The Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT) members in Samtse discussed the need to review the current farm road construction eligibility rules. As of now, the budget is only available if a farm road is over a kilometre long and leads to a village with no less than 20 households. This, the members say, is depriving the people of reaping economic advantages.
Members said within a kilometre range there are farmers who have formed various groups to enhance their agricultural produce.
“The farmers have formed agriculture groups, livestock groups, and vegetable groups. If we are not able to reach a farm road to their villages, their interest might reduce,” Ganga Prasad Limboo, the Yoeseltse Gup, said.
“If we keep on sticking to the old rules and regulations, our people will not see development,” Ratna Bdr. Ghalley, the Namgaychhoeling Gup, said.
“For those youth who are staying in villages, the road can serve as a motivation for them to continue staying in their village. For them, if there is road connectivity, they can stay back and will be self-sustaining doing farm works,” Wangchuk Lepcha, the Samtse Gup, said.
The members say they have received a directive from the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) to carry out new farm road constructions in the current five-year plan with the dzongkhag taking in-charge of the regulations.
“As of now, we can only go by the written guidelines. But if the agriculture ministry sends clear directions after doing reviews we will work accordingly,” Chogyal Norbu, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer, said.
The House after taking every view into consideration decided to write to the agriculture and forests ministry to review the farm road construction guidelines.
Sherub Dorji
