Elected representatives are the voice of the people. They are the bridge between the voters and the government. One of the most important representatives in a democratic setup is the local government representative. However, some places in the country still have no representatives resulting in delayed developmental progress. Nganglam is one of them.
From a prospective Dzongkhag Thromde to being a forgotten town, Nganglam town in Pema Gatshel is an embodiment of life’s ups and downs. However, riding on the hope that the place will one day bustle just like any other big town in the country, the residents are constructing buildings. On the other hand, the lack of a local government representative has delayed much of its progress.
The town was declared a Yenlag Thromde of Pema Gatshel by the parliament in 2015.
“Today as the town is in developing stage, activities like drinking water supply, constructing internal road and all are underway. It needs to be monitored by the Thuemi, but we don’t have a Thuemi. That’s why projects get delayed without no one to make a timely follow-up,” said Jigmi Tenzin, a businessman in Nganglam.
“When we have any plans for developmental activities, we cannot include those in the plans as we don’t have a Thuemi in the Gewog Thogde and Dzongkhag Tshogdu,” added Ugyen Dorji, in Nganglam.
Today the town has appointed their own Tshogpa. But unlike other local government representatives, they are not eligible to represent the residents in Tshogdus. Its responsibility is just to relay messages to the residents for meetings and other official works.
“Today we have nominated a Tshogpa. While they are trying their best, most of the time the work has to do at the policy-making level. During that time as they lack the experience, they cannot do accordingly,” said Jigme Tenzin.
“Most of us started constructing building here. Though our town is declared as Yenlag Thromdue, the development here is in advance today. So we would be grateful if we can have one elected Thromde Thuemi,” added Ugyen.
The Election Commission said that following the writ issued by the Supreme Court in 2016 to defer the elections in identified thromdes, the commission could not hold elections. The commission said its only role is to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
“We do not have the authority to identify or say this requires this and that. We work under the decisions passed by the parliament,” said Phub Dorji, the Director of the ECB.
The writ from the Supreme Court instructed the ECB to defer the LG election in the newly identified thromdes and Yenlag Thromdes. Unless the Supreme Court issues another writ recognising the Yenlag Thromdes, Nganglam’s hope for getting a representative will not materialise.
Samten Dolkar/Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam
