G-Task: Proposal for Development of a Freelancing Android Based Mobile Application in Bhutan

with the increase in the number of youth every year, unemployment has become a concern in the country. The existing job portal does not seem to address the needs of job seekers who do not have adequate qualifications, as they are often found at home unemployed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a G-task app which is an android-based online recruitment system allowing job seeker to post and/or search for short term works. The application will help in presenting job seekers’ skills and hence create job opportunities for themselves. A Prototyping Model is used for the software development of this proposed system

First record of Ombrana sikimensis (Jerdon, 1870) (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, with comments on its use and conservation status

We report the discovery of the Sikkim Frog, Ombrana sikimensis from Central Bhutan's Zhemgang district, in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The frog which was found residing in a clean perennial stream is used by the local human population for consumption. It is supposed to heal stomach related ailments. This record will help Bhutan understand the use and importance of the species and help in prioritizing conservation

Modeling Distribution and Habitat Suitability for the Snow Leopard in Bhutan

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is one of the world's most elusive felids. In Bhutan, which is one of the 12 countries where the species still persists, reliable information on its distribution and habitat suitability is lacking, thus impeding effective conservation planning for the species. To fill this knowledge gap, we created a country-wide species distribution model using "presence-only" data from 420 snow leopard occurrences (345 from a sign survey and 77 from a camera-trapping survey) and 12 environmental covariates consisting of biophysical and anthropogenic factors. We analyzed the data in an ensemble model framework which combines the outputs from several species distribution models. To assess the adequacy of Bhutan's network of protected areas and their potential contribution toward the conservation of the species, we overlaid the output of the ensemble model on the spatial layers of protected areas and biological corridors. The ensemble model identified 7,206 km2 of Bhutan as suitable for the snow leopard: 3,647 km2 as highly suitable, 2,681 km2 as moderately suitable, and 878 km2 as marginally suitable. Forty percent of the total suitable habitat consisted of protected areas and a further 8% of biological corridors. These suitable habitats were characterized by a mean livestock density of 1.3 individuals per hectare, and a mean slope of 25◦; they closely match the distribution of the snow leopard's main wild prey, the bharal (Pseudois nayaur). Our study shows that Bhutan's northern protected areas are a centre for snow leopard conservation both at the national and regional scale

Effects of Adolescents’ Socioeconomic Status on Their Self-esteem: A Case of School going Adolescents in Central Bhutan

Many factors have been suggested, debated and instituted across the schools toward enhancing the quality of learning. However, the psychological aspect of learners rarely come up as an issue of discussion though various researches has pointed that improving the psychological aspect of learners can have a profound effect on the overall success and well-being of learners. One prominent psychological aspect of learners is self esteem that can have a significant effect on the way learner engages in activities, deals with challenges and connects with others. It also has an influence on learner’s motivation to learn competently and willing to face challenges. Therefore, this study examines the effects of adolescents’ socioeconomic status on their self-esteem at school. The study was conducted on the 61 adolescents from grade six to eight studying in three different schools in central Bhutan. A sequential mixed method based on survey, students’ reflections and interview were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistical techniques and Pearson correlation were used analyzed the quantitative data. The qualitative data was inductively analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. The findings showed the significant positive correlation between the self-esteem and socioeconomic status indicators such as father’s education level, family monthly income and modes of travel to reach. Findings also indicated that adolescents’ school context experiences such as low academic achievement, interpersonal relationship with their teachers and peers, participation in co-curricular activities, friends undermining their intelligence was reported to be affecting their self-esteem at school. Further, finding suggest that adolescents’ school experience was influenced by their SES that ultimately affecting their self-esteem at school. The findings from this study suggest that education stakeholders in Bhutan need to understand how the adolescents’ school context experiences and socio-cultural aspects could impact the students’ self-esteem and emotion at school. While there has been some indication in this study that school context experiences and socio-cultural aspects impacting the students’ self-esteem and emotions, further research needs to carried out to explored this issue and accordingly addressed. Otherwise, the poor self-esteem and negative emotions at adolescence age period is link to later mental health and its related behaviour, poor educational attainment and economic participation, and well-being. Keywords: adolescent, self-esteem, socioeconomic status DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-8-01 Publication date:March 31st 202

Risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Bhutan: An analysis of the 2014 Bhutan STEPS Survey data

Suicide is a major public health problem globally. Data on the factors influencing suicidal behaviours that can inform prevention policies are limited in Bhutan. This study used the dataset of the nationally-representative Bhutan STEPS Survey conducted in 2014 that assessed the non-communicable disease risk factors. Using a backward elimination approach, multiple logistic regression analysis accounting for the complex survey design was performed to identify the factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adults separately. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt was 3.1% and 0.7%, respectively. We found female gender, being unemployed, low and middle household income than high household income, and having a family history of suicide were associated with higher odds of having suicidal ideation. Younger age and alcohol consumption were associated with both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. While those from the middle-income group compared to those in the high-income group had reduced odds of attempting suicide. The findings can help inform policy investments for suicide prevention. Prevention programs that target young people, females, and low socioeconomic groups, and aimed to reduce harmful alcohol use can help prevent suicidal behaviours

