SARBHANG

Written by M.B. Subba, Gelephu

   

Feb 03, 2009: The minister of Information and Communications (MoIC), Lyonpo Nandalal Rai discussed the security clearance and census issues at a public meeting held in Gelephu. Lyonpo informed the gathering   that a subcommittee was formed to sort out and bring an early end to the prolonged problem. The problem has haunted the people of southern Dzongkhags for more than 18 years. 

“An amicable solution to the problem will pave the way for equal opportunities in the employment market and ensure fundamental rights for all citizens in the country,” he said.

 Discussion on the issue came at the right time, when many students are suffering for mistakes of others, and for an incident which they are not properly aware of.

“Government is talking about the unemployment in the country but when some are not given equal opportunity, what they will do?” said a resident of Gelephu. He added that such restrictions would demoralize the youth and could make them resort to crimes which may result in the waste of potential human resource in the country.    

At the Druk Phunsum Tshogpa (DPT) coordination meeting, the minister expressed his determination to deliver what was promised to the people during the campaign. 

With the first year of the tenth plan almost coming to a close, the minister said lack of funds delayed the implementation of the development plans. “But It is not that we will perform now, we are performing already,” he stressed, in response to the public concern that projects such as Gelephu Airport was delayed.

Communication will be one of the priorities of the 10FYP for  MoIC.  Sarpang  dzongkhag has some of the  remotest villages because of the difficulties posed in connectivity  by   Mao Khola. People present at the meeting demanded that the government build a bridge and connect the four geogs with a population of more than 10,000 people who   have been resettled in the area as part of the government’s resettlement programme. 

A prominent businessman in Gelephu, Gyaltshen Babu, reported to the minister that the roads in Gelephu were in dire need of maintenance as they were getting worse every day. The minister, however, said that the maintenance of roads is looked after by National Work Force (NWF). 

Non-performance by the government has put the party workers at an uneasy situation according to Druk Phunsum Tshogpa (DPT) Dzongkhag Coordinator, D B Sebedi. “People come to party office and complain that government has not done anything significant even after so long,” he said. 

The public meeting was attended by officials from the department of civil aviation, road safety and transport authority and MPs from the area.

Source: Bhutan Today