His Holiness the Je Khenpo consecrated the old age home for elderly monks at Tshochasa under Lingmukha Gewog in Punakha, yesterday. The old age home is expected to accommodate around 70 elderly monks.
The old age home is spread across 72 acre land at Tshochasa. The land was granted by His Majesty the King.
The Dra-sha has nine cottages with 66 rooms. It also has a block with four units for servicemen and one community center and a prayer wheel.
The old age home will take in monks above 60 years without family members. The Dra-sha will take care of food and maintenance of the home.
Dr. Mary Ann from Singapore, who funded the construction of the centre, said the idea was conceived when she met His Holiness in Singapore in 2007.
The compound and structures were designed based on the American disable act. The home does not have any steps so to enable the movement of elderly people. It is equipped with hand railings, with even toilets connected with ramps.
The concretion ceremony was attended by the agriculture minister, sponsors, dzongkhag officials and nearby people of Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang.