KUENSELTHAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED MONDAY, A UGUST 10, 2020t/V His Majesty returns after inspecting border in Samtse and P/ling HM walked across villages along the border meeting people and reminding them of the dangers of community transmission His Majesty The King is back in Thim- phu after a two-week Royal Tour of the south to review and reinforce security measures in place, with active Covid-19 cases on the rise in the neighbourhood. His Majesty visited the border areas to personally talk to the people about the growing threat of community transmis- sions. While the borders have been closed since March 23, several instances of peo- ple clandestinely crossing the border and )JT.BKFTUZ5IF,JOHTQFBLTUPBXPNBOBUIFSIPNFJO5IPOHMJOHWJMMBHF 4BNQIFMJOHHFXPHJO$IVLIB avoiding quarantine have shown that the "MPOHUIFLN#IVUBO*OEJBCPSEFS UIFSFBSFNBOZTVDIWJMMBHFTXIFSF#IVUBOFTFIPNFTBSFBUBTUPOFT border areas are particularly vulnerable UISPXGSPN*OEJBOOFJHICPVST to an outbreak, Pg 2

De-Suups COVID-19 and police Sisters guide - 108 rescue eight remote learning people GLOBAL

Yangyel Lhaden COVID-19 in Dop-Shari, Paro SITUATION De-Suups and police in rescued eight Phub Dem | Paro from the USA because of the erate, lack guidance and do people, in two different Covid-19 pandemic, pro- not own electronic gadgets. groups, from the jungles he wants to be posed to guide 10 students Besides helping the stu- 19,817,456 above Thimphu in the early an engineer, this with e-learning. She had dents with regular assign- CONFIRMED CASES hours of Sunday, in a search one, a 10-year- a bitter experience coping ments, the tutor’s engage the and rescue operation that old with cropped with online learning herself. students with cocurricular started around 9:30pm on hair wearing a She wanted to help these lit- activities such as drawing, Saturday. Snylon full kira. She puts it in tle kids. E-learning is a new dancing, reading and listen- Three trekkers who were her journal. concept in Bhutan. Primary ing skills, among others. 12,523,648 doing the Druk Path trek The classroom is a tiny students without “literate” Youth Development RECOVERED from Paro to Thimphu lost one, like the little ones there- guidance suffer the most. Fund and UNICEF help Kin- their way around Pum-La. in prattling, here at Dop- From Shari, Kinley saw ley with the programme to Around 9pm, they called the Shari gewog centre where how the students were strug- guide remote learning. toll free number (1411) of students from Pre-primary gling with e-learning. So, Although more than 30 729,748 the Coordination and Media to four are learning together. along with her two cousins students came to register, Centre (CMC) for Covid-19 In all, there are 10 of them. who are students of Ugyen Kinley said that the ceiling DEATHS managed by De-Suups. Kinley Pelmo Gyeltshen, Academy, identified the stu- was set at 10 to maintain Source: The Straits Times, ANN Pg 2 a student who returned home dents whose parents are illit- Covid-19 protocol. Pg 2 As of August 9, 2020 HOME PAGE 2 Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL His Majesty returns after inspecting border in Samtse and P/ling From Pg 1 tegic locations to assist the not come in contact with the unteers on patrol duty. staff of schools and institutions and the community needs to be volunteers. New outposts have virus. His Majesty reiterated His Majesty visited high- and factory workers. All RDT vigilant and prepared. also been setup in an effort to to the local leaders that going risk areas close to the Phuent- results have come out negative. Armed forces personnel, increase vigilance. forward, settlements along the sholing border and Jharna, Meanwhile, in the past De-Suups, forestry officials, and In Samtse, His Majesty met border should be extra cautious between Pasakha and Phuent- month, His Majesty granted officials from customs, immi- with people living in villages and continue their good efforts. sholing. His Majesty also Audiences to De-Suups of the gration, and land commission, near the border in Ugyentse, In Phuentsholing, where the granted Audiences to gups 41st batch accelerated train- together with retired armed Yoeseltse, Sang-Ngag-Chhoe- temperatures have soared to and mangmis of 11 gewogs of ing programme at Damthang, forces personnel and com- ling and Tashichhoeling ge- over 40 degrees Celsius this past Chhukha, and frontline work- Jigmeling, Pelrithang, Tashigat- munity volunteers have been wogs. His Majesty also visited week, His Majesty walked across ers in Phuentsholing. Thanking shel, Tashichhoeling, Tendruk, patrolling the long and porous shops in Samtse town to see six villages along the border in them for their services at a time Tencholing, Shaba, and Dech- borders since the closure. how the pandemic has affected Sampheling gewog, meeting when they were most needed, encholing. With the comple- From about 200 De-Suups local businesses. people and reminding them of His Majesty Commanded them tion of the current batch, the patrolling the border in Samtse His Majesty thanked the the dangers if the virus spreads to continue their efforts with total number of De-Suups will a month ago, the number has local leaders of Samtse and in the community. While going increased vigour. reach 14,844. Volunteers from now been increased to over people living along the border from village to village, His Maj- The health ministry con- the three batches of acceler- 400. Several CCTV cameras for their continuous efforts esty also visited all the outposts ducted over 16,000 random ated training programme have have been installed at all stra- in ensuring Bhutanese do along the way and met with vol- rapid diagnostics tests (RDT) to been instrumental in providing rule out any possible commu- relief to those who have been nity transmission of Covid-19. on patrol duty at the borders The samples included those of since March. Sisters guide remote frontline workers, people living His Majesty was accompa- and working near the border, nied by the Prime Minister, Chief truck and taxi drivers, out-pa- Operations Officer of the RBA, learning in Dop-Shari, Paro tients in hospitals, students and and Chief of RBP during the tour.

