also attended by officers and other ranks of the Indian Military Training Team, Border Road Organisation, Indians on deputation with the Royal Government, visiting Indian artistes, Representatives of Indian Public Sector Units and other members of the local Indian community. Over 250 members of Indian community were present in the function. Inauguration of the Royal Consulate in Kolkata The Governor of West Bengal Shri Devanand Konwar on 17 December 2009 inaugurated the Royal Bhutan Consulate in Kolkata in the presence of the Foreign Minister of Bhutan Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering. The inauguration coincided with the 102nd National Day of Bhutan. The ceremony was attended by about 400 dignitaries from both countries including Consul Generals of other countries based in Kolkata, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Head of the Army Eastern Command and the Cabinet Secretary and Director General of Tourism of Bhutan. Dasho Tshering Wangda is Bhutan's Consul General in Kolkata. Coinciding with the inauguration, the Bhutanese side also organized a three day fruit and tourism fair. Visit of the Minister of Economic Affairs, RGoB to India The Minister of Economic Affairs, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, led a high-level delegation comprising officials from the Department of Energy and Energy PSUs to India for the 7th meeting of Punatsangchu Hydro Project Authority (PHPA) from 4-8 January 2010. During the visit, the implementation agreements of the Punatshangchu-II and Mangdechu hydro-electric projects were also discussed. The meeting of the sub-committee formed by the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) to assess training needs and institutes to be established in Bhutan for meeting the manpower requirement of the 10,000 MW power projects was also held. Visit of Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan to India Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the Queen Mother of Bhutan visited India from 18-25 January 2010. In Delhi, Her Majesty met Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and Foreign Secretary, Smt. Nirupama Rao. She also visited JP Institute of Information Technology and SEWA. Thereafter she participated in the Literary Festival at Jaipur, which is considered Asia's biggest Literary Festival, and gave a talk on 'Treasures of the Thunder Dragon'. She also visited Jaisalmer. Visit of the Health Minister, RGoB to India Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa, Minister of Health, RGoB visited India from 14-24 January 2010. He visited referral hospitals and training institutes in Kolkata, Vellore, Chennai, Bangalore and Mysore. Release of 30% mobilization advance for the first lot of SDPs In a ceremony organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) in Thimphu on 3 February 2010, Ambassador Pavan K Varma handed over the cheque for Rs. 39.39 crores to the Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley towards 30% mobilization advance for implementation of the first lot of 441 small development projects (SDPs). As part of assistance to RGoB's 10th Five Year Plan (FYP), the Government of India allocated Rs. 700 crores for the SDPs in the key socio-economic areas, which are short gestation, community-oriented and impact lives of a wider cross section of the society. The first lot of 441 projects worth Rs/Nu 131.3043 crores in areas of drinking water supply, health, education, construction of administrative offices and community hall, roads, bridges, culture, irrigation channels and Renewable Natural Resource (RNR) centres covering all 20 districts of Bhutan were identified in the first meeting of the Small Project Development Committee (comprising members from RGoB and the Embassy of India) held in Thimphu in November last year. |