Judrel Lyonpo dicusses 10th Plan in Pemagatshel

21 February 2009

Lyonpo Nadala Rai at a discussion

Communications Minister Lyonpo Nandalal Rai met with dzongkhag officials, students and some 200 farmers from Pemagatshel on February 17. The minister and his team explained to the people the plans and the programmes of the ministry in the 10th Plan.

The minister informed the people that a Community Information Centre will be established in every gewog with facilities such as computers, telephone, fax and the internet. This will cut down the lengthy procedures of getting things done. Chiwogs without telephone facility will also have at least one telephone line within one year. Dzongkhags will also have faster internet package with the national broadband plan in place.

Of the three domestic airports that will come up in the 10th Plan, the minister said that the one in the east could either be in Bartsham or Yonphula. He informed that, domestic airport in Yonphula could become operational within this year itself as some infrastructures already exist. If it was in Bartsham, it could take a minimum of 10 to 15 years to become operational. The minister said that tourism industry had not benefited the eastern Bhutan in general and Pemagatshel in particular so far. The domestic air service could change that, he said.

The importance of the media in a democratic government and the priority the government gives it was also explained to the people. Since media are the eyes and ears of the people, the government is introducing media education in schools and colleges.

Dungmin Gup Tashi Phuntsho suggested that, since solar powered telephone in remote villages was not reliable, erecting additional cellular towers could be the answer for the six far-flung gewogs. He also suggested the need to revise the allowance for village postal runners.

The minister and officials informed that all the villages in the country will have mobile phone service within the next 18 months to two years. On the revision of the allowance for village postal runners, it had to be followed up with the Postal Board since it was a national issue.

Bhutan Power Corporation Manager Norbu Tshering informed the minister that due to lack of road in remoter areas, transporting heavy electrical equipment like transformers posed a serious challenge. He suggested that airlifting heavy equipment would be cost-effective and less time-consuming.

Voicing the concerns of truck owners, Thromde Thuemi Tashi Phuntsho said that, while the carrying capacity of trucks had been revised to 10 metric tonnes, there had been no written order. Officials responded that, based on the findings of studies on the manufacturer’s recommended carrying capacity and the condition of roads and bridges, a revised order would soon be issued.

The officials confirmed that by 2013, there will be bus services between dzongkhags as well as gewogs. They urged the people to submit proposals for a bus service between Pemagatshel and Samdrupjongkhar. There is a proposal for a RSTA branch office in Pemagatshel in the 10th Plan.

Besides, the minister had special messages for different groups. To students, he spoke “not as a minister, but as a parent”. “There is so much that you can do for your country. There will be difficulties but you must overcome them by being receptive and responsive to the challenges of life,” he said.

Lyonpo urged teachers to do their job with dedication as children spent more time with them. He said, “There is an urgent need for us to go back to the basics of life and try and get the best out of each other. You must shoulder your responsibilities with dedication so that these children learn the valuable lessons of life.”

Applauding the Bhutanese civil servants as one of the best in the world, the Lyonpo said that they formed the bedrock of the democratically elected government. “An elected government represents the aspirations of the people and it is through you (civil servants) that we will perform and realise the wishes of the people,” he said.

He also said that there was still a need for our bureaucrats to be responsive enough to the needs of the people, and urged them to reach out to the people and listen to their needs. “We must change our attitude and perform to solve the people’s problem,” he reminded. “Otherwise, we should give a chance to others who can serve our people better.”

Lyonpo Nandalal sent out a strong message about corruption. He said, “Come to government offices with empty hands and go back with your wishes fulfilled. A small gift like a piece of doma could turn out to be a car key.”

By Gyembo Namgyal

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