De-Suups and police rescue eight people From Pg 1 tery base. Thimphu De-Suup Event Coordinator Rinchen Coordinator for Covid-19, Tshering said that unlike Rinchen Tshering said that after the first rescue, the second informing the police, De-Suups team was harder to find as dispatched two teams from the they started to move on and Quick Response Team to search made locating them difficult for the lost trekkers in two di- even with GPS. They were Kinley Pelmo Gyeltshen helping students with their assignments at Dop-Shari gewog rections from Phajoding base first traced to be in between at around 9:30pm. Chokhortse and Phajoding. From Pg 1 room every night. scored 88 percentage. After tracing their mobile They were finally rescued from The sisters provide the stu- Ngawang said the lessons Yangday, a mother of three, phone signals, De-Suups found the junction between Phajod- dents with their mobile phones, aired on BBS were challenging. asked her children to repeat that they were around the Pum- ing and Chokhortse at around laptops, and reading materials. “I had a tough time before the next year. They refused. Yang- La area. They were asked not 3:00am. Ngawang Yangchen Lham, tutors turned up. I thought I day is a caretaker of Dop-Shari to stray away and light a fire to “There was miscommuni- a grade four student, spends would fail for sure.” Lhakhang and does not own make it easier for the search cation whereby the students her weekdays writing online as- When asked about his ex- television. She sought help team. One of the trekkers had a were informed to move while signments at the gewog centre. perience with mobile learning, from the educated lot to teach whistle which helped the rescue no one from the team called Like many students, she last Sangay Wangchuk, a grade four and guide her children. team locate them. The trekkers them to move,” Rinchen Tsher- attended school until March, student from the same school Yangday said that the guid- were rescued between 10pm ing said. “It was challenging as before schools had to be closed said: “I struggle a lot.” ance programme at the gewog and 11pm. the fog and rain reduced vis- due to the Covid-19. She has He was a “below average” came as a blessing. “Now I Meanwhile, while the res- ibility,” he added. been learning via Wechat and student in school. And he had don’t have to worry about my cue team was climbing down One of the five hikers Google Classroom. wasted more than four months children’s education.” with the three trekkers, the was injured after the hikers Although she is a bright, helping his mother with the Another parent, Pem, said: CMC received another call started running away from articulate student of Gaupel household chores. The tutors “I hope the schools reopen from five hikers who reported possible wild animal at- Lower Secondary School, she said that he hadn’t submitted soon.” that they had lost their way. tack. Rinchen Tshering said found e-learning complicated. any of his home assignments As her school reopened, The hikers, five college that one of the students had “I used my mother’s phone before he joined the class at the Kinley Pelmo Gyeltshen students, lost their way while sprained his leg and suffered to access the assignments on gewog. had to discontinue the pro- returning from the Phajoding injuries on his chest. He was Wechat and Google Classroom. Sangay Wangchuk, unlike gramme. But then, her idea monastery. carried down. But I need help to upload and his friends, did not have ac- is to remain in touch with CMC organised another The team reached the send my assignments in Google cess to social media. When his her students through social rescue team with additional Phajoding base at 5:00 am Classroom.” father lost his phone, Sangay media and try to assist them seven De-Suups and four po- and the injured was taken to It has become a routine could not access lessons. “Then virtually. “I look forward to licemen. The search team was the hospital. The three trek- for Ngawang and her mother I lost interest in studying. The some sponsors who can give divided into two. One team kers were handed over to Rinchen Wangmo to visit lessons on BBS are not very the kids their unused phones started the search from above their relatives while the four neighbour’s house to seek as- helpful.” Now with the guid- and so that I can guide them Sangaygang and the other students were handed over to sistance in using Google Class- ance from the tutors, he has at this critical time.” from the Phajoding monas- Thimphu City Police. DZONGKHAG Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 3 School to the rescue of underprivileged students Gosarling teachers initiate mobile teaching to reach the unreached Chimi Dema | Tsirang of children repeat the lines conducted, revealed that about this made it difficult for teach- The school has 105 stu- of a nursery song after their 30 percent of the students did ers to meet and interact on SIM dents. Except for one class VI It is 9am. The otherwise quiet teacher. not have access to e-learning prior to the introduction of mo- student, all students were pre- morning at Gosarling gewog Schools have not opened. at home. bile teaching. sent for mobile teaching. centre in Tsirang has come to But students of Gosarling PS Principal, Gyeltshen Druk- A Class V student said On Mondays and Tuesdays, life with students of the nearby have walked about 2km from pa said that while teachers went that although she could con- the local cable operator, on the primary school gathering at the nearby chiwogs to attend, door-to-door to distribute Self tinue her education online, she request from school, broadcast the centre. A group of Class what teachers call “noble Instructional Materials (SIM), couldn’t get proper guidance in the e-learning lessons for stu- V and VI students, wearing teaching.” students will be accessed for absence of such an