Landslide

A landslide on 13^th November in Zulphaygaon village had eroded the thick vegetation and had caused the blockage of a small river. It also had become too dangerous to travel from this site seeing the cracks and the wetness of the land above the land slide area. The site is one hour walk from the road point of NFE (Non Formal Education) Center.

The Dzongkhag Disaster Committee comprised of Dasho Dzongrab, District Engineer and the Disaster Focal Person, Tshodrung and the Gewog Officials visited the affected site or the landslides on 16^th November.

And it was a joint verification and the inspection for the submission to the DDM (Department of Disaster Management) and the possibilities the Gewog and Dzongkhag can do to prevent any mishaps.

The only immediate need to do was to advise the residents and the passerby and also the school going children of Mendrelgang School to avoid going from this affected site and also not to go in and around this area.

The landslide had occurred in a huge portion of approximately three hundred feet and the small river was also blocked which has caused the water to be stagnant even though there was a continuous water seepage from below. 

Although it has not affected any houses or any crops grown yet the continuity of the landslides is also likely to create a water dam blocking the water flow and is likely to affect more of the forest vegetation.

The small river diverts the border of Mendrelgang Gewog and Rangthangling Gewog and the small portion of landslide can also be seen on the other side, the end point of Zamlingzor village under Mendrelgang Gewog.

The Dzongkhag Disaster committee also assured of their submission of the report to DDM.

And for the time being from the Gewog Administration a letter was also sent to the Tshogpa and also to the Mendrelgang Gup (Local leader) to caution the residents and the school going children.

The Written Notification which is to be kept ahead of the site cautioning all the travelers or the passerby was also sent from the Gewog Administration to avoid any mishaps in future whish states as “ Please don’t go from here, a prone Area”

By Lobzang Choda

R/ling Gewog

Serjim - Yarjeywoong Farmroad Construction Begins

Serjim to Yarjeywoong farm road will be constructed from Gewog Development Grant. The road will be about 0.75 km long. It will pass through both private and government lands.

Yarjeywoong is one of the chiwogs under Choekhorling gewog. It is the second least populated chiwog with 14 households.

Tenders have been opened at 2pm on 14^th November 2014. “The tenders are being evaluated and the work will begin soon. The work includes road formation cuttings and construction of side and cross drains. Maintenance of permanent structures like retaining walls will also be done.” said the assistant engineer of the drungkhag, Cheje Wangdi.

“The road will benefit the people of Yarjeywoong and hence the farming works will be improved too” said the gup of Choekhorling gewog, Tshelthrim Dorji.

Compiled by:

Yeshey Wangmo

GAO, Choekhorling

Tough being in Private Sector employee

Sonam Phuntsho(name changed),28, is a private employee.He has been working in a private firm for last eight years.All the while,he has not been getting his salary on time.He has not been received his pay for the last two months.

"working in private organization is very tough,"he said.With the increase in price on the grocery items and others in the market and meagre salary he gets,it has become very hard on him to meet the daily needs at home.

"i took a loan of Nu. 3,00,000 from Bhutan Development Bank to meet daily needs at home," he said. Although it sounds hilarious ,he has no choice because unemployment has become a pressing issue in Bhutan.

He remains positive about the situation and he is very hopeful that the situation will improve soon.But he`s considering working for another organisation if he gets a more secure job.



Karma Tenzin

A man who work selflessly

 

Mr Dechen Wangdi was a monk for 10 years at Yonglagoenpa dratshang under Pemagatshel. Thereafter he worked in PWD and in FCB as a clerk.

He returned to his village to contribute thinking that he could do something for his village and joined as a Tshogpa.

 

 In 2011, due to his old age, he decided not to stand for the post of Tshogpa and he also wanted to spent some quality time with them.  Since there was no one to stand for the post, he had to be re-elected again to serve as a Tshogpa. When there was no one who is willing and to serve as a Tshogpa in his vicinity, the community encouraged him and reelected him for the next tenure.

 

During his tenure as a Tshogpa he came across different challenges and experiences. He finds present generation to be  far better than the past. Earlier there were no electricity, road connectivity, call network and other developmental activities. To reach Pemagatshel, he had to travel for one day through mule track carrying lunch pack. He had to go door to door to inform villages for the zomdue. But now the situation has changed with better facilities, making him happy and blessed. He said “I am relieved, if I have to call public for zomdu I use my mobile and give information within few second.”

