ROLE OF ICT INGROSS NATIONAL

HAPPINESSFOUR PILLARS

Group 2

Tashi Wangmo

Tshering Wangmo

Sangay Choda

Jigme Wangchuk

Objectives: To learn and familiarize on role of ICT tools applied in

development approach, GNH

ICT Trends in Bhutan• Prior to ICT, Bhutan remained almost dormant in socio-economic development

• Telephone services started in 1963

• Radio introduced in 11th Nov, 1973 by NYAB (in 1986, renamed BBS)

• National Telecom network for all 20 Dzongkhags were completed in 1998

• Information Technology incorporated in Education sector since 1992

• Internet services and television launched in June 1999

• Mobile communication services launched in 2003

• Other radio station in Bhutan

• Kuzu FM (2006)

• Radio valley (2007)

• Centennial Wave (2008)

• Radio valley (2010)

• Now ICT has become indispensable daily parts and parcel of the people in country

BHUTAN’S DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY

Gross National Happiness as the middle path for development

4 Pillars of

GNH

Promotion of equitable and sustainable

socio-economic development

Conservation of the

Natural Environment

Preservation and

promotion of cultural values

Establishment of good

governance

3

PROMOTION OF EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Powerful tools for social and economic development.

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Globalization and participation into international trade.

• Progress in ICT has caused many structural changes such as reorganizing of

economics, globalization, and trade extension and enhancing information

availability.

PROMOTION OF EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• ICT has impact on policies in development.

empowering youth and women

generating new employment opportunities

• Information based society- connected through internet.Social networking (Facebook, twitter, … )

Online news paper. (kuenselonline, the Bhutanese…)

• internet is changing the way companies do business, transforming public

service delivery and innovations.

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

• ECO-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY

Energy saving gadgets. (five energy star television/ fridge, laptops…..)

E-services (e-Load, e-billing, e-banking, e-filling…….. )

Electric Engines/ machines (electric car, electric rice mill…..)

• DIGITAL AGE. “ save paper, saves trees, save environment”

digital copy.

e-book, e-library…

E-mail, SMS

• Disaster Management

Early warning system, glacier monitoring system, disaster prediction…

Satellite mapping for zones of glacier meltdown, flash flood, earthquake.

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES-CONT.

• IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D)

improving efficiency of technology

Innovation of new environmental friendly technology.

• WASTE MANAGEMENT

recycling tools, waste segregation, processing waste for dumping.

• INFORMATION SHARING

Dissemination of environment saving ideas,

Creating awareness, announcement,

• MONITORING ENVIRONMENT

Carbon Emission test, GHG emission test…

Pollution test

ICT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE IN

DEVELOPING COUNTRY.

ICT TOOLS

Good governance can be promoted through ICT by use of :

• e-governance : as a tool for bringing openness and effectiveness to local

administration and citizens are participants.

• Electronic governance: provides better delivery of government services to

citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen

empowerment through access to information.

• Citizen are recipients.

• Example; G2C, G2G, C2G, G2G.

ICT CAN ASSIST GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

• ICT improve the efficiency, transparency and accountability of government

and information sharing between different sectors of government.

• It improve the delivery of public information to citizens, such as laws.-right to

information.

• ICT can improve the provision of information to citizens in support of

government services such as health, education and transport

• lastly improves citizen participation in decision-making by providing the

information required to make decisions.

ICT FOR PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURE

• Preserves and promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

• Document and digitize artifacts, handicrafts, sports, textile and enhance export

opportunities.

• Archive traditional folklore, traditional song's, lozay, Tshangmo, Zhey and

mask dances

• Documentation of history, ethnic language, architecture, democratization and

art.

• Build dzongkha in ICT operating system (computer and mobile)

• ICT can access culture, culture promotes tourism and income generation

CONCLUSION.

• ICT has significant potential to advance Bhutan's progress towards the goal of

GNH.

• In economic growth, ICT has become indispensable for enhancement of

socio-economic development in varying geographical location

• In cultural heritage, ICT tools can be used to archive and disseminate the

artifacts of Bhutan's unique culture.

• Environmentally, ICT can reduce environmental impact through environment

friendly technologies.

• In good governance, ICT can enhance efficiency, accountability and

transparency, and allow greater citizen participation in decision-making.

References• Heeks, R. (2012). Emerging Market, Information Technology and Gross

National Happiness: Connecting Digital Technology and Happiness. University

of Machaster: UK

• Lees, E. (n.d). Intangible Cultural heritage in Modernizing Bhutan: The question

of Remaining viable and dynamic. University of NSW: Australia

• Ministry of Information and Communication (2014). Bhutan e-governance

Master Plan. Royal Government of Bhutan: Thimphu

• MOIC (n.d). A concept whose time has arrive: Vision for Information Society.

Bhutan in the 21st century. Royal Government of Bhutan

• Murugan, S. (n.d). Gross National Happiness through ICTs for Development: A

Case Study of the Jakar Community Multimedia Center