The local government leaders in Dagana are taking steps to make their services more accessible for persons with disabilities. One major change is moving the gups’ office to the first floor. This initiative is part of an inclusive effort to support the 335 persons with disabilities in the district.
Tsendagang Gup who is also the Chairperson of the Dagana Dzongkhag Tshogdu moved his office to the first floor a year and a half ago.
This change came after a meeting in Lhamoi Dzingkha where the district’s gups discussed it soon after taking office in 2021.
“It is challenging for persons with disabilities to get services when offices are on the second floor. It is also risky and risky for elderly people. So, we decided to move the Gup office to the first floor to make it easier for them,” said Bal Bdr. Rana, Tsendagang Gup.
At the beginning of this year, the Tsendagang Gewog provided disabled-friendly toilets to 25 individuals.
In Gesarling Gewog, besides moving the Gup’s office to the first floor, the gewog administration also constructed a wheelchair-accessible ramp for the meeting hall.
“A woman living with a disability appreciated the new initiatives but she sadly passed away recently. I urge all my fellow local government leaders to initiate similar services for persons with disabilities,” said Mani Kumar Ghishing, Gesarling Gup.
Of the 14 gewogs in the district, eight have two-storey administrative offices.
A few of the local government leaders said that as a temporary solution, gewog offices are now offering services from the first floor whenever persons with disabilities visit.
“Just moving the Gup office won’t have much benefit to the persons with disabilities. We also need to carry out necessary partitions and construct ramps for wheelchairs, and there is also a need for disabled-friendly toilets. But due to budget constraints, we haven’t been able to move the Gup office to the first floor as of now,” said Chador, Kana Gup.
Inspired by the effort, several other gewog administrations are planning to prioritise similar initiatives in the 13th Five Year Plan.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Sonam Pem
