Background
Three phases of administrative reforms
Phase
I: Centralization (1970s-1980s)
When His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo took over the responsibilities from his father in 1972, Bhutan had implemented just two Five Year Plans with the help of few hundreds of public servants which comprised of mostly expatriates. Understanding that a small country like ours with very little natural and human resource base, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo centralized all planning and implementation of development programmes in the central agencies. These central agencies took responsibility for critical capacity developments both at the central and local level through development of infrastructures such as road communication networks, agriculture, health and educational facilities.
The National Planning Commission was established with His Majesty as the Chairperson (until 1991) to formulate and mobilize resources. Key agencies such as the Ministry of Development with specialized departments were also established to implement the plans. At the Dzongkhags, the Dzongkhag administration and the Dzongkhag Development Committee supported the work of the Planning Commission and the other central agencies to implement the development programs. Subsequently, Royal Civil Service Commission was also established to manage all aspects of public administration in the country.
Phase II: Decentralization (1990-2007)
Learning from the past and recognizing the need to bring services closer to the public, in the second phase of His Majesty’s reform saw a gradual shift in our development from centralization to decentralization.
At the political level, Bhutan witnessed major political changes through decisions of His Majesty to devolve full executive powers and functions to an elected council of Ministers (June 1998). At the central level, major restructuring exercise of the government organisations were undertaken through good governance exercises (1999) to enhance good governance and streamline the role of planning and implementation of developmental programmes by the Central Agencies and the Dzongkhags and Gewogs. At the community level, DYT (1981) and GYT (1991) were established and later enacted Local Governance Act (2009) to involve the grass root community participation in political, social and economic decision making including setting their own development priorities.
Also in this phase, deregulation, corporatization and privatization of several government agencies were undertaken specially in sectors of banking and insurance, telecom, electricity and transport. Several Agencies were delinked from the Civil Service to promote corporate and private sector developments.
Phase III: Democratization (2008 onwards)
On 30th November, 2001, His Mjaesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo commanded drafting of the Constitution towards having parliamentary democratic system of governance. Direct consultations and discussions on national issues such as laws and public policies in particular constitutional provisions and development programmes were traditionally held by His Majesty the King in person. These major reforms were initiated by His Majesty primarily to ensure the sovereignty and security of the nation and “to make democracy work for well-being of the Bhutanese people for all time to come”.
In both the previous phases, the Civil Service played a central role in shaping and implementing all public sector reforms. However, His Majesty envisaged the need to establish a stable and efficient public administration for peaceful and orderly political succession and for the success of democratic governance. Towards this, His Majesty established all key Constitutional institutions and developed legal frameworks/ institutions and institutional mechanism to operationalize the Constitutional provisions. The Election Commission of Bhutan and Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan were established under the Royal Command in 2006. And this phase finally followed with fundamental shift in repositioning of the role of Civil Service institutions and civil servants as professional bodies and professionals capable of delivering programmes to the elected governments.
Internal Drivers for Development in Bhutan
When His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo took over the responsibilities from his father in 1972, Bhutan had implemented just two Five Year Plans with the help of few hundreds of public servants which comprised of mostly expatriates. Understanding that a small country like ours with very little natural and human resource base, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo centralized all planning and implementation of development programmes in the central agencies. These central agencies took responsibility for critical capacity developments both at the central and local level through development of infrastructures such as road communication networks, agriculture, health and educational facilities.
The National Planning Commission was established with His Majesty as the Chairperson (until 1991) to formulate and mobilize resources. Key agencies such as the Ministry of Development with specialized departments were also established to implement the plans. At the Dzongkhags, the Dzongkhag administration and the Dzongkhag Development Committee supported the work of the Planning Commission and the other central agencies to implement the development programs. Subsequently, Royal Civil Service Commission was also established to manage all aspects of public administration in the country.
Phase II: Decentralization (1990-2007)
Learning from the past and recognizing the need to bring services closer to the public, in the second phase of His Majesty’s reform saw a gradual shift in our development from centralization to decentralization.
