1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

of the Basochhu Hydropower Project will be completed in October 2001, and
preparatory works for the second phase are already in progress.
The rural electrification project, which is underway, will benefit more than 6000
households in fifteen Dzongkhags. These initiatives will directly benefit the
people and also help boost industrial development within the country.
Enhanced export of electricity will bring in substantial revenue.
The Chairman expressed gratitude of the government and people of Bhutan to
development partners and international organizations for their support, and
especially to the Government of India who has not only provided considerable
financial assistance to the 8 th plan but also to the power sector. He assured them
that the Royal Government would ensure that their assistance is judiciously used
for the benefit of the Bhutanese people.
The Royal Government is in the process of preparing the 9 th five-year plan
which will begin in July 2002. The estimated budget for the 9 th Plan would be at
least Nu.50,000 million, representing an increase of about 67% from the
Nu.30,000 million budgeted for the 8 th Plan. In contrast to earlier plans, the 9 th
plan will, for the first time, feature independent plans for 202 geogs. This is in
conformity to His Majesty’s desire of empowering the people. It will have
significant impact on the process of decentralization and people’s participation.
The Chairman noted that it is imperative for the people to identify capable and
honest persons from different constituencies and elect them as their
representatives.
Employment
Youth employment is one of the emerging issues that is a concern to the Royal
Government as well as to many parents and students. Till today, the country has
faced difficulty not from unemployment but from shortage of manpower.
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