With the increased budget for developmental activities and increased workload, local leaders in Samtse calls for the need of engineers and accountants in the gewogs. Local leaders say, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) is not enforcing the provisions of the Local Government Rules and Regulations 2012, which prescribes an accountant and an engineer for each gewog.
The need for engineers in gewogs has been discussed in the past two Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT) in Samtse. But local leaders say the DT’s appraisal has not been given any response.
“The regulations haven’t been implemented as prescribed until now. Here at the local government level, we are confused. Every year, with the decentralization process, we are getting increased developmental budget. With an increased budget, if we don’t have the required expertise, we may fail big time,” said Nima Dukpa, the Samtse DT’s Chairperson.
“People say we are all under the same law. Now, when steps are not taken as per the law, who should take the blame? Who should take the responsibilities? The government needs to clarify on this,” added Rinchen Dorji, the Norgaygang Gewog Gup in Samtse.
The gups are worried about the quality of engineering and accounting works if it is left in the hands of unskilled officials.
“The way we worked in the 11th five-year plan is totally different from how we need to work in the current 12th five-year plan. Sometimes we have to work on ad hoc plans, having engineers and accountants will make our work so much easier,” said Damber Singh Rai, the Doomtoed Gewog Gup.
However, the local leaders are expecting that the issue will come to an end once it is discussed in the upcoming winter Parliament session.
Sherub Dorji
