The Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee (GGC), Hon’ble Tenzin reported the follow-up report on the following resolutions of the 8th Session regarding the Anti-Corruption  Commission’s Annual Report 2021-2022:

1. The Anti-Corruption Commission to strengthen awareness and advocacy programs to the Local Government leaders owing to the highest corruption especially abuse of functions in the Local Government.

2. Considering that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had made various recommendations for agencies to implement, the ACC was recommended to submit a follow-up report to the Parliament on the actions taken by concerned Agencies and Ministries in the next reporting year.

3. Concerned agency should also submit a report to the Parliament on the implementation of the ACC’s recommendation on surface collection and dredging of river bed materials in the next session.

4. ACC to continue conducting system assessments like Youth Integrity Assessment, and Social Accountability Assessment in the future.

5. ACC to coordinate with law enforcement agencies regarding their security concerns.

6. Election Commission of Bhutan in collaboration with ACC to monitor and ensure corruption free elections both at the national and local government.

Regarding the resolution for ACC “ to strengthen awareness and advocacy programs to the Local Government leaders”, it was reported that thematic sessions with the newly elected local leaders were conducted, and that the Professional Development Program for LG Leaders were incorporated in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

On the resolution for ACC “to submit a follow-up report on the actions taken by concerned Agencies and Ministries based on ACC various recommendations”, it was reported that the ACC received the implementation status from the erstwhile Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Information & Communication and that they are awaiting update from Thimphu Thromde, erstwhile Ministry of Works & Human Settlement and Chhukha Dzongkhag. The relevant ministers of the Thimphu Thromde, erstwhile Ministry of Works & Human Settlement and Chhukha Dzongkhag reported to follow up and submit the status to the House.

On the resolution “for the concerned agency to submit a report to the Parliament on the implementation of the ACC’s recommendation on surface collection and dredging of river bed materials”, it was submitted that as per the ACC’s recommendation to develop an action plan or the Organizational Integrity Plan (OIP) for effective implementation of the recommendations in the System Study Report on the Management of Surface Collection and Dredging of River Bed Materials, the developed OIP was submitted by concerned agencies in September 2022, which was informed to be implemented with immediate effect.  It was further submitted that an update on the implementation status along with the supporting documents from the agencies was received by the ACC in April 2023 on which the ACC conducted the field verification from 23 April till 9 May 2023 and that the observations from the field are being currently verified.

Pertaining to the resolution passed on ACC “to continue conducting system assessments like Youth Integrity Assessment, and Social Accountability Assessment in the future”,  it was reported that the ACC has noted the recommendation and will review it further to be conducted within the appropriate/realistic time interval. It was further submitted that various assessments like the National Integrity Assessment 2022, third National Corruption Barometer Survey, and Organizational Climate Survey in the ACC are ongoing as of now.

On the resolution for ACC “to coordinate with law enforcement agencies regarding their security concerns”, it was reported that the ACC on 18th July 2023 received a Major with Masters in Security Management on deputation to assist the Commission in establishing Security Unit and that a thorough assessment of existing security systems in Thimphu Head Office and three Regional Offices (Phuentsholing, Bumthang and Trashigang) has been completed. It was further submitted that the resolution has been categorized into immediate, mid-term and long-term plans for implementation and that based on the priority and availability of budget, some of the recommendations have been initiated immediately.

During the 8th Session, the House also passed a resolution for “ACC in collaboration with Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) to monitor and ensure corruption free elections both at the national and local government”. On this, it was reported that the ACC presented proposal on its role during election to the Election Commission of Bhutan for consideration on 9 November, 2022 and a module on anti-corruption has been included in the Civic and Voter Education Modular Framework of the ECB wherein the ACC took part in its dissemination from 12 to 28 September, 2022. It was also reported that the two institutions have formalized procedures for obtaining Integrity Assessment Certificates by aspiring candidates for the National Assembly, National Council and Local Government elections.

There were several suggestions on the 6 resolutions from the Members. The Minister for Home Affairs  has been asked to take up the suggestions with ACC and ECB.

It was followed by a report on the implementation status of the resolution of the motion to provide adequate budget to gewogs for maintenance of Gewog Centre Roads by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The Minister submitted that the Ministry has been allocating an amount of Nu. 30,000/- for every 1 km of Gewog Centre Road annually for maintenance. It was reported that a detailed study by the Ministry found out that only a certain percentage of the budget allocated for the road maintenance was actually used for maintaining the roads and the rest of the budgets were diverted to other areas. Therefore, the Minister submitted three way forward the Ministry has planned for the 13th FYP as:

1. 100% of the budget allocated for the maintenance of Gewog Centre Roads in 2023-2024 will be mandatory used for maintenance of Gewog Centre Roads only;

2. The responsibility of Gewog Centre Roads maintenance from July 2024 on ward will be shifted to the Department of Roads under the Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport from the Gewog Centres; and

3. Gewog Centre Roads will be upgraded to Dzongkhag Roads

The reporting on the follow-up report of resolution of the past Sessions to the House was instituted to place accountability and responsibility.