interaction. dents who have missed or not multi-colored face masks, The teachers took the ini- promotion based on key learn- “Coming to the centre two understood the lessons in their stand in a queue, waiting to tiative since July 1 in an effort ing. “The mobile teaching lets days a week and getting guid- first attempt. For students with- enter the hall. to help students with their teachers and students interact ance from my teachers is help- out television at home, teach- A teacher calls out the lessons. They came up with better. Students could also get ful,” she said. ers repeat the lessons during names. Another checks the the initiative after finding out proper guidance based on the Today, the school’s eight classes using their laptops. body temperature and notes less than half of students did assessment,” he said. teachers divide themselves into On Fridays, school officials down the readings. In a sepa- not have access to television Teachers said that some two groups and visit the Dzom- meet to review the initiative rate hall, two groups of stu- and internet at home while students couldn’t be connected lingthang early childhood care and discuss the way forward. dents of pre-primary to classes junior students struggled online. Some parents had sent and development centre in Principal Gyeltshen Drukpa II have already settled down with Google classroom les- their children to other dzong- Changchey, besides the gewog said that teaching sessions are to begin their lessons. At the sons. An unofficial survey on khags. centre on Wednesdays and carried out following proper other end of the hall, a group online education, the school A teacher, Phub Rinzin said Thursdays. safety protocols.

Business booms along Samtse-P/ling highway Rajesh Rai | Samtse Phuentsholing with funds from the government. The Covid-19 pandemic has Meanwhile, when the eventually led to some posi- border was sealed in re- tive developments for many sponse to the pandemic on villagers of in March 23 this year, Gomtu Samtse, residing along the remained cut-off from the Phuentsholing-Samtse high- rest of the country. Owing to way. this, a road to connect Gomtu Although the 58km high- with Phuentsholing via Tad- way internally connected ing began in May. Phuentsholing and Samtse in The road will add 5km to July 2018, vehicles, including the existing 16km road. The passenger buses, preferred total distance from Gomtu to travelling via India. Phuentsholing will be around But now, with the border 44km. sealed, commuters travelling The dzongkhag road, on the highway are boosting which will pave through local businesses. Sisney pass in Tading will Resham Ghalley sells connect the Phuentsholing- vegetables by the roadside Samtse highway at Suntaley. at Panbari. Heavy monsoon rains “Sales have increased,” have hampered the road con- she said. “This all due to Khenpagaon struction. the increased vehicle move- Department of Roads’ ments these days.” vehicles. months, its owner Sumit stop at his hotel daily. “Busi- chief engineer for Phuent- Resham Ghalley, how- “At least five to six private Kumar Rai said. ness is good.” sholing region, Karma Dorji ever, said that there was vehicles, including taxis stop Expecting good business, Highway Inn earns at said the area where the for- not much to sell these days. by every day,” he said. he started the hotel construc- least Nu 6,000 a day. mation cutting was done Roadside vendors just sell Prior to the Covid-19 tion in October 2019. If not for the highway, had been sliding frequently farm produce, she said. pandemic, his daily earn- “The school nearby would Samtse remained cut-off due to heavy and continuous In a day, if it does not ings didn’t cross Nu 500 but also be upgraded,” he said. from the rest of the country rainfall. rain, Resham mints between these days he earns at least Highway Inn at Khenpa- during strikes or other dis- “We clear the road one Nu 1,200 and Nu 1,500. Nu 1,500 a day. gaon is another hotel along ruptions in the neighbouring day and it is blocked the next A restaurant owner at Meanwhile, a new hotel the highway. Its owner Prabin Indian state of West Bengal. day.” Khenpagaon, Dilip said the construction is ongoing at Chhetri said that his business The construction of the Karma Dorji said that business was better due to Panbari on the highway. The is about a year old and today highway commenced in machinery is deployed at the increased movement of hotel would open in three around five passenger buses 2005 from both Samtse and the site. EDITORIAL PAGE 4 Monday, August 10, 2020 | KUENSEL Tourism MY COUNTRY, MY TOWN development: Looking inward ourism is one of Bhutan’s mainstays. How- ever, we haven’t looked beyond interna- tional guests. Covid-19 pandemic, there- fore, taught us a good lesson. Domestic tourism is now beginning in earnest. THad Bhutan worked on developing domestic tourism since the country decided to open its door to the world in the early 1970s, the advent of Covid-19 would not have rendered a large number of Bhutanese, especially youth, jobless. The many sectors that are crippled by the pandemic would have been upbeat and afloat. Bhutan’s economy is small and there are barriers to overcome. In the tourism sector, especially, look- ing at the dollars and forgetting the ngultrum is the real problem. The entrepreneurs in the sector look for short-term gains and, so, there is no innovation in the sector. Sustainability and employment creation suffers. Tourism development hinges on lodging, restau- Multiplier effect: One tap diverted to many outlets but the issue of waste rants, transportation, and amusements. But inter- unfortunately has not been addressed Photo: Chimi Dema, Kuensel national tourism is just one part of the whole sector. Thousands of Bhutan go to India, Nepal and beyond on annual pilgrimage because the Tourism Council Send in your pictures to: [email protected] of Bhutan (TCB) and the tour operators are unable to develop and market the products at home. If tourism must penetrate beyond Thimphu, Paro, MY SAY Punakha and Wangdue, the critical elements that help to drive the development of tourism must be encour- aged, developed and promoted. This is not happening. Ecotourism and homestays continue to show some How prepared are we for a lockdown? promise, but if they are to last there must be a major The news of a simulation called educated lots. understanding the situation. reform in the sector. It must begin with the ease of exercise testing the So if this is the way how The government who transportation. Affordability, looking from the perspec- preparedness of Thimphu 'common people' consume is trying to prepare the tive of domestic tourism, is critically important. With last week went information, there is a big population for an actual the kind of branding and marketing that TCB does, we viral for all the negative question on how prepared lockdown has to do a lot probably won’t ever run short of visitors from abroad. reasons. we are for a 'real' lockdown. more to make our people In many countries, domestic tourism is bigger than The Kuensel article The health minister has understand the situation and international tourism. Why it is not so in Bhutan can be that presented the said on many occasions not just blindly panic. fictitious scenario and the that a local or a community Preparing ourselves for explained by the lack of coordination between agencies. following measures taken transmission is inevitable. the inevitable is important. There is a need for a common, long-term vision to guide by authorities was picked Therefore, a lockdown, Every household must have the development of one of the highest revenue-earning by social media users, which is a necessity in the their own contingency plan. sectors in the country. highlighting only the mock event of a local transmission We can ill afford to give Reportedly, close to 80 entrepreneurs shown their scenario and circulating it. is also inevitable. into rumours especially in interest to invest in the development of domestic tour- Without understanding However, recent this situation and the herd ism. It is all the more important because domestic tour- the whole picture, people rumour following the mentality would surely not ism is resilient to external factors. We are a country began the news. This is a simulation exercise has only help any one of us. endowed with rare natural beauty and deep spiritual worrying trend. Some of encouraged panic among the and cultural history. the people who shared and public including hoarding Tashi Dorji, Promoting domestic tourism has been long time lobbied for this were the so- of essentials without clearly Thimphu coming. Now that it is here, let it not be just a passing romance with it. We are talking about economic resil- Make your opinions known. Send your letters to ience and employment creation in one of the biggest revenue-generating sectors in the country. [email protected] Glamping (a form of camping involving accommo- dation and facilities more luxurious than those as- Letters are edited for space and clarity sociated with traditional camping) is a new trend in Bhutan. Such advances and innovations in the sector can contribute majorly to the development of local FOR FEEDBACK economies because domestic tourism is less fragile or Call 324684 or email sensitive to external factors. Continuous tourism could be the new theme of Bhu- [email protected] tan’s economic development.

MANAGING DIRECTOR - Bachu Phub Dorji, MANAGING EDITOR - Ugyen Penjor, PRINTING GM - Karma Nima, MARKETING & SALES GM - Karma J Yangzom, KANGLUNG REGIONAL MANAGER - Ugyen Wangdi ADVERTISEMENT Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 5

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For any enquiry on design, layout, print & binding services, call us at 322227/17631556 or email at Kuenselprintng [email protected] HOME Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 7 Haa ready, but cautious as flower exhibition nears No restrictions on visitors, but discourage crowding Phub Dem | Haa The numerous sites, ac- cording to dzongdag were es- Haa wears an exotic and refresh- sential in spreading out visitors ing look as one gets a glimpse to avoid overcrowding and of the dzongkhag descending maintain social distance. “Each down from the Chelela pass. entry point at the sites has hand- At Haa, the temperature is washing facilities. Officials will moderate making it the ideal check visitors’ temperature on place to escape the scorching entering the dzongkhag.” summer heat. As you enter the Considering the broader small sleepy town, the sidewalks theme of the exhibition— beau- are filled with perennial flowers. tiful, unique, and sustainable Officials in gumboots are put- - Haa built five public toilets, ting the final touches on their completed dog sterilization sites. Haa has become busy campaigns and built permanent with endless trucks transport- structures. ing flowers at the sites, people The dzongkhag also main- busy maintaining roads, fixing tained trekking trails such as drains and walls, watering the Nobtshonapata, Meri-Puensum plants and so on. and Rangtsit Nye to encourage From decorating the sacred local visitors to explore. Four days until the exhibition opens for public Lhakhang Karpo to the longest Dzongdag Kinzang Dorji mural painting, establishing a said that the whole establish- giant herbal garden and surreal town or smell its flowers. television. pandemic will use unmanned ment and initiative of the ex- container gardens at Zhinchu- Given the risk of a com- The dzongkhag, however, is drones and Google Street View hibition was also in line with pang, all corners around Haa munity transmission, those not restricting visitors, but wants to let those watching virtually to gearing up Haa as a potential are decked up. behind the exhibition do not people to not overcrowd. The get a real feeling. tourist destination. In three days, the Royal encourage many visitors. exhibition will remain open for Unlike other five exhibi- Following the sixth Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition “We are not inviting guests,” 10 days starting August 14. tions, visitors will witness four Bhutan Flower Exhibition, the (RBFE) will be opened to the Haa dzongdag, Kinzang Dorji In an attempt to make the major sites and 57 other sites, dzongkhag will host the annual public. However, not many will said. The exhibition will be best use of digital media and which are developed by schools, Haa flower show starting July be present at the exhibition to live streamed on social media artificial intelligence (AI), the institutions, monasteries and next year which will be followed appreciate the beauty of the and broadcast on the national exhibition, during the Covid-19 sector heads of the dzongkhag. by the Haa summer festival. Capturing the change in colours Chhimi Dema Yangchenphu Higher Second- The challenge during the ary School. “I wanted to be free.” Covid-19 pandemic is that As a little schoolboy, Pema Seven years he lost to drinking there aren’t foreign buyers, he Gyeltshen, 37, from Trashigang, and drugs. says. Another challenge is not had little interest in studies. He He was once a mechanic being able to ship his artworks loved doodling and did that a and became a land surveyor. to other countries. “I will keep lot. He wasn’t quite sure what Not long after, he became a bro- creating, however. I am positive he wanted to be when he grew ker. Finally, in 2012, he decided that I will be able to sell my work up. In fact, he never thought to become a fulltime artist. “I someday.” about it. have never looked back since. For Pema, the pandemic But then his favourite past Art is a tool to express oneself has given him more time to be time was sure to take him some- and communicate with people.” creative with his work. “It is a where. Today, he is a contempo- Contemporary art is new in blessing to be able to do what rary artist based in Thimphu, a the country. “But, now, young you like for life.” successful freelancer. His work Pema Gyeltshen people are interested in con- Art is therapeutic. It is food has been exhibited in several temporary art. They ask me how for body, mind and soul. Asian countries. come. Pema Gyeltshen’s art and ing the old houses, from mud- to improve their skills. Reflect- Pema encourages budding Artists are quirks. They dig representations centre on the based to concrete-based. Paint- ing on that, I am positive that artists to be passionate about deep into the native yearnings need to tell a development story. ing these old structures would contemporary art will grow and art, learn the basics, and keep of the humans and can see far Look at Thimphu, for ex- be a good reference in the fu- flourish.” practising every day. “I will con- into the future. Where it not for ample. Change has overtaken ture,” says the forward-looking Bridges, ruins, old houses, tinue my journey. I don’t know artists, how would anyone un- the city. Nothing pretty much artist. “I am doing quite well.” stupas, prayer flags, doors and where it will take me.” derstand the beauty of colours is left of the old Thimphu. What He has exhibited his work dancers are objects that arrest Pema swears to continue to and ideas? this city has lost and gained, in in Nepal, Malaysia, China and his mind. How he can render head out to capture time in his Development and moderni- the many years since Bhutan India, among others. them in watercolours and acryl- art. If you come across a man sation have so much to give to opened her door to the world The journey as a freelance ics is mesmerising. with long dark hair painting the society. They also take away beyond is a characteristic theme artist, however, was not easy. Consistency is the key, he the streets of Thimphu, that as much from the things that of Pema Gyeltshen’s work. Pema had no goal or says. “I make sure that I paint at man could very well be Pema make us a community. Changes “Modernisation is replac- dream after he graduated from least an hour every day.” Gyeltshen. DIVER SION PAGE 8 Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL Nyingje – Compassion

Karma Phuntsho is a thought suffering such as an illness, contrary to our assumptions and central component of the Mahāyāna leader and changemaker, the hunger, etc. Thus, the practice of expectations of things to last, makes morality and the path to Buddha- founder of the Loden Foundation compassion is intricately linked compassion all the more earnest. hood. Bhutanese normally cultivate with the Buddhist perception of When a person feels compassion compassion by chanting this prayer: and the author of many books and the ordinary existence as being having thoroughly realized the il- མ་ནམ་མཁའ་དང་མཉམ་པའ་སམས་ཅན་ articles including dissatisfactory and eventually lusory and dream-like nature of life, ཐམས་ཅད་སག་བསལ་དང་སག་བསལ་ག་ར་དང་ The History of Bhutan. leading to disappointment and and does not conceive a real person འབལ་བར་གར་ཅག suffering. Sentient existence is who generates compassion, real May all mother sentient beings as seen as an ocean of suffering sentient beings who are objects of vast as space be free from suffering The second of the four immeasur- and the practitioner of compas- compassion and a real act of gener- and the causes of suffering. able thoughts, tshemed bzhi (ཚད་མད་ sion wishes to take all sentient ating it, such compassion with the Practice of compassion is consid- བཞ་), is compassion. Compassion beings out of such ocean of awareness of the illusory and empty ered as a powerful way to overcome or nyingje (སང་ར་) in its broad sense suffering to the state of freedom nature of all phenomena is known