Category: Press Release

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (DGRK) has provided income support Kidu to 54,783 individuals from 14 April 2020 till date. All of these individuals have received Kidu at least once over the past 23 months. Monthly child support Kidu to around 7,000 children of the applicants have also been provided. As of February, 2022, Nu. 4,163.33 million has been disbursed. Read More

The threat of COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of our people is looming larger than ever
before. Therefore, the need for enhanced vigilance and care across the country has become very
important. Read More

Applications for the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (DGRK) opened in April 2021 following the address from the Prime Minister on 22nd April 2021 conveying the Command of His Majesty The King on the continuation of the Relief Kidu for an additional period of 15 months from April 2021 for people who continue to face difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu has granted Nu. 2.25 billion in monthly income support in the last one year (14th April 2020 – 31st March 2021). 52,644 individuals had applied for the Relief Kidu, out of which, 45,766 or 86.9% of the total, received Kidu at least once. Read More

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu received 13,409 applications from the start of the lockdown until date i.e. from 20th December 2020 until 14th January 2021. Applications had drastically reduced from November, averaging 10 per day in early December. There was a surge immediately after the continuation of the Kidu was announced on 24th December 2020. Read More

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu will be continued from January to March 2021 and will grant Nu. 10,000 and Nu. 7,000 for the full and partial amounts, respectively.
Individuals who applied between October and December 2020 DO NOT have to re-apply. Applications are open to new applicants. Applications can be lodged at www.royalkidu.bt or by calling the following toll free numbers: 1184 for Phuntsholing/Chhukha and 1186, 1187 or 1188 for all other Dzongkhags. Applicants can also contact the Dzongkhag Administration / Dasho Drangpons as well as the following numbers for queries and assistance: 77359783, 77359784, 77359795, 17342162, 17467860, 17517356.
Read More

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Applications

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu was launched on 14 April 2020 to provide income support to individuals whose livelihoods were affected because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

33,829 applications were received in Phase I (April – June 2020). The majority of the applicants i.e. around 34% was from the tourism sector, followed by 14% from the transport and communication sector, 12% from retail and 9% from restaurant and food services.

Over 30,000 applications were received in Phase II (July – September 2020), out of which, 74% were re-applicants from Phase I.

In total, over 41,000 applications were received between April and September 2020, of which 54% were male and 46% were female. The majority of the applicants i.e. around 26% were in the 25-29 year age group followed by 23% in the 20-24 year age group. 24% have a higher secondary education level 20% with middle secondary education level.

Kidu Beneficiaries

In the Phase I, 74% of the applicants i.e. 25,126 received Kidu, of which 55% were male and 45% were female. 13,314 children were also covered under the child support Kidu of additional Nu.800 per child per month. Including child support Kidu of Nu. 27 million, a total amount of Nu. 680 million was granted to 25,126 beneficiaries.

In the Phase II, over 27,000 applicants received Kidu, of which 53% were male and 47% were female. Over 6,000 children were also covered under the child support Kidu. Including child support Kidu of Nu.14 million, around Nu. 500 million was granted in Phase II.

In total, Nu.1.2 billion was granted to over 33,000 beneficiaries and over 14,000 children in the last six months.

Over the course of Phase I, 3,099 applicants withdrew from the Kidu while 86 applicants withdrew over the course of Phase II, with most of the applicants withdrawing after having found alternative employment.

The Kidu amount was revised from Nu. 12,000 and Nu. 8,000 in Phase I to Nu. 10,000 and Nu. 7,000 in Phase II. Kidu will continue to be granted at Nu. 10,000 and Nu. 7,000 for Phase III.

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The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu has granted Nu. 150 million as the first disbursement of the Relief Kidu to 13,006 people. The Relief Kidu will be at Nu. 12,000 per person per month for recipients of the full amount of the Kidu and Nu. 8,000 per month for recipients of the partial amount of the Kidu. Additional support of Nu.800 per child per month will be granted to eligible beneficiaries with children. The Kidu will be provided for three months – April, May and June 2020

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu was commanded by His Majesty The King in a Royal Address to the nation on 10^th April 2020 for people directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A committee, headed by the Prime Minister, was established to oversee the implementation process. The Prime Minister launched the application process on 14^th April 2020.

Announcing the disbursement of the Relief Kidu on 30 April 2020, the Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Dr. Lotay Tshering, said that the first batch of 13,006 recipients were screened from among 18,880 people who applied for the Kidu between 14^th and 23^rd April 2020. He said that the verification team established and supervised by the committee was assessing the remaining applications. 

More than 20,000 people from all 20 dzongkhags have applied for the Relief Kidu between 14^th and 29^th April 2020.

