Peace Channel undertakes peace tour to Bhutan

[caption id="attachment_261088" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Team from Peace Channel and NEISSR at the Royal University of Bhutan on July 17.[/caption] Dimapur, July 18 (EMN): A 12-member team of Peace Channel staff and NEISSR faculty undertook a three-day peace tour to Bhutan and had interactions with various dignitaries to explore areas in educational exchange learning programme in future. The team met former Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji at Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, on July 16. Lyonpo Dorji is currently working as the chairperson of Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI). During one and half hours interactions, Lyonpo Kinzang gave a brief background to Bhutan’s transition to democracy under the leadership of the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk. BTI is tasked to monitor corruption in the government offices and educate the people on roles and responsibilities of being active citizenry. Though there was apparent sense of satisfaction on how the country is marching ahead to democracy, there were also undercurrents of fears and apprehensions on how things are changing, Peace Channel statement said. Lyonpo Kinzang also expressed happiness on the fast economic development in material aspects of life and shared deeply held fears and apprehensions about decentralisation and devolution of the sovereign power in the hands of the people when they are not fully educated to take active roles of citizens. One the following day, the team visited the administration office of the Royal University of Bhutan in Thimphu. Dr. Phanchung, Research and External Relation Officer of the University, welcomed them and took a tour of the University administration and its extended institutional campus spread across several districts in the country. The team also had detail discussions on how the Bhutan education from primary to higher studies are designed to produce human capitals who are founded on strong moral foundations to support and sustain the country’s economy. The journey to Bhutan was a part of an annual exposure and learning programme. On their return journey, the team halt over night at ANT, Chirang, BTC, to get an orientation on Frisbee game also known as Peace building game with a plan to promote the same in Nagaland and the region as part of Peace Channel collaborative programme.