The UN Human Development Report 2009 cites rural urban migration in Bhutan as one of the highest in the South Asia region. Rural-urban migration is often attributed to unbalanced regional development.
Trashigang is among the hardest hit. Our Trashigang Correspondent Pema Namgay says over a hundred families of Bidung Gewog have migrated. In 2007, there were around 90 empty houses.
The rural-urban migration was expected to be checked once the gewog has access to road. The gewog was connected by a farm road and other modern facilities put in place after 2007. But, the situation has not improved. Instead, the number of empty households in the gewog has gone up, impacting those left behind.
“It’s just us contributing labour,” said a farmer in Bidung, Kinzang Wangdi. None of the owners of the empty houses have responded to a request to contribute labour for the renovation of a Lhakhang, which is currently underway in Bidung.
“We have to contribute a month’s labor for the Lhakhang renovation. If not, we have to pay Nu.500 per day. For those who have migrated, they have to pay Nu.300 per day,” said another villager of Bidung, Shacha Dorji.
While most people do not come back at all, there are few, who come back regularly to the village. Tshewang Dorji is one of them. He and his wife moved to Samtse 10 years ago, after they received a land kidu. Currently they are back in their village to contribute labour for a water supply project. “But we had to move out for the better future of our children.”
While many people abandon their ancestral homes for urban centers to try their fortune, some leave to live with their children who are employed.
Besides Bidung gewog, residents of Radhi and Bartsham Gewogs are also bearing the impact of rural urban migration.
