The sudden change of decision, to establish central school in Kamji instead of Doongna in Chhukha, has made Doonga’s residents unhappy.
Doongna Gup, Lam Dorji said they received a letter from the Ministry of Education about the change in plan.
Phuentshogling’s Dungkhag Education Officer, Kinley said he is on tour and do not have access to papers to comment on why there was a change in the decision.
“Many feel it could have been our Member of Parliament who influenced the change in the decision,” said Lam Dorji.
Otherwise, the gup says, the Dzongkhag Tshogdu had unanimously agreed to establish the school in Doongna. “We were not happy after the ministry’s order came. People also feel the local leaders are no capable to put forth the people’s need,” said Lam Dorji.
The people are accusing the MP of influencing the decision because Kamji has more registered voters than Doonga even though the MP hails from Doongna.
Phuentshogling MP, Rinzin Dorji said he is not looking for vote bank but instead the feasibility of the central school.
“People in the village do not know how the government functions. I have the legislative power but not executive. I can only shout in the Parliament.”
MP Rinzin Dorji said the first thing, while that has to be taken into account, while establishing a central school is road. The newly constructed 49-kilometer farm road from Gonglakha to Doonga is just five months old and is not stable, according to the MP. He said the road remains blocked for more than five months a year.
MP Rinzin Dorji also said the government has to spend millions while establishing a central school. “My concern is Doongna wouldn’t be able to come up with more than 50 students.”
The MP added the education ministry’s earlier decision, to identify Doongsa as the location, was taken without ground reality.
Gup Lam Dorji, on the other hand says, it is not clear how the decision changed. “The central school, if established in Doongna, will also benefit Medta Gewog and half of Lokchina Gewog.”
Lam Dorji said the government had done enough research on Doogna to change it suddenly.
“We are hopeful if government could relook and consider the previous decision based on the research done considering the welfare of the poor people.”
MP Rinzin Dorji said if people can justify why they need the central school in Doongna, he can mediate.