As the Relief Kidu is granted to an individual for a period of three months, it will be critical for the recipient to actively seek employment opportunities. To this end, the government, in partnership with the private sector, will also facilitate the creation of employment opportunities for affected people by expediting and accelerating the implementation of the reprioritized activities of the 12th plan through frontloading of budgetary outlays. The government will actively match the individuals with job openings. This will allow affected individuals to find employment, thereby enabling them to transition out of the Kidu. It will be of utmost importance for all Bhutanese to participate in the nation building process to support their livelihoods and sustain national economic activities.

The continuation of the Relief Kidu will depend on the evolving nature of the pandemic and the government’s COVID-19 containment measures. If the situation worsens over time, more individuals will have to be supported and the Kidu amount will be determined on a downward sliding scale to ensure wider coverage.

Background

His Majesty The King in the address to the nation on 10 April 2020 commanded that:

“Many of our people working in the tourism and hospitality sector, including small restaurants, entertainment centers, truck drivers, taxi drivers, etc., have suffered loss of jobs and income, and are finding it difficult even to pay house rents. It is of utmost importance to extend immediate relief to the vulnerable people before the situation deteriorates. Therefore, the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu will be granted to support the people, provide relief, and enable them to withstand their ordeals through this period.”

Bhutanese people across generations have been blessed with monarchs who have placed paramount importance on the welfare of the people, with particular concern for the most vulnerable sections of our society. The grant of Royal Kidu, a uniquely Bhutanese institution, has enabled people on the margins of subsistence to enhance their economic security and uphold their dignity.

In accordance with the Royal Command, a committee headed by the Prime Minister was established to oversee the implementation process. On 14 April 2020, the Prime Minister launched the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu application process for people directly affected by the COVID 19 pandemic.

The Relief Kidu granted by His Majesty The King during these difficult times will provide immediate financial support to distressed individuals for their sustenance. Besides defraying living expenses and sustaining demand for goods and services, the Royal Kidu would also boost morale and provide assurance and hope despite the current hardships.

Application Process

The Relief Kidu application process is designed to ensure accessibility and transparency with simultaneous application through online processes as well as through walk-in centers across the 20 Dzongkhags and a toll free line (1188) to respond to queries from the people. Furthermore, the committee also ensured widespread publicity though television, radio, newsprint and social media. Government officials in the Dzongkhags also provided valuable support to spread the message as well as assist applicants.

The committee is assisted by over 100 officials who have been engaged in responding to telephone calls, verifying data and information and providing detailed analysis of the application process.

Eligibility

The Committee has considered the following eligible categories of applicants for the first round of assessments:

1. Employees who have been laid off, or placed on unpaid leave or reduced salary from businesses affected by COVID-19 such as tourism and tourism-dependent sectors, businesses mandated to close by Government order and activities affected to a greater degree by physical distancing and curfew;
2. Bhutanese who were working abroad and have returned home and do not have any other source of income;
3. Self-employed individuals who have lost their earnings either partially or completely.

The Kidu will be provided for three months – April, May and June 2020

Amount of the Relief Kidu

The amount of Relief Kidu granted to individuals is as follows:

Full amount:                    Nu. 12,000 per month

Partial amount:               Nu. 8,000 per month

The following groups have been assessed for the full amount of the Relief Kidu:

• Employees of affected businesses who have been laid off, or placed on unpaid leave or reduced pay
• Self-employed individuals in the tourism sector who have lost their earnings
• Bhutanese workers who have returned home from abroad because of the pandemic and have no other sources of income

Self-employed individuals in tourism-linked businesses and other businesses affected by social distancing, mandatory closures and curfews have been assessed partial amount of the Relief Kidu.

In addition to the above, child support of Nu.800 per child per month has also been granted. The additional child support will be disbursed within the first half of May 2020 following additional verification.

Data on Applications and Assessment Outcomes

A total of 20,335 applications were received between 14^th and 28^th April 2020.

Assessments were carried out for 18,880 applications that were received between 14^th and 23^rd April 2020 with the following outcomes:

• 13,006 applications were assessed as being eligible for the Relief Kidu
• 310 applicants have withdrawn their applications
• The remaining 5,564 applications are being reviewed.

All applicants will be notified through sms message on their status, including those applications that are under review.

The Relief Kidu for the 13,006 recipients will be disbursed directly into the recipients’ bank accounts. Recipients who do not have a bank account will receive the Relief Kidu in cash from the Dzongkhag Kidu Officers.

The following numbers can be contacted between 9am and 7pm for any clarifications:

• 77359783
• 77359784
• 77359795
• 17342162
• 17467860
• 17517356