Population

People of Laya, Gasa

Population and People

The estimated population of the country is 7, 00,000 with the growth rate of 3.1% per year.  The country is still predominantly rural and about 85% of the people live in villages.

Three main ethnic groups constitute its population:

Sharchops: live in eastern part of country are recognized as the original inhabitants of Bhutan and are Indo Mongoloid origins.

Ngalops:  Ngalops are descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from 9^th century and settled in the western part of Bhutan.

Lhotshampas: Nepalese group, began settling in the southern part of Bhutan in the late 19^th century. The Lhotshampa represents different Nepali speaking ethnic groups primarily Brahman, Chettri, Gurung, Rai and Limbu.

Natural Heritage

Great Vulture 

Natural Heritage

Nowhere in the Himalayas is the natural heritage more rich and varied than in Bhutan. In historical records, the Kingdom was called the 'Valley of Medicinal Herbs', a name that still applies to this day. About 72.5 per cent of the country's area is under forest cover.

For centuries, Bhutanese have treasured the natural environment and have looked upon it as the source of all life. This traditional reverence for nature has delivered Bhutan into the 20^th century with an environment still richly intact. The country wishes to continue living in harmony with nature and to pass on this rich heritage to its future generations.

Fortunately for Bhutan, maintaining a balanced natural ecosystem remains the central theme of its development process. The country's development policies disregard sacrificing its natural resource base for short term economic gains and are consistent with the central tenets of sustainable development, environmental conservation and cultural values.

In 1998, Bhutan was identified by Norman Myers as one of the ten bio-diversity hot spots in the world. It has been identified as the centre of 221 global endemic bird areas. The country signed the Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. These conventions were ratified in 1995 at the 73^rd session of the National Assembly. The Royal Government of Bhutan has also made a national commitment to uphold its obligation to future generations by charting a path of development called the 'Middle Path' this is the development which upholds both environmental and cultural preservation as an integral part of the development process.

History

Changmey: Tashigang

History

The name "Bhutan" appears to derive from the Sanskrit "Bhotant" meaning "the end of Tibet" or from "Bhu-uttan" meaning "high land". Though known as Bhutan to the outside world, the Bhutanese themselves refer to their country as Druk Yul or the Land of the Thunder Dragon. "Druk" meaning "Dragon" and extending from the predominant Drukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

The documented history of the Kingdom begins with 747 A.D. with Guru Padsambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche who made his legendary trip from Tibet across the mountains flying on a tigress's back. He arrived in Paro valley at Taktsang Lhakhang also known as Tiger's Nest. Guru Rinpoche is not only recognized as the founder of the Nyingmapa religious school but also considered to be second Buddha. In the ensuing centuries, many great masters preached the faith resulting in full bloom of Buddhism by the middle ages. Although sectarian at first, the country was eventually unified under Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Mahayana Buddhism by saint/administrator Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17^th century. Ngawang Namgyal codified a comprehensive system of laws and built a chain of Dzongs which guarded each valley during unsettled times and now serving as the religious and administrative centre of the region.

During the next two centuries civil wars intermittently broke out and the regional Governors became increasingly more powerful. At the end of 19^th century, Trongsa Governor overcame all his rivals and soon afterwards recognized as the overall leader of Bhutan. The Governor of Trongsa, Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, was elected as the first King of Bhutan in 1907 by an assembly of representatives of the monastic community, civil servants and people.

The country has now the system of democratic monarchy. The monarchy has thrived ever since and the present King, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the first King's great grandson, commands the overwhelming support of his people. After assuming the throne in 1974, the present king continued his father's policy of pragmatic development by actively pursuing industrial progress, country wide education and medical care and at the same time ensuring country's cultural and natural heritage intact.

Health and Education

Students in the Classroom

Health and Education

The Kingdom has made great efforts to improve health facilities and provides a free health care to all its citizens. It has achieved a child immunization rate of nearly 100%, iodine deficiency has been eliminated and 50% of the population has access to clean water. Life expectancy has increased from 47.4 years in 1984 to 66 years in 1998. Infant mortality once highest in the world, at 142 per thousand births, had been halved to 70.7 per thousand births by 1998. Until the 1950s, the only education available in Bhutan was from monasteries. While still monastic education continues to play an important role but western style education is expanded and now available throughout the country. Access to basic education has become the inalienable right of all Bhutanese and it is the key to the most of the nation's ambitions. Literacy has increased from 28% in 1984 to 54% in 1998 and this is further enhanced through adult education programs

Government

Government

Until the beginning of 20^th century, Bhutan was ruled by dual system of administration known as "chhosi" which was initiated by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651. Shabdrung created the office of the Druk Desi to look after the temporal administration of the country and the Je Khenpo to manage religious matters.

His Majesty, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, fourth in the Wangchuck dynasty is head of the state. His Majesty formally ascended the Golden Throne on 2 June 1974 and since then steered the country firmly towards the objectives of economic self-reliance, cultural promotion, regionally balanced development, environment preservation and good governance.

The National Assembly, the Royal Advisory Council, the Judiciary, the Council of Ministers and the Sectoral Ministries are the organizations that play a crucial role in the governance of the Kingdom of Bhutan. At the district, block and village levels there are established mechanisms that ensure people's participation in the decision making process.

National Assembly; Established in 1953 by His Late Majesty, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the main functions of the National Assembly are to enact laws, approve senior appointments in government and advise on all matters of national importance. It normally meets twice a year and consists of 154 members comprising 105 elected representatives of the people, 10 representatives of the clergy and 39 nominated representatives of the government.