As a largely agrarian country, for many Bhutanese, life would be meaningless without a piece of land to build a home or pursue farming to make ends meet. Such a concern, however, never troubled the Bhutanese people. They have the Great Fourth, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, to be grateful for. Recognising that land represents identity, security, and independence, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo initiated the Resettlement Programme during his reign, granting land to landless Bhutanese, transforming the lives of thousands of families across the country.
57-year-old Mendrelgang Gup Yeshi, inspects his orange orchard in one of the most fertile regions in the country.
Originally from Paro, Yeshi resettled in Mendrelgang Gewog with his family in the late 1990s. He is one of the beneficiaries of His Majesty the Fourth Gyalpo’s Resettlement Programme after receiving land kidu in 1997. “We resettled here mainly because our ancestral land holding in Paro was insufficient to divide among siblings. His Majesty graciously granted us land kidu to make a living through farming. It is very important to take care of the land and pass it down to our children,” said Yeshi.
The Royal Gift assured him a place to call his home and farmland for his family’s sustenance. Since 2001, Yeshi has been serving as the gewog’s gup while his family continues to cultivate vegetables and fruits on their five-acre land.
Miles away in Dunglagang Gewog, a group of farmers, originally from Wamrong in Trashigang, are all smiles as they harvest cardamom. Tshering Dorji, one of the land kidu recipients, recalls the hardships his family lived prior to resettling in Dunglagang Gewog. “When we first arrived here, we had nothing to eat. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo granted us with free essential items for six months just like the armed forces.”
He is among the more than 80 families who received land kidu in 2007 from His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo after losing their ancestral land in Trashigang to landslides and erosion.
Nima Dema, resettled in Dunglagang Gewog added, “We were worried when we started losing our ancestral land to landslides and erosion in Wamrong. But we were relieved when His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo granted us land kidu here. We are happy after resettling here.”
After moving to Tsirang, they say, their lives have improved significantly.
“Following His Majesty’s land kidu, living standard has improved by 90 per cent compared to when we lived in Wamrong. Income opportunities are better here since Tsirang is located between Gelephu and Thimphu,” said Ugyen Wangchuk.
Since its inception in 1997, His Majesty’s Resettlement Programme has uplifted the lives of thousands of Bhutanese, providing them with secure land across five districts. The programme was implemented in nine phases across Dagana, Samdrup Jongkhar, Tsirang, Sarpang, and Samtse, benefiting close to 7,500 7households.
In Samdrup Jongkhar, villagers who have resettled in the district are currently busy harvesting paddy grown on kidu lands.
“My parents received this land and now I am cultivating crops on it. I hope my children will continue to do the same. From one generation to next, the land will continue to benefit our family. We are grateful to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo for granting us this land, which helped us to settle without having to live in remote areas,” said Tenzin Wangmo, a land kidu recipient, resettled in Samdrup Jongkhar’s Pemathang Gewog.
Farmers say the harvest not only ensures self-sufficiency but also provides an additional income source through the sale of surplus produce.
“Better roads, schools, and electricity have made life more convenient here. We work hard to help reduce rice imports by achieving self-sufficiency. We are very grateful to His Majesty for granting us the land,” added Dorji Wangdi, resettled in Pemathang.
The Resettlement Programme was envisioned as a long-term poverty alleviation strategy to enhance rural livelihoods through secure land ownership. The programme distributed 37,490 acres of state land. Each beneficiary household received a standard land allotment of five acres, comprising 50 decimals for housing and 4.5 acres for farmland.
Gembo Rabgay, a farmer resettled in Tashiding Gewog, Dagana, said, “Our livelihoods have improved significantly. Back in Monggar, I did not have enough land for farming. I received five acres of land here. We now live comfortably with good harvests of paddy and maize.”
Because of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s benevolent initiative, countless farmers like Yeshi now live with renewed hope and security. The resettled communities across the nation continue to express heartfelt gratitude for His Majesty’s compassionate royal initiative, a timeless legacy that has empowered generations to live with dignity, stability and happiness.
Pema Tshewang in Tsirang and Kinley Wangchuk in Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