 

He finds it difficult to do his daily household chores since he deosn’t stay with his wife and his daughter. His wife has no option other than to stay with their daughter as the daughter works in one of the company. Sometime during official visit in the chiwog, Mr Dechen prepares everything by himself without support from anyone. He brews a local wine (ara and bangchang) to serve during guest visit to his house.  He is craving to stay with his only daughter and with his wife, reciting prayers and doing meditation but on other hand Mr Dechen wants to dedicate his life to the duty.

 

He compromises his family time for the well being of his community and Gewog.

 

 

Namgay Wangmo

GAO, Yurung

Pemagatshel

story from barp gewog

                                                          Genuine Kidu Recepient

 70 years Ap Rinchen from Jalu village under Barp gewog , Punakha Dzongkhagis kidu recipient from His majesty the 5^th King. He is visually impaired. He has burn scars all over his body and has only  one hand.

Eight years ago, he got burnt along with the hut when he was sleeping in, near the centenary farmers’ market in Thimphu. He had no one around to shout help him. The four boys pulled him out of the hut next morning with 50 percent burns. He was admitted to Thimphu hospital.

Ap Rinchen said his fourth wife died when he was 60 years. He never married again nor has children from any of his wives. After his fourth wife’s death, he was been alone without relatives. He stays at others place and the shopkeepers from Lobesa help him for his fooding and lodging. For more than months he was admitted at Punakha hospital for the eye treatment.

Five years after the fire incident, he was brought to Thimphu Hospital for a cornea transplant. The transplant was able to see again. After the treatment from Thimphu hospital he came back to Lobesa, he started drinking and slowly he lost his vision again. He again went to Thimphu for the check up and come to know that the cornea transplanted in his eyes was an artificial cornea which is made of plastic and needs much care to it.

Presently he is at Thimphu Hospital, since he has no place to stay and no one to look after him. Doctor said Ap Rinchen to stay in the hospital. He will remain at the hospital until another artificial cornea is arranged for him, “the Doctor said.”

                                                                                                                                                                         Kelzang Dema

                                                                                                                                                                         Barp GAO.

Democracy to the villagers

Year 2008, the journey towards Democracy begins right after the kingdom celebrates 100 years of monarchy. The visionary fourth Druk Gyelpo shared concern on the development philosophy in modern Bhutan. His Majesty himself took keen interest ushering in change and discussing draft constitution with the people thereby accept the institution of Democracy in the country. 

Thus Bhutan was finding new path into its future anticipating the concept, by the people, for the people.  

The year 2008 was one of the important years in the history of Bhutan’s political journey. People dressed in colorful attire with packed lunch moved to the polling stations where their franchise will be cast to elect first democratic elected government of Bhutan. Remarkably the voter turnout for National Assembly election was 79.3% of which the rural voter was high 

Barely six year now, still cannot figure out whether people in rural areas really understand the concept of Democracy. Every individual I talked about democracy at my work place, they have negative response which attribute the ignorance of Democracy to their minds. They have a notion that the power to change in the society is bestow upon them which is absolutely right but doesn’t make sense when they expect personal gain in return to the vote. “I did vote for him and his party” therefore I have a right to ask him that directly benefit me, said Aum Zangmo. Very few people do not expects individual gain but they definitely look forward for the rapid gewog development such as new farm road, safe drinking water, up gradation of old schools, enhance supply of high yielding seeds and farming technologies

Meme Lhendrup Zangpo from remote village and few others dare not worry since they believe in His Majesty, the guardian of the country to look after them. To Some democracy is empowering people and should use wisely.  The majority thinks that the democracy will only facilitate what our monarch had been doing for ages, serving people and the county. Without realizing the impact the democracy will bring in their lives, people still thinks democracy is just waste of resources 

 Sangay Tenzin, retire local leader, one of the renown and respected in the village recalled 2008, a year of cue and confusion, breakdown of relationships, some to extend where divorce petition was put up to gewog. Despite the fact that the new era had begun where things that seem impossible for ages can be possible now

 He even highlighted on the advocacy and sensitization program on democracy. Suggested it should be one of the main priority from Election Commission of Bhutan. Hence understanding the concept of democracy in depth will enhance the voter turnout in righteous manner unlike earlier. 

Having participated and served for two democratic elections so far, I see more relatives, means more vote especially in rural areas. People hardly see the candidate’s capability to change their lives but favors the closest. Rural people can be easily influences and are very venerable to bribe and false promises. 

We believe changing the mind sets of the rural peoples are tough yet we see hope possibility in their innocent faces to accept changes as the country moves forward towards modernization.

Tshering Dorji

GAO

Drepong gewog, Mongar