In line with the Local Government Act, the Monggar Gewog human resource committee terminated a gaydrung or a gewog clerk for allegedly embezzling rural life insurance premium collection worth Nu 0.474 M for the financial year 2021-2022. The gaydrung was terminated last month.
It came as a surprise to a few of the residents in Monggar Gewog when the Royal Insurance Corporation branch office in the district declined to pay their rural life insurance claim.
“It came as a shock because we have been depositing the insurance premium and never missed paying it. In the past, we used to deposit Nu 15 per person. But these days we pay Nu 30 for each person. We make it a point to deposit it to the gewog office to use it during difficult times. What is the use of paying insurance premium if we don’t get to use it during such times?” said Pema Tenzin.
According to the Monggar Gup, who is also a member of the gewog’s human resource committee, the gaydrung had allegedly embezzled the life insurance premium when the Second Local Government dissolved in October last year.
“It is mentioned in the Local Government Act that a gaydrung has the responsibility to collect tax and insurance premium of the people. So, the gaydrung had collected the life insurance premium. And as per the Act, a gaydrung is supposed to deposit the collected amount to the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan by December 31 every year. However, we found that she had failed to deposit the amount to the insurance company,” said Monggar Gup, Tenzin Wangchuk.
Meanwhile, as per the letter issued by the RICBL’s branch office, the company is not liable for compensation as the gewog did not deposit premiums for the financial year 2021-2022. The Gup added that six households came to his office for help.
“I issued an office order asking the Gaydrung to provide the life insurance claims to the deceased’s family. But she failed to provide the amount,” added the Monggar Gup.
Accordingly, the Gewog human resource committee terminated the gaydrung upon failing to deposit the amount.
The Gewog administration had also forwarded the case to the police in the district. But the police could not register the case after reviewing it and finding it beyond its purview. However, the Gup added that they are planning to forward it to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Sonam Tshering, Monggar
Edited by Sonam Pem