as and eliminate negative karma. In a refers to all caring and benevolent from suffering. the compassion without apprehen- well known story about benefit of thoughts. In this context, it is often Like loving kindness, com- sion (དམགས་པ་མད་པའ་སང་ར་). The more compassion, Asanga, an eminent called the expedient method and passion can be also cultivated in one realizes the empty and illusory Indian Buddhist scholar, is said to paired with wisdom. Wisdom (ཤས་ numerous ways. One can start nature of things, and witness the have prayed to Buddha Maitreya རབ་) and compassion (ཐབས་) in generating compassion towards sheer attachment with which sen- for twelve years with the hope of Mahāyāna Buddhism are compared a beloved one such as one’s tient beings cling onto things as real, receiving an audience. However, it to the two wings of a bird to fly to mother and think about the the practitioner is said to give rise to was only when he, out of intense enlightenment. The Great Compas- many problems she faces and more intensive and unconditional compassion, attempted to treat the sion (སང་ར་ཆན་པོ་) of the Buddha is wish her to be free from them. compassion. wound of an old dog containing the culmination of such benevo- One can then gradually extend Nyingje, literally the king of maggots that he had the vision of lence. In its narrow sense, however, such thought to one’s family, hearts, is the most benevolent and Maitreya, having cleansed his mind nyingje refers to the specific wish friends, village, country, human- noble state of the mind. It is the of karmic impurities. or intention to free sentient beings ity and all other sentient beings. from suffering and the causes of To avoid the practice becom- suffering. This is how compas- ing biased, one can generate sion should be understood in the compassion first towards one’s context of the four immeasurable enemy or a person one dislikes. Sudoku thoughts. Similarly, one can visualize While loving kindness is a wish sentient beings by moving from for sentient beings to attain happi- region to region or from one di- ness and the causes of happiness, rection to another. One can also compassion is a wish for sentient practice it with one’s breath. As beings to be free from suffering and one breathes in, one can visual- the causes of suffering. In order to ize that the suffering of all other realize the goal of loving kindness, sentient beings in the form of a it is necessary to realize the goal of dark smoky substance flow into compassion because without being oneself and the sentient beings free from suffering, it is not pos- become free from suffering. sible to experience true happiness. Having empathy for the In actual practice, loving kindness sentient beings by feeling their can make a practitioner elated and pain and wishing them to be blissful with the thought of happi- free from suffering is the basic ness. Compassion helps balance practice of compassion. It as- this by reminding the practitioner sumes the existence of sentient of the suffering in the world. In the beings, who are objects of same way, practice of compassion compassion, the person who is can lead to empathetic distress and cultivating compassion, and of make the practitioner depressed. the act of showing compassion. In such cases, Buddhist masters This is known as compassion recommend the practitioner to with apprehension of sentient alternate the practice of four im- beings (སམས་ཅན་ལ་དམགས་པའ་སང་ measurable thoughts. ར་). Compassion accompanied In practicing compassion, the by the full awareness of the practitioner wishes sentient beings impermanent nature of things is to be free from suffering and what compassion with insight into the causes suffering just as a mother truth or reality of existence. (ཆས་ would wish her single child to be ལ་དམགས་པའ་སང་ར་). The experi- free from suffering and causes of ence of fleeting nature of things, How to play

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www.kuenselnews.com Expand the horizon of your knowledge Answer ASIA Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL PAGE 9 After two weeks of reopening, hospitals are full. Worst is yet to come, doctors say NEPAL: On Friday morning, a on Friday,” said the paramedic anything when it comes to con- increase the number of isolation mandu Valley and other dis- man reached Sukraraj Tropical who spoke only on condition of taining the virus. beds in the Valley and it is also tricts that have reported more and Infectious Disease Hospi- anonymity. The situation has changed planning to convert quarantine than 200 active cases. tal. He wanted to inquire about With Valley hospitals alarmingly since Minister for centres at Kirtipur and Bhak- The government has also the ambulance service. Not already filled with infected Health and Population Bhanub- tapur into isolation facilities, banned public and vehicular aware of who actually he was people, authorities are asking hakta Dhakal on July 27 said that according to Dr Sameer Kumar movements from 9pm to 5am supposed to talk to, he had an people testing positive to stay the government was looking for Adhikari, joint spokesperson for and barred social gatherings– altercation with the security home. But not everyone does, Covid-19 patients with a torch the Health Ministry. parties, seminars, feasts and guards. His gripe was that no according to the paramedic. light to bring them to hospital. According to Adhikari, only public programmes–at hotels one had sent an ambulance to An official at the Epidemiol- Public health experts say 15 to 20 percent Covid-19 pa- and restaurants. pick him up. ogy and Disease Control Divi- the situation, however, is con- tients, who will be seriously ill, On Friday, the Kathmandu Health workers at the hos- sion said that some officials, un- trary to what the health minister need to be taken to hospital for District Administration Office pital