His Majesty the King granted 15,328 acres of land as kidu to 9,758 beneficiaries in Samdrup Jongkhar today. His Majesty also granted exemptions to the thram-holders who are required to pay for excess land, and also granted refund those who had already paid.
With Samdrup Jongkhar, His Majesty has granted land Kidu in 13 Dzongkhags. A total of 123,071 acres of land have been granted in 133 Gewogs to more than a 100,000 beneficiaries in Lhuentse, Bumthang, MonGgar, Wangdue phodrang, Haa, Dagana, Punakha, Trongsa, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Zhemgang, Pema Gatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar since 2010.
The beneficiaries were also granted exemption of excess cost amounting to over Nu. 2.1 billion in the 13 Dzongkhags.
His Majesty spoke on the crucial role that land plays in improving the lives of the people, as well as the national economy, in contributing towards achieving the national goal of food self-sufficiency.
“Our country has limited arable land, and we are not yet self-sufficient when it comes to food. If the people stand to benefit from land, and can use it to improve the lives of their children and future generations, then it is always better to put this land in the hands of the people, and help them prosper, rather than letting it lie fallow,” His Majesty said.
His Majesty reassured the people that this would not be the final land kidu granted to the people, and those whose land issues have not been resolved yet, due to various reasons would also be taken care of.
The people also offered Ku-Sung-Thukten-Mendrel and Tshogchang to His Majesty. His Majesty also granted audiences to the Dzongkhag officials and local government representatives, as well as armed force personnel, and granted kidu for Gyalpoi Tozeys and elderly citizens.
Later, His Majesty visited the diary farm belonging to Bhim Bahadur Karki, one of the recipients of the National Order of Merit on National Day this year.
En route to Samdrup Jongkhar yesterday, His Majesty visited Khenadrang village.
People living in far-flung areas of Pemagatshel have been resettled under His Majesty’s People’s Project at Khenadrang. The villagers gathered at the community lhakhang to offer Tshogchang to their Majesties, and were granted Tokha.
Earlier this morning, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen graced the consecration of Lungta Phodrang Lhakhang in Dewathang, which was built upon the command of His Majesty The King.
