House owners residing near the College of Language and Culture Studies (CLCS) in Trongsa are worried over the lack of tenants in the community. According to the residents, this was due to the university’s decision to accommodate all college students inside the college campus in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, other than a few teachers, day scholars of the university were the main tenants for the house owners residing in the vicinity of the college campus.
72-year-old Kinley Dorji is one of the hard-hit house owners in the area. He has been living nearby the college campus since the establishment of the institute in 2012. Before the pandemic, Kinley had around 30 day scholars of the college living in his three-storied traditional house. However, the situation is different today. Unable to occupy the house with other tenants, he is worried about the loans he took to construct the house.
“In the past, the authority concerned told us that the Semtokha Rigzhung would be shifted here and it will benefit the community here. So, we were instructed to construct as many houses as possible adding that we would be supported with loans. Hence, some of us constructed on our own while many took loans to construct one. But now we are worried about losing both land and houses to the government if we fail to pay loans on time,” said Kinley Dorji.
Like Kinley, other house owners in the community have been equally hampered by the university’s decision.
“Till last year, besides the teacher, we had day scholars of the college staying on rent in our houses. During that time, we were able to pay our loans on time. But now, it is a different situation. We do not have a single student staying with us now. Moreover, we do not have a single tenant from other areas too. Hence it is very difficult to pay our loan installments,” said Norbu Dema, another house owner.
Meanwhile, talking to the college management, the President said that the problem is expected to be resolved soon with the improving situation of the pandemic in the country.
“Due to the pandemic, we are concerned about managing our students effectively to keep the infection at the bay. So, currently, we have adjusted all the students inside the hostels. But with the improving situation of the pandemic, everything will be normalised,” said Lungten Gyaltsho, the president of the CLCS.
He however added that only third-year students of the institute will be allowed to stay outside the college premises as a day scholar hereafter.
“When we say the third year, I am talking about 300 students. The numbers might perhaps increase hereafter. So every year about 200 to 300 students will stay outside only. And even in the case of teachers, we would be able to accommodate only about 20,” he added.
The college at present has about 1,000 students and little more than a hundred teaching and non-teaching staff. There are over 15 private houses in the Tagtse community.
Passang, Trongsa
