Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay began his gewog tours in Lhuentse dzongkhag yesterday with Kurtoe.
A resident of Tabe chiwog, Tenzin Dhendup raised concerns on how the gewog budget was spent and its benefit to the public. He suggested that the government study the impact of the allocated fund.
He also said that due to empty households, human wildlife conflict has increased affecting the livelihoods of farmers. “The government should look into this matter,” he said.
Lyonchhen said that because of the gewog budget spent on blacktopped roads and building farm roads, development occurs in a community. With access enhanced, sick people can get healthcare from Basic Health Unit as well as send their children to school.
He said that it is the government’s responsibility to provide basic services like allocation of budget. Human wildlife conflict, he said, could be addressed if villagers use electric fencing. The power tillers have benefitted more than 60 households in the gewog so far and that two more will be provided.
Meeting the people of Kurtoe, Lyonchhen expressed his joy in visiting Kurtoe again, this time to interact with the people about developmental activities and aspirations of the people. Lyonchhen informed the people about the planned activities and the targets achieved in Kurtoe.
Kurtoe with 235 households has 100 percent sanitation and electricity coverage, net school enrollment rate of 99 percent, 28 biogas projects and 30 rural LPG scheme holders.
Lyonchhen shared that Kurtoe had used their Gewog Development Grant for Dungkar Primary School’s maintenance and footpath construction for Dungkar Choejey Lhakhang among others. He thanked the people for spending the GDG on the school and for continuing to preserve the Dungkar Lhakhang.
He said that parents must render services for school and help teachers in grooming their child. He also urged the people to avail proper medical care in times of sickness. Kurtoe, the prime minister said is a significant gewog for Bhutan as it houses the ancestral seat of the Wangchuck dynasty, the descendant of Dungkar Choejey.
In the afternoon, Lyonchhen visited Gangzur gewog. He commended the people on their efforts in animal husbandry, vegetable production works and hazelnut venture and for availing financial assistance from Rural Enterprise Development Corporation Limited (REDCL) for their businesses.
In the evening, lyonchhen met the people of Khoma gewog. Lyonchhen talked to the people on the importance of health facilities and urged women to deliver children at hospital for the safety of both the mother and the child.
As requested by the women of Khoma for a shop to sell kishuthara, Lyonchhen agreed to assist them and asked the dzongkhag administration to help them. Lhuentse dzongdag and Khoma Gup said that they would work on a shop for kishuthara soon.
Khoma has 26 gungtong out of 342 households.
With Kurtoe, Ganzur and Khoma, the prime minister has visited 181 gewogs to date. Today, he will visit Maetsho, Menji and Menbi gewogs and Tshenkhar and Jarey gewogs tomorrow.
Tashi Phuntsho | Kurtoe