High incidence

The number of HIV cases is on the rise in Bhutan. A total of 13 people tested positive in 2002, and in all 38 are now infected with the virus in the Himalayan country. The first HIV positive case was diagnosed in 1993. Among those infected are seven housewives, three farmers, 10 civil servants, 12 business people and six sex workers. Tenzing Penjor of the public health division revealed that all the transmissions were believed to have taken place through heterosexual activity.

Sharing knowledge

HIMAWANTI: Women of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas Edited by Anupam Bhatia Artwork by Param Meyangbo Published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2001 Price - Not stated

Preventive measure

The foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a recurring menace for the people of Chhukha dzongkhag (district) in Bhutan. Fed up with the frequent outbreaks, Chhukha has embarked upon a mass immunisation programme that would shield its entire livestock. The district has a livestock population of 1,53,348, and has encountered 13 occurrences of FMD since 1998. As many as 10 of these have taken place between 2001 and 2002.

Fast food

The plant species Amaranths (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) is best-known in north India as ramdana -- loosely translated as 'the lord's grain' or 'the grain gifted by god'. It grows in abundance between the altitudes of 1,000-3,000 metres in the Himalayan region, stretching from Kashmir to Bhutan.

The E-Connection

In an attempt to bridge the digital divide, Bhutan's planning commission secretariat is establishing an information network in all its 20 administrative districts (dzongkhags). The project -- named Planning Information Network (PIN) -- seeks to enhance connectivity by linking up the dzongkhags with the secretariat's Intranet system.

'Ministries play the blame game'

Interviewee:  Jagdish Bahadur

SUNNY DAYS

Solar power is getting a major boost in Bhutan. More schools, health units and monasteries in remote areas will get solar energy now. The officials of the department of power in Bhutan have distributed 50 solar panels and trained 60 technicians in solar power usage. These technicians were given tips on how to install, operate and maintain 'solar photovoltaic' and 'solar thermal' systems at a recent workshop. The systems will mainly go to religious institutions.

TWIN THREAT

Most protected areas in Bhutan are threatened. A major risk is being posed by poaching and fire. The poachers mainly prey on musk deer, blood pheasant and black bear. Musk pod, musk skin, bear bile, rhino horn and snow leopard skin have huge markets in Nepal and India, states a report of the nature conservation division (NCD). The NCD document also reveals that between 1997 and 2001, a total of 99,894 hectares of forest was destroyed by fire. Grazing, timber felling and road construction are also denuding forests.

RAGING FIRES

A fire destroyed more than 50 square kilometres of blue pine forests surrounding Damchu, about seven kilometres towards Chukha, in Bhutan. Abetted by heavy winds, smoke that had wafted from the fire hung over the valley as far as Thimpu town, creating poor visibility.The blaze could not be put out quickly as "the difficult terrain and steep, rocky cliffs made firefighting an uphill task". Motorists were being warned of falling boulders along the area.

COMBATING FOREST FIRES

In an effort to check the growing incidence of forest fires, foresters in Trashigang in Bhutan are involving farmers of the area to combat the havoc. About 190 villagers in Samkhar and 135 in Kanglung have been imparted training in this connection. According to the forest range officer, Dorji Dukpa, training villagers was the best way to control forest fires in the rural areas where the population is sparse. In western Bhutan, most forest fires are caused by negligence or carelessness of the farmers.