The Gewog Development Grant (GDG) which the Parliament had approved will be used to preserve and promoting culture- one of the four pillars of GNH- in Samtse Dzongkhag. At least Nu. 100,000 from the GDG has been proposed for encouraging participation in the performing arts.
It was a unanimous decision at the Samtse Dzongkhag Tshogdu to use five percent of the total Nu.2 million from the GDG to support local dancers and instructors. Members shared that considering the challenges in finding dancers and Chham instructors, the money would be an incentive.
“Since there is no money, we are not able to pay our dancers well. If there is a way to give them good remuneration, we think finding dancers and performers should not be a problem,” said Norboogang Gup, Kinga Wangdi.
Most young villagers also share that their lack of willingness to dance is also due to the lack of money.
“We receive notifications to find dancers, but it is very difficult to find any from our chiwogs because the incentives are not attractive enough,” said Yoeseltse Gup, Ganga Prasad Limbu.
Dancers during a period of training are paid Nu.150 per day. Gups, Tshogpas and Mangmi all support increasing the current amount. The DT Chairperson, Ugyentse Gup Sonam Norbu, however, said they would need to wait for the government’s guidelines before going ahead with the proposal.