had taken his swab sample aware of the fact that hospitals is saying. treatment. decided to seal some com- on Wednesday for a polymerase have been overwhelmed with a “The reality is people in- Public health experts blame mercial hubs of the Capital, chain reaction test. The same lack of beds and isolation facili- fected with the coronavirus are the high public mobility for the citing high numbers of in- evening officials at the Epidemi- ties, could have told the person now looking for the government rampant spread of the infection fections in those areas. The ology and Disease Control Divi- that he would be picked up by with a torch light,” Thakur told in Kathmandu Valley, especially district administration offices sion called him to inform him an ambulance. the Post. after the lockdown was lifted. of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and that he had tested positive for The way the situation In Kathmandu Valley alone, “People are not following Bhaktapur also said that they the coronavirus and that an am- has been unfolding, soon the the number of cases has risen safety rules in the Valley despite will be providing only essen- bulance would be sent to pick authorities will be unable to to 1,042, with more than 62 in- the fact that the infection rate is tial services for 15 days starting him up to take him to hospital. control the virus spread, public fections reported on Saturday, increasing,” said Dr Sher Bahadur Sunday to reduce crowds. “After waiting for two days health experts say. according to the Health Minis- Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Multiple officials at the at home for an ambulance, “Worst is yet to be seen, as try. The total number of posi- Unit at the Sukraraj Tropical and Health Ministry the Post spoke the man came to hospital on the infection has spread rapid- tive cases detected across the Infectious Disease Hospital. “Peo- with said that the Capital is on Friday,” a paramedic serving ly,” said Dr GD Thakur, former country on Saturday was 378. ple are coming out without wear- the verge of a massive outbreak, at the hospital emergency told director of the Epidemiology Seventy-three people, six in ing face masks, meeting people as the spread of the infection is the Post. “What is worrying is he and Disease Control Division. Kathmandu Valley, have died of without maintaining social dis- so high that it is becoming un- used two public buses to reach “Number of cases will go up Covid-related conditions so far. tance, sharing cigarettes and even controllable. the hospital.” alarmingly in the coming days.” Since the lockdown was having panipuri and chatpate on “It has been taken as a The man, in his early 30s, Officials at the Health Min- lifted on July 21, 660 persons the roadside.” pandemic of the government,” was finally admitted to the istry say that coronavirus cases have tested positive for the coro- Already on the backfoot, said Adhikari of the Health hospital. have been reported from most navirus in Kathmandu Valley. the authorities have introduced Ministry. “People should also “But we don’t know how of the places in Kathmandu Val- The figure across the country is new measures to contain the be responsible and take pre- many people he met on his ley, buttressing public health 4,598, as the nationwide Covid- spread of the coronavirus. Start- cautionary measures.” way home on Wednesday and experts’ argument that sealing 19 tally reaches 22,592. ing Thursday, odd-even vehicle The Kathmandu Post while coming to the hospital of certain areas will hardly mean The government is trying to rule has been enforced in Kath- ANN Singapore takes steps toward a new normal amid Covid-19 pandemic SINGAPORE: Almost all for- ans, permanent residents and are lifted, life will not return to take on a hybrid physical-virtual good track record of implement- eign workers will be tested for long-term pass holders who what it was before the worldwide form, added Health Minister ing safe management measures, Covid-19 by Friday, and the travel overseas had to pay their spread of the coronavirus, the Gan Kim Yong, who is also a task or by workers endorsed by these majority will be allowed to go own inpatient medical bills in task force warned. force co-chair. organisations. back to work by the end of this full if they developed symptoms Mr Wong, who co-chairs This includes large gather- Mr Gan urged those who are month, said Education Minister within 14 days of their return. the task force, said Singapore ings and festivities surrounding unwell to see a doctor instead of Lawrence Wong during a virtual They were also unable to should not let its guard down national and community occa- trying to self-medicate or sleep- press conference. claim from MediShield Life or even though the total number sions, said Mr Gan, pointing to ing it off, so that Covid-19 infec- This means that many con- Integrated Shield Plans in public of new Covid-19 cases in Singa- the upcoming National Day cel- tions can be detected at an early struction activities and projects and private hospitals. pore is likely to taper down by ebrations, which has been scaled stage. should be able to resume soon, But as the Government end-August as dormitories are down with around 150 parade “This will prevent one case he added. gradually reopens the country’s cleared. spectators and 300 participants. from becoming many cases, and And under changes to the borders, it will allow permitted “We have seen the experi- Mr Gan said: “With a right to form a cluster and to eventu- charging policy for Covid-19 Singaporean and PR travellers to ences everywhere in the world... mindset and attitude, we can ally become many clusters,” he treatment for travellers, those tap government subsidies, Me- where so long as there is a lapse adapt and make the best of the said. who head abroad under permit- diShield Life and Integrated in the community