Government Claims to Have Fulfilledmajority of Its 120-day Pledges

The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT)government claimed that it has addressedalmost all of its 120-day pledges during theMeet-the-Press yesterday.The DNT government completed its 120days in power on Thursday.A closer scrutiny however revealedthat of the 25 pledges that the ruling government promised to fulfill in 120 days,only two pledges were completely fulfilled -instituting the fourth Pay Commission andremoval of class X cut off point.During the press meet, Foreign AffairsMinister Dr. Tandi Dorji delved into thesemantics of the pledges, explaining thatmost pledges used words like 'initiate' and'establish' and that the governmenthas addressed all the pledges.

'Asper our count, the government has fulfilled all the pledges andthey are under process.'Prime Minister Dr.Lotay Tshering said thegovernment has established ahigh level committee and theGross National HappinessCommission is in the processof selecting the team to draftBhutan's Vision 2045.

The government alsoclaimed that it has achievedthe pledge of establishinga dedicated water agencyalthough no such body hasbeen instituted. In principle,the dialogues have startedand the government claimedthat the flagship program hasalready been approved by thelast Parliament.DNT's 120-day pledgesspecifically states that it will'establish a dedicated wateragency with a plan of actionto ensure water - drinkingand irrigation - for all by2021'.The government alsoclaimed that Suung JoenApp is at the final stage ofcompletion and with a fewmeetings with the experts;tenders for app developmentwill be rolled out.

TheForeign Affairs Ministerhowever said that the app isalready developed and tested.The Department ofInformation Technologyand Telecom had earliertold Business Bhutan thatthe proposal and budgetfor app development hadbeen submitted to thegovernment for approval.The department had notstarted work on the appdevelopment. There werealso conflicting reports thatit would take five years forthe Sung Joen app to beoperational.The government did notfulfill its pledge of removingthe 5% voucher tax.

'Thegovernment will drop thepledge for now and comeup with it after reviewingthe taxation policy,' said thePrime Minister.Further, thegovernment's pledge ofproviding 24/7 free accessto all online data withinthe country by installingintranet technology has beenmistaken for free internetand didn't correct it, saidLyonchhen.Lyonchhen addedthat the government isworking on providing freeintranet.

'We are in line...