Staff reporter 

To streamline accurate information sharing amid overwhelming Covid-19 related news on social media shared by different agencies and media, the Department of Information and Media (DoIM) encourage people to get accurate information from the consolidated Covid-19 webpage (www.gov.bt/covid-19). 

The webpage has been operational since the first lockdown. The page aims to streamline communication of government agencies related to the Covid-19 issues in the country and to make the information easily accessible to the general public on a single page.




According to the press release from DoIM, the initiative was to ensure accurate and timely information from primary sources regarding Covid-19 related matters are conveyed to everyone. 

It states that the 56th Lhengye Zhungtshog decided and conveyed that all government and autonomous agencies are required to share a copy of all press releases, announcements or notifications related to Covid-19 with DoIM. “One can directly access all information on Covid-19 in the webpage rather than accessing various websites.” 

Besides, to make timely information accessible to the people, the print media were asked to make soft copies of the paper available to all hard copy subscribers. As media houses face issues in accessing the subscribers, DoIM requests subscribers to send their email addresses to the newspapers to receive their soft copies on time. “The Department of Information Technology and Telecom, Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA)and relevant agencies are also working to provide uninterrupted internet services to facilitate access to the other services.”




Recognising the importance of information dissemination and entertainment during such unprecedented times, the department, in collaboration with BICMA, facilitates the installation of Ku Band dishes in remote areas where cable television services are not reached. 

Recent surveys indicate that about 29,000 households do not have BBS connectivity. Four licensed permit holders are allowed to install the Ku Band dishes in the dzongkhags. 

The department is making information and media more accessible to the public and improving the flow of data from the government.