SARBHANG

Twenty-one months in power, the MPs are yet to deliver their promises, according to grassroots leaders. Most people observer spoke to said that their representatives had helped them settle disputes, address personal and bureaucratic problems, but most of their election promises remain unfulfilled.

But MPs say that, since most of their promises are in line with the 10th plan activities, they are being fulfilled as the government vigorously carries out the plan activities. They say that they will ensure that their promises are delivered by the end of their term.

Gups say many 10th plan activities are underway at the grassroots level. The plan activities like construction of farm roads, upgrading and renovation of schools and basic health units, provision of electricity, telecommunications facilities and safe drinking water, and increased employment opportunities are being implemented.

But delivering most specific election promises haven’t even begun. According to them, many important village plans like the construction of Maokhola bridge and airports in Gelephu and Bartsham, among others, have been stalled for want of fund and human resource expertise.

National Assembly Speaker Jigme Tshultim, however, said the government had been busy for the past 20 months laying the foundation for a successful democracy, looking for external funds, mapping out plans and programmes, and putting the laws into force. “We are now ready to deliver,” he said. “In fact, works have already started in many places.”

The parliament, in four sessions, has passed 11 bills. “In our first term, democracy has to succeed and promises have to be fulfilled,” he said, adding that what the government has achieved in the first 20 months can never ever be achieved.

“We will do more in five years than what the country has achieved in the last 49 years,” he said. He added that all the party promises could be fulfilled provided that there was proper implementation of plans as government had money.

According to Tshogpoen, by the end of DPT’s term in office, 80 percent of the country will be covered by road network and 100 percent by electricity connection.

Today, 66 out of the 205 gewogs in the country are not connected by road, and 43,951 households do not have electricity supply. By law, the MPs are required to visit their constituencies twice a year. But in 21 months, most of them have visited their constituencies only once or twice. Gups say that, if this trend continues, many promises will remain unfulfilled.

Gangzur-Minjay MP from Lhuentse, Karma Rangdol, said the government had done a lot internationally and diplomatically by building relations with the outside world. However, he admitted that in terms of delivering promises, it was ‘unsatisfactory’. “I would like the government to perform better,” he said.

According to him, the government has the money, but only in principle. The seven billion ngultrums committed by the Indian government for small development projects (SDP) is yet to be received. This, he said, had hampered development works. “If we do not deliver, people will hold us accountable,” he said. “We need to do more.”

Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay said it was not correct to assess the performance of the government right now as it was not even two years old. The first elected government should be given time to deliver its promises, he said. “I am optimistic and hopeful that they will deliver all their promises,” he said.

However, on the government’s duty to institutionalize democracy in the country, he said, “I am afraid the government is failing to enhance people’s understanding and confidence in democracy. It looks like more and more people from all sections of the society are much more readily expressing their dissatisfaction.”

The Opposition Leader said the government’s track record hasn’t been good, and this may indicate the government’s inability to plan and execute works as promised. “The 10th plan took unnecessarily long time to finalize. What took them so long to get the money?” he questioned. The Department of Public Accounts says that, from July to September 25 this year, the total 10th plan budget utilization stands at 23 percent current and 15 percent capital expenditures out of the total budget outlay of Nu 28,149.3 million for the year. The total budget outlay for the 10th plan is estimated at Nu 148.074 billion.

The 10th plan has a reresource gap of about Nu 10 billion. It is probable that many developmental activities will get prolonged if the gap is not filled. Domestic revenues of Nu 75.39 billion is expected to be sufficient to fund only about 52 percent of the plan activities. Bhutan will still require external assistance, grants and loans of over Nu 71 billion to meet its capital expenditures in the 10th plan.

Meanwhile, voters are waiting for some basic services that formed the election promises of DPT MPs.

• Expanding opportunities in tourism sector
• Making transportation safer and affordable
• One-stop service centres
• Preventing losses of crops to wild life
• Making roofing materials affordable to remote farmers
• Making available basic health care facilities
• Sparing children the pain of walking beyond one hour
• Making education and vocational training relevant
• One-stop job cafes and placement centres Caring for the elderly
• Ensuring equal opportunities of and treatment by the law
• Developing disaster management capacity