The President of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) has warned the people in Tashichhoeling in Samtse against freebies.
Meeting the people of the gewog on Friday, Pema Gyamtsho said freebies will cost the government a lot and derail the national objective of becoming a self-reliant country.
The DNT’s pledges to provide free Wi-Fi and maternity payment will bring only short-term benefits, he said. He urged the people to analyze the pledges carefully before they decide their votes.
“If the people expect the government to do everything for them and the parties pledge the same, we can never become a self-reliant country,” Pema Gyamtsho said.
He also said the Gewog Development Grant (GDG) will be increased from Nu 2 M to Nu 7 M. The grant, he said, will be used on social projects and not for building basic infrastructure like roads and electricity.
He also pledged to solve the elephant menace in the gewog. Since electric fencing has failed to keep the elephants at bay, he said people should try growing other crops.
He also pledged to promote tourism in the gewog to create jobs for the villagers and the youths and boost local businesses.