The people of Gasa are now the owners of the Gasa Soechu Limited. Established as part of the Gasa’s Driving Dzongkhag Development Centre Initiative in August last year, Gasa Soechu Limited has been handed over to the community on October 8.
It is the first project of Dzongkhag’s vision of Good to Great Gasa. Gasa Soechu produces bottled spring water. The water is believed to be identified as drupchu or holy water by Drubthob Terkhungpa in the 12th century.
The Dzongkhag administration will not interfere in the management of the company but will provide technical and other necessary support.
“The company is taking on board all the people of Gasa and regardless of their wealth status, all were given a uniform platform. Basically, we are not encouraging a creation of gaps between rich and poor,” Dorji Dhradhul, Gasa Dzongda, said.
The community-owned company is expected to do better.
“As of now the company paid up capital is about Nu 10 M but we hope that in due course of time this company is going to grow to more than Nu 100 M of capital. So I hope and have confidence that this company will be fruitful for the people of Gasa,” Dorji Dhradhul said.
The company’s 64,000 shares with a market value of Nu 100 each were distributed to 597 households in four Gewogs as grants.
“We are happy since this is the new and the only big company in Gasa. The main aim of the company is to start other various ventures like tourism. It will help the community develop,” Chador Tshering, a resident, said.
“The company will benefit us in future,” Kinley Dorji, another resident said.
The company, when it started initially started selling packaged spring water in glass bottles.
However, due to the increase in production cost, glass bottles are replaced with plastic bottles which were also launched during the event. But spring water in glass bottles will be in production depending on demand.
The major shareholder and president of the company will look after the business.
“We have plans to gradually start other goods and services like introduce cable TV service, yoghurt and potato chips production. We will also work hard to further improve the already established company by introducing new ideas,” Dorji, the President of Gasa Soechu Ltd, said.
Locals remain hopeful that in a few years time, they might get to share the profit of the company.