An Exemplary National COVID-19 Vaccination: Lessons from Bhutan

Vaccination remains a key public health intervention against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccine distribution and coverage are variable between countries due to access and implementation issues. Vaccine inequity was evident with some countries having no access to the vaccines while others have initiated multiple booster doses. We share Bhutan’s approach to COVID-19 vaccination and lessons learned during the successful conduct of a nationwide vaccination program. As of 12 December 2021, 80.3% of the Bhutanese population have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 77.0% have received at least two doses. Considering age groups, 97.2% of adults (18 years) have received at least one dose and 93.6% have received at least two doses. The first dose coverage for the adolescents 12–17 years was 99.7% and second dose coverage was 92.3% since some were not yet due for their second dose at the time of writing this report. The well-established existing national immunization program was especially useful in the implementation of the national COVID-19 vaccination program. The Bhutan Vaccine System, a digital platform for registration and monitoring of vaccination, was rapidly developed and extensively utilized during the campaign. The selfless leadership of the king, the government, and prior detailed planning with multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination, was the key in this exemplary vaccination program. Bhutan has successfully vaccinated children between 5–11 years with high coverage and no serious issues. Many adults have also received first and second booster doses, based on their risks and preferences

Gross National Happiness: an introductory editorial

The editorial Essay of a set of all together ten papers discusses the concept of Gross National Happiness as a model for development and describes the content of each paper. The authors deal also with the concept of the Human Development Index (HDI) and the works of the Indian economist Amartya Sen

Cosmological Subjectivities : Exploring 'Truth' Environmentalities in the Haa Highlands of Bhutan

This paper explores local perceptions of the landscape in a small highland community near Haa, Bhutan. Through the lens of ethnoecology, it documents a storied landscape in which an animist cosmology, underpinned by Buddhism, shapes local subjectivities in particular ways that influence behaviour in relation to this landscape. We draw on this case to contribute to a growing body of research exploring how environmental governance understood as Foucauldian-inspired 'environmentality' works to create 'environmental subjects'. While initial work in this area describes a monolithic environmentality, more recent research outlines multiple environmentalities (neoliberal, disciplinary, sovereign and truth) to demonstrate how processes of subject formation occur differently in relation to each of these. Within this research, however, attention to truth environmentality and the particular forms of environmental subjectivity it cultivates has been largely absent thus far. Our analysis addresses this gap by exploring how members of the herding community in the case under investigation describe relationships with a set of cosmological entities that motivate specific self-understandings leading to conservation-conducive behaviour. In this way, our analysis highlights how this particular approach to the 'conduct of conduct' works to shape specific environmental subjectivities beyond those currently highlighted in the burgeoning environmentalities literature

Risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Bhutan: An analysis of the 2014 Bhutan STEPS Survey data.

Suicide is a major public health problem globally. Data on the factors influencing suicidal behaviours that can inform prevention policies are limited in Bhutan. This study used the dataset of the nationally-representative Bhutan STEPS Survey conducted in 2014 that assessed the non-communicable disease risk factors. Using a backward elimination approach, multiple logistic regression analysis accounting for the complex survey design was performed to identify the factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in adults separately. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt was 3.1% and 0.7%, respectively. We found female gender, being unemployed, low and middle household income than high household income, and having a family history of suicide were associated with higher odds of having suicidal ideation. Younger age and alcohol consumption were associated with both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. While those from the middle-income group compared to those in the high-income group had reduced odds of attempting suicide. The findings can help inform policy investments for suicide prevention. Prevention programs that target young people, females, and low socioeconomic groups, and aimed to reduce harmful alcohol use can help prevent suicidal behaviours

Species diversity and spatial distribution of snakes in Jigme Dorji National Park and adjoining areas, western Bhutan

This paper presents the results of a study conducted on the diversity and spatial distribution of snakes along the elevation gradients of Mochu River valley in Jigme Dorji National Park and its adjoining areas.  The survey was conducted from July–September 2014 and May–July 2015.  The study aimed to assess the diversity and distribution of snakes using opportunistic the visual encounter survey technique.  A total of 17 species of snakes belonging to 15 genera and three families were documented during the study period.  More than 53% of species were recorded in the lower sampling sites (between 1,200–500 m) indicating more favourable climatic conditions and habitat types for snakes assemblages at lower elevations indicating the importance of protecting low land forest areas for the conservation of snakes in the Bhutanese mountain ecosystem.  </div