I know all this from personal experience. We tried to go through this whole process for renovation of a lhakhang in Trashigang last year but finally had to give up when reaching to the Ministerial level because of lack of time and contacts.

There are several unfair sides to this whole process, although in principle I think it is good and useful that there are rules and regulations regulating this.

First of all, there is still a lot of collection of donation going on without the official permission, and even if permission was given, a lot of collection goes on outside the time allocated and outside the dzongkhag permitted. There is, like with tobacco, plastic ban etc. a severe lack of enforcement of rules.
Secondly, it is unfair that the collection of donations is limited to the dzongkhag where the object is located, because the amount of money that civil servants (can) donate is much higher than that farmers can donate, and therefor, the funds that become available for restoration in Thimphu, Paro etc. is much higher than in rural dzongkhag.
Thirdly, the process has to be more easily accessible to the common people and more backstopping (technical and administrative) should be provided by the dzongkhag cultural section because without this the process is too long, complicated and unclear.

I hope there will be people taking this seriously and something constructive will be done to improve this situation.

Thanks la.

Tshering Namgyel’s recommendations could be adopted with little additions or modifications here and there if need be. We also know that some are genuine collectors but their mission is often suspected because of the nasty deeds of the crooks and land up not getting much donations for a right cause.