Crown Prince's Youthful Age
i. Assumption of Chairmanship of the Planning Commission-3rd April 1971
Why Planning Commission?
-There was in need of strong central authority to implement
and oversea the planned activities systematically with increasing developmental
activities.
-The need to understand Bhutan’s situation by Bhutanese
leader to prioritize, implement and audit the planned activities.
As a Chairman;
-Chaired
the Planning Commission Meeting attended by officials of the government of
India for the conclusion of Second Five Year Plan
-Charged
with the planning and co-ordination of Five-Year Plans – Third Five Year Plan
Significance of Third Five
Year Plan
-The third FYP, which was implemented under His Majesty’s chairmanship was a great success in so many ways:
- Though the previous plans were entirely funded by the Indian government in the form of grants, the government of Bhutan met 7.8% of the total budget for this plan.
- Bhutan’s own Planning Commission (established in 1971) implemented this plan
- There was a diversification of external funding with UNDP alone providing around US$ four million.
- Physical and financial targets were specified and performance measured against them.
II. Assumption of the
responsibility of Trongsa Poenlop-16th June 1972
• On June 21, 1972, the Tongsa Penlop inaugurated
Tongsa Bumthang national highway (Zhunglam-4).
• His Royal Highness was to travel to Bumthang on the
same day to present Guru Thongdrel to Kurje Temple, but he had to cancel the
journey because of the bad weather; besides, His Majesty’s health had worsened
• Became the leader of eight eastern
district-Sharchogkhorlo Tsibgye
-Helped
to prepare for the kingship
-Enabled
to understand people and country’s situation
III. Assumption of the reins
of the Government in 1972
• Three days after the Crown Prince lost his father,
he took the reins of the government and the nation.
• His Majesty was installed as the head of the
Government during the 37th session of the National Assembly
(September 1972) at the age of 17.
Consciousness of the
law as a leader
• After returning from Kenya, the crown prince
addressed the National Assembly and the cabinet where he said he was not yet 21
and there was a Regency Act in place.
• This showed that His Majesty even from then was very
conscious of the rule of law.
• The National Assembly decided to enthrone him as the
Fourth King since his wisdom, statesmanship and intelligence has proven beyond
his age
• His Majesty’s first important task was to draw up
the FYPs and implement them by the Bhutanese.
As a head of
Government;
-Shouldered the
responsibility of statesman
-The responsibilities
of governing fell more and more on his young shoulders
-He give up his youth
to assume the mantle of leadership, when Bhutan was at a crossroads both
domestically and internationally.
-His Majesty had to
lead the state funeral and also need to receive the various foreign dignitaries
who came for the funeral.
-The Crown Prince
abandon his grief, garner his confidence and led his people as an immediate
successor and the repose of the nation’s hope.
-His Royal Highness
proclaimed “The nation should abandon grief,” in the National Assembly on July
26, 1972
- His Majesty’s first important
task was to draw up the FYPs and implement them by the Bhutanese.
Summary;
ü
As
the Chairman of the Planning Commission, The Crown Prince headed the planning
of the Third Five Year Plan
ü
The
Crown Prince also Chaired the Planning
Commission’s conclusion meeting of the Second Five year Plan attended by officials of the government of
India.
ü Significantly, the government of Bhutan not only met
7.8% of the total budget bud also could get $ 400 million funding from UNDP for
Third Five Year Plan this plan.
ü As a Trongsa Poenlop, The Crown Prince contributed
in networking through construction of roads.
ü For spiritual wellbeing of the people and country,
The Crown Prince gifted Guru Thongdrel to Kurje temple
ü Besides that, the eight eastern districts were
ensured peace, harmony and justice thus contributing to the Kingship role.
ü As the Crown Prince shouldered the responsibility of
the statesmanship as he took over the reins of government
ü His Majesty had to lead the state funeral and also
need to receive the various foreign dignitaries who came for the funeral.
ü The Crown Prince abandon his grief, garner his
confidence and led his people as an immediate successor and the repose of the
nation’s hope.
ü
His Royal
Highness proclaimed “The nation should abandon grief,” in the National
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