In the third round of Question Hour for the Ministers in Group A, five questions for oral responses and three questions for written responses were tabled in the House. Three oral questions were directed to the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) and one each oral questions were addressed to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) and Minister for Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) and all three questions for written response were addressed to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT).

The Member from the Maenbi-Tshenkhar Constituency questioned the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment on the  decline in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranked Bhutan in 152nd place out of 180 countries, down from 33rd in 2022. Highlighting issues such as self-censorship, restricted access to state-held information, and the erosion of democratic discourse, the Member asked what concrete legislative, institutional, or administrative measures are being taken to reverse the trend and restore media freedom in Bhutan. 

The Minister acknowledged the importance of media independence in a democracy and emphasized the government's ongoing support, noting that Nu. 4.90 million has been provided to six private newspapers as part of financial assistance. The 2018 Information, Communications and Media Act is currently under review, and a Media Endowment Fund is also under consideration.

Further, the government recognized challenges related to access to information and while the Right to Information Bill had not progressed in the past, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for Sharing of Public Information with Media is in place to enhance transparency and access to information. The Minister added that media perception and self-censorship issues also need to be empirically studied through a government-led assessment of the current media landscape.

Finally, the Minister stated that Bhutan should not be judged by a single international ranking, and noted that in contrast, Bhutan ranked 15th in Transparency International’s index, demonstrating progress in other areas. The government remains committed to strengthening freedom of information and media independence through improved legislative and institutional frameworks.

The Member from the Nganglam Constituency questioned the Minister for Energy and Natural Resources on the environmental impact of hoisting 108 prayer flags for every departed soul, which contributes to deforestation. Proposing the use of reusable iron flagpoles by Gewogs, the Member asked whether the Ministry has plans or budgetary support to promote this sustainable alternative while preserving the cultural tradition.

The Minister for Energy and Natural Resources acknowledged the environmental concern raised regarding the traditional practice of hoisting 108 prayer flags for the deceased, which is detrimental to the environment. While this practice holds deep cultural and religious significance in Bhutan, it also poses a challenge to the constitutional mandate of maintaining a minimum of 60 percent forest cover. To address this, the government plans to implement following strategies to promote more sustainable alternatives without compromising cultural values:

1. Reuse of Existing Poles: The forest officials can assess the possibility of reusing the old poles to minimize further felling of trees.

2. Scientific Thinning and Localized Sourcing:  Forest officials can identify suitable areas for sustainable harvesting, especially in regions with dense forest cover, to ensure minimal environmental disruption.

3. Promotion of use of Bamboo Poles: The use of bamboo, which grows quickly and regenerates naturally, is encouraged as a substitute for wooden poles. Bamboo is also durable making it a viable eco-friendly option.

4. Use of Monopoles: Although not widely adopted yet, the Ministry is promoting the use of monopoles, single sturdy poles that can hold multiple flags, as one of the strategies to reduce the number of individual flagpoles.
   
   

The Minister submitted that as for provision of subsidy for Iron Poles, the government would explore the possibility depending on the government's fiscal capacity and after the exhaustion of all the strategies outlined earlier. The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to balancing cultural preservation with environmental sustainability and will continue exploring innovative solutions through policy and community engagement.

The Member from Thrimshing-Kangpara constituency questioned the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) on the strategies being implemented to address youth unemployment effectively.

The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) acknowledged the seriousness of youth unemployment and assured that it remains a national priority. Notably, the youth unemployment rate has shown improvement, decreasing from 19% in 2024 to 17.7% in 2025. Currently, 4,314 youths are registered for employment support.

The Minister submitted  that the government is looking into the issue by providing Training and Skilling Development Programs with 2,043 youths trained under different initiatives. The Ministry is also collaborating with the Desuung Skilling Program, Entrepreneurship Skills Program (ESP) and OGOP. Additionally, the Minister reported that 514 youth have been sent abroad through the Overseas Employment Program and 600 are registered under the National Reintegration Program. The Minister also submitted that the government has strengthened employment services by establishing regional employment centers and introducing an employment-responsibility system. Monthly labor market information is collected to guide policy-making and career support services. Further Entrepreneurship is being promoted through start-up centers and funding support under the 21st Century Economic Roadmap, including the Nu. 8 Billion Bhutan Entrepreneurship Fund. The government is working closely with the private sector, NGOs, and other partners to create more employment opportunities and foster a vibrant job market.

The Member from the Lamgong-Wangchang Constituency questioned the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment on the need to improve permanent public and roadside toilet facilities. While initiatives like “Toilets on Wheels” exist, many facilities remain inaccessible or poorly maintained. The Member asked about plans for expanding public toilets, collaboration with LGs, private sector and CSOs, and whether policy or funding support is planned under tourism and service development programs.

In response, the Minister acknowledged the importance of clean and accessible toilets as part of Bhutan’s broader goal of enhancing tourism services and community well-being. The Ministry, in consultation with the tourism industry, reported that over 100 public toilets have already been installed along major highways.

Going forward, the Minister submitted that the Ministry is taking a more integrated approach under the Roadside Amenities Plan, which includes not just toilets, but also facilities such as parking spaces, electric vehicle charging stations and stalls for vendors. The identification of sites and virtual monitoring systems for these amenities are underway to ensure functionality and upkeep. 

The Minister also emphasized the importance of long-term maintenance and management of these facilities in addition to its construction are critical. Therefore, he said that it was important to  collaborate with local governments, private individuals, CSOs and monastic institutions. Gewogs and Dzongkhags are being given responsibility for the upkeep of these facilities, and partnerships through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are being explored for sustainable infrastructure development.

On policy and funding, the Ministry affirmed that public sanitation is recognized as a vital service. Accordingly, budgetary support is being provided under tourism development programs. This includes mapping of amenity sites and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure basic infrastructure is prioritized. The Health Minister also emphasized the vital role of sanitation in preventing disease, especially in schools and rural communities. The Ministry is actively working on improving sanitation facilities across the country as part of broader public health initiatives. Similarly the Education Minister also confirmed that budget allocations have been made for the construction of new toilets in schools and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring proper sanitation infrastructure in all educational institutions.

The Member from the Dophuchen-Tading Constituency thanked the Government for blacktopping the Tading GC Road and maintaining the Denchukha suspension bridge. However, the bridge remains unsuitable for heavy transport and is unsafe during monsoons. The Member urged the Ministry to consider an alternative bypass road and asked whether the Ministry has reviewed the proposal and if there are plans or updates for its implementation.

In response, the Minister acknowledged the critical issue concerning the Denchukha suspension bridge and thanked the Member for raising a matter of genuine concern. He explained that the bridge is currently not suitable for reinforcement due to technical limitations. Specifically, the existing 400-meter-long suspension bridge cannot be upgraded to a Bailey bridge, as the span exceeds Bailey bridge specifications. Therefore, the two practical options are either to construct a new permanent bridge, which would involve significant financial investment or to explore the construction of an alternative bypass road.