The Youth Center in Monggar has been functioning without a washroom for about seven years now. And this did not become an issue until this year as the staff and youth visiting the centre could use the public toilet located a few metres away. However, the situation has now turned ugly with the public toilet closed for maintenance.
The Youth Center in Monggar is located in the heart of the town. The office of Nazhoen Lamotoen, a Civil Society Organization that looks after the welfare of disadvantaged youth is also set up at the youth center. According to the centre’s assistant manager, Dorji Wangchuk, about 20 youth visit the centre every day.
The officials at the centre said they have been visiting hotels and restaurants nearby to use the washroom.
The Monggar dzongkhag administration awarded the contract work to maintain the public toilet to a contractor in August this year. It was supposed to complete last month. However, it got delayed due to the pandemic. The public toilet is now expected to be ready by the end of next month.
“The contractor has been doing his job but I think the maintenance work is taking longer than usual. It is not convenient when we don’t have a toilet in our office,” said the assistant manager of the centre.
“I think it is very important for us to have a separate washroom. It is really uncomfortable and we can’t maintain hygiene when we have to use the public toilet,” said Deki Tshomo, Vice-President of the Youth Centre.
“Toilet is must while conducting programs. And secondly, we need to wash our hands frequently due to COVID-19. So, it is a challenge to do that without a toilet in the centre. And thirdly, it is not really convenient to share the toilet with the public,” said Yeshi Zangmo, the President of the Centre.
The youth centre hosts several youth related activities including indoor games, youth forums and youth engagement programmes. It also houses a computer lab and library for the youth.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
