Sherab Lhamo
Launched in the 2019-20 fiscal year with a budget of Nu 2.676 billion, the Digital Drukyul flagshi programme has successfully completed seven major projects, with one ongoing.
The completed projects include the National Digital Identity, Government Initiated Network, Integrated Citizen Services, Enhancement of ICT Sector Capacity and Capability, and the Digital School initiative, Integrated Business Licensing System and e-Patient Information System. The remaning project is the Bhutan Integrated Taxation System.
As of 2022, the digital Drukyul flagship programme had spent Nu 1.716 billion. The former information and communications minister reported that the Digital Drukyul programme was 72 percent complete in 2022, during a question and answer session at the Parliament.
The Government Initiated Network received the largest share of Nu 800 million. This project connected schools, hospitals, and research centres to DrukREN, a high-speed 10Gbps network for the research and education community in Bhutan, built by the GovTech Agency.
The National Digital Identity (NDI) project was allocated Nu 450 million. As of June 17, 2024, there were 92,000 registered Bhutan NDI users. The Bhutan NDI wallet is integrated with all government-to-citizen services (G2C), banking apps including Bank of Bhutan, DHI services, e-Rails, and digital degree certificates.
The Integrated Citizen Services project, with an allocation of Nu 150 million, incorporated 10 commonly used services into the G2C platform. These services include birth registration, marriage certificates, passports, license renewals, social security, and pensions, among others.
The ICT Capacity and Capability project, which received Nu 50 million, has trained 10,039 citizens across the country since 2019.
The project developed 15 digital content pieces, trained 90 small and medium-sized enterprises in digital adoption, and conducted digital literacy training in 200 gewogs.
In addition, 2,753 ICT professionals were trained in a variety of skills, including Blockchain, Microservices, and DevOps. The training sessions utilised both hybrid learning approaches and the Udemy online platform, said project officials.
The Digital School project, which received Nu 66 million, equipped schools around the country with Education Management Information System (EMIS) and MySherig Learning Management System (LMS) virtual teaching, which are accessible to all students.
EMIS consists of 11 modules including information on schools, staff, students, and educational institutions. It covers details about school locations, personnel, student enrollment, and early childhood care centres.
MySherig is an online learning platform software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of customised educational courses, training programmes and learning materials for Class PP-XII.
The electronic Patient Information System (ePIS) was launched on April 14, 2023, transitioning from manual, paper-based processes to an online system.
The first phase of Integrated Business Licensing System was launched on August 6, 2022, to provide services through a single window for trade licence, small scale licence with no clearance and small-scale licence with location clearance from Thimphu Thromde.
Bhutan Integrated Taxation System (BITS) remains incomplete after spending Nu 119.111 million. The proposed approach and timeline for completing BITS development is by July 2024, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and non-tax by December 2024, and income tax by December 2025. The delay is attributed to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax, which is aimed at modernising and simplifying the taxation system for enhanced growth and efficiency in various sectors.
Project officials said this project is being continuously developed and will be completed soon.