For thousands who have joined GMC’s voluntary engagement programme, service has always been about giving. Now, as the seventh round approaches, volunteers are suggesting that they can take care of their own meals too, allowing GMC to save resources that would otherwise go towards providing lunch.
Voluntary engagement has become a familiar sight in Gelephu, bringing citizens together to contribute their time and labor towards the development of GMC.
Across the first six rounds, thousands of people have come together for various activities, from cleaning and landscaping to other works supporting the development of the city.
And the response has been growing, with the highest turnout so far reaching around 17,000 people in a single round.
Lunch has traditionally been provided as part of the programme. But with thousands taking part, volunteers say providing meals requires considerable resources, and they believe they can manage their own food.
Saran Gurung, a resident of Gelephu says, “When we come to volunteer here, I feel there is no need to provide free lunch. It is a financial burden and also a wastage of food. We can bring our own packed lunch or have it in restaurants and shops. The budget can instead be used for other important matters concerning GMC.”
“If we want to serve our nation and the vision of His Majesty The King, we better bring our own food from home. What we do during voluntary work is Zhabtog, and it should be done wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return,” added another resident, Ugyen Norbu.
GMC says it has received similar feedback from volunteers and has decided to do away with free lunch for this round.
Doing away with the meal provision, however, does not mean volunteers will be left without food. Most activities in the seventh round will take place in and around Gelephu town, giving participants several options to manage their meals.
Sherub Dorji, Senior Communications Officer with GMCA says, “We will have a lot of restaurants in Gelephu that will serve lunch during the three-day program. At the sites, we will put affordable places or food courts where people can go and have lunch. And people who can cook can bring their own packed lunches and have it at the volunteering sites.”
The seventh round of voluntary engagement will be held from August 28 to 30. The focus will be on landscape development and environmental enhancement, including soft landscaping, clearing invasive species, clearing and levelling road shoulders, and general cleaning.
Volunteers should also come prepared with work boots or gumboots, gloves, a raincoat, water bottle, insect repellent and basic tools such as a spade, pickaxe, rake and sickle or knife. And this time, they can add one more item to the list, their own lunch.
Passang Dorji & Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