or people do situation, even if we need to Such actions will help keep ted schemes and develop symp- Shield Plans for treatment. not observe the safe manage- continue with safe distancing community cases low, he said, toms of the coronavirus infection Likewise, long-term pass ment practices carefully, these measures.” adding: “That will allow us to within 14 days of their return to holders who travel under per- low levels of infection can sud- The Health Ministry said continue to see how we can ease Singapore can get more help mitted arrangements will be able denly flare up into large clusters prayers for the lunar seventh the restrictions, to allow more with their hospitalisation bills. to tap financing arrangements anywhere, anytime,” he cau- month and post-funeral religious activities to resume, more inter- Permitted schemes include like foreign worker insurance for tioned. rites will be allowed to take place action to happen while continu- bilateral arrangements with Ma- their treatment. Working from home should in places of worship and some ing to exercise safe distancing.” laysia and China, and any that The travellers will bear any remain the default for employ- external venues such as HDB The Straits Times may be implemented in future. remaining co-payment. ees, and where possible, events areas, if they are conducted by ANN Since March 27, Singapore- But while certain restrictions should remain fully virtual, or religious organisations with a HOME PAGE 10 Monday, August 10, 2020| KUENSEL Illegal workshop demolished after five decades Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing sent a notification to Wangdi Workshop to vacate from the Wangdi Workshop in the heart land on October 30, 2018. After of Phuentsholing town, which that five more notices were illegally occupied state land, sent, the last one on August 6. was demolished yesterday. “We were compelled to A satellite clinic will be demolish the workshop. There constructed in its place. was no other way,” the throm- The workshop was built on pon said. 34.5 decimal state land and oc- “It was also demolished cupied illegally since 1970. as per the urgency and the Two individuals, who plan for the clinic, which has jointly owned a plot near the become ever more important.” workshop had encroached Meanwhile, this is the sec- state land. They had not paid ond demolition by thromde in any taxes until date. less than a year. In December Thrompon Uttar Kumar last year, thromde bulldozed Rai said that Asian Develop- eight houses in Pasakha that ment Bank (ADB) was funding were constructed illegally en- about Nu 14 million (M) for a croaching the state land. satellite clinic, which is under A satellite clinic will be constructed on the vacated plot With this demolition, of- the health ministry. ficials said the thromde has He said that considering the General Hospital (PGH). thromde’s primary objective to major health-related issues.” also sent a stern message to a increase in the population in “The satellite clinic would establish a satellite clinic.” Health services accessi- few others who have illegally Phuentsholing, the clinic is im- mean better quality of health “The clinic can take care of bility will improve for all the encroached and settled on portant and would reduce the care services,” Thrompon the minor health complaints residents in the crowded town, government lands. pressure on the Phuentsholing Uttar Kumar Rai said. “This is and the hospital can treat Uttar Kumar Rai said. Uttar Kumar Rai said all The plan to build a satellite such settlements built on en- clinic was conceived a long ago croached state land will be but it couldn’t be implemented demolished eventually and due to the land problem. development activities would Ugyen Academy FC rises Phuentsholing Thromde begin as per the plan. to top of league table

TOMORROW

Good Day r UPUBLFOFXCBCZPVUPGUIF r UPQFSGPSNBOOVBMPGGFSJOHT IPVTFBOEDFMFCSBUFCJSUI Bad Day A good day for rituals (laza): r UPMFBSOBTUSPMPHZ those born in the rat and pig years. r UPIBOEBOEUBLFPWFSPGGJDF r UPTUBSUOFXCVTJOFTT Generally a good day (sogza): r UPNBSSZ those born in the ox, dragon and dog r UPTIJGUIPVTF years. r UPFOUFSJOUPOFXIPVTF A bad day (shedza): r UPIPMEHPPEEJTDVTTJPOT those born in the snake and horse years.

Time of issue: 04:04 PM, Thimphu City FC’s (red) equalised in the 86th minute SUNRISE : 5:30 am | SUNSET : 6:44 pm 9 August 2020 Thinley Namgay again to equalise for the Cit- half. Paro FC’s striker Chen- yzens in the 86th minute and cho Gyeltshen equalised in the The weekend between Thim- earn a point. 68th minute. Gasa Trongsa Bumthang Sarpang Phuentsholing phu City FC and Ugyen Acad- Ugyen Academy FC with The match was heading emy FC, both riding on their the draw rises to the top of the for a draw when in the 86th first match win, ended in a 1-1 league table with a single goal minute, TUFC’s Chimi Dorji 17 25 22 28 30 draw at the Changlimithang lead in goal difference. scored a free-kick and sealed 13 18 16 26 22 stadium yesterday. Meanwhile, the defend- off the match 2-1. Thimphu City FC despite ing champions Paro FC (PFC) Paro FC fired seven shots Thimphu Trashigang the home ground advantage dropped three points after and 6 corner kicks against trailed until the last five min- losing to Transport United FC TUFC’s 6 shots and a single utes of the match after the 2-1 on August 8 at the Woochu corner kick. 25 22 visitors scored through Dilip Sports Arena in Paro. High Quality United FC 17 17 Mongar in the 59th minute. TUFC’s forward Jigdrel will play Paro United FC to- Source: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology. City skipper, Tshering Wangchuk broke the deadlock morrow at the Changlimithang For any weather information: Call hotline 335578 Dorji rose to the occasion yet four minutes into the second Stadium.

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