At the political level, Bhutan witnessed major political changes through decisions of His Majesty to devolve full executive powers and functions to an elected council of Ministers (June 1998). At the central level, major restructuring exercise of the government organisations were undertaken through good governance exercises (1999) to enhance good governance and streamline the role of planning and implementation of developmental programmes by the Central Agencies and the Dzongkhags and Gewogs. At the community level, DYT (1981) and GYT (1991) were established and later enacted Local Governance Act (2009) to involve the grass root community participation in political, social and economic decision making including setting their own development priorities.
Also in this phase, deregulation, corporatization and privatization of several government agencies were undertaken specially in sectors of banking and insurance, telecom, electricity and transport. Several Agencies were delinked from the Civil Service to promote corporate and private sector developments.
Phase III: Democratization (2008 onwards)
On 30th November, 2001, His Mjaesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo commanded drafting of the Constitution towards having parliamentary democratic system of governance. Direct consultations and discussions on national issues such as laws and public policies in particular constitutional provisions and development programmes were traditionally held by His Majesty the King in person. These major reforms were initiated by His Majesty primarily to ensure the sovereignty and security of the nation and “to make democracy work for well-being of the Bhutanese people for all time to come”.
In both the previous phases, the Civil Service played a central role in shaping and implementing all public sector reforms. However, His Majesty envisaged the need to establish a stable and efficient public administration for peaceful and orderly political succession and for the success of democratic governance. Towards this, His Majesty established all key Constitutional institutions and developed legal frameworks/ institutions and institutional mechanism to operationalize the Constitutional provisions. The Election Commission of Bhutan and Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan were established under the Royal Command in 2006. And this phase finally followed with fundamental shift in repositioning of the role of Civil Service institutions and civil servants as professional bodies and professionals capable of delivering programmes to the elected governments.
Internal Drivers for Development in Bhutan
Under the leadership and guidance of
His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo the Civil Service was engaged in all
developmental activities and public sector reforms. The Civil Service evolved
as strong backbone of the country with highest level of good governance,
integrity, values and Tha-dam-tsig. Such achievements mainly owe to His Majesty
for providing the following internal drivers for development in Bhutan.
Major milestones in Civil Service reforms
- Political will - enlightened leadership- respect, trust and confidence reposed in our His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo
- Clarity of National Vision – communicated through consultations and discussion by HM the King in person.
- People-centred - stakeholders involvements & consultations for any major issues such as laws, development programmes and policies
- Education and Human Resource Development Policies – that shaped the quality and character of future leaders & citizens
- A good system of public administration that upholds principle of transparency, efficiency, accountability rules and regulations. Highlighting the importance of a good system of public administration, His Majesty the King said
Major milestones in Civil Service reforms
The major milestones in Civil Service under the leadership of
His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo are highlighted in the table below. From the
several initiatives, the visionary initiative to grant the Royal Charter and
the efforts to contain the growth of Civil Service deserve highest level of
admiration and respect.
His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo in granted the Royal Charter of the Royal Civil Service Commission in 1982. It marked the beginning of a plan and coordinated approach in addressing human resource management and development needs of various sectors in the Government. The Royal Charter forms the policy for the RCSC to maintain small, compact and efficient Civil Service and a fundamental legal framework in managing and framing rules of the Civil Service. Since then the RCSC has come a long way in promoting efficiency, effectiveness and integrity among civil servants.
His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo in granted the Royal Charter of the Royal Civil Service Commission in 1982. It marked the beginning of a plan and coordinated approach in addressing human resource management and development needs of various sectors in the Government. The Royal Charter forms the policy for the RCSC to maintain small, compact and efficient Civil Service and a fundamental legal framework in managing and framing rules of the Civil Service. Since then the RCSC has come a long way in promoting efficiency, effectiveness and integrity among civil servants.
Finally, although, the civil servants under the leadership of
His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, were engaged in almost all developmental
activities ranging
from education and health needs to administering the mega hydro power projects
and financial institutes that form the backbone of the country’s economy, the growth of Civil Service was
very much contained within the natural population rate of 3% (1982-2006),
keeping the compensation of civil servants as share of GDP and total spending
as low as 3.1% and 9.10% respectively (2002-03), as compared to 5.7% and 17.30% in year
2013-14.
No comments:
Post a Comment