Imagine if you have to carry a sick person on your back and walk for hours before you reach the hospital. That’s exactly what people of Phumzor under Langthil Gewog in Trongsa have been doing for ages. The villagers have no access to the road. But with the road construction underway, people are hopeful that things would change for the better.
Phumzor, a village of an indigenous Monpa is the only village in the district without road connectivity. The absence of roads has prohibited access to healthcare and education. Often, a sick person is carried on their backs to the nearest healthcare centre, after a trek of three hours.
“When one is sick, we have to carry on our backs. So, it is a big issue, especially during summer. We have to walk on a slippery path and we frequently fall down with the patient,” said Sonam Tshering, a resident in Phumzor.
“We have to bring the rations from Jangbi on our backs. So, to carry everything on our backs and reach the village is challenging,” added Drelang, another resident.
“We travel to Jangbi for shopping. And many are hoping to open a shop here. But transporting goods is a problem for all. Hence, with road connection, all these problems would be eased,” added Sonam Choden, another resident.
But with the five-kilometre farm road construction nearing completion, the villagers are excited.
The initial phase of road cutting is in full swing. Nearly three kilometres of the road is complete. The road begins from Jangbi farm road, situated next to Rimdeychhu. Villagers however say, to use the road optimally, a bridge needs to construct over Rimdeychhu.
“The road will be useless without a bridge. The road will remain cutoff in between even if the other end reaches the village. Hence, we would be grateful if a bridge could be planned at the earliest,” said Lhagay, the Jangbi Tshogpa.
With the completion of the road, the farmers are hoping to mechanize farming which is impossible at the moment. The gewog has remained isolated for years. This, Gewog officials say is because the village is located in the national protected area, which made it difficult to obtain a clearance to construct a road.
“The very reason why the road could not be constructed so far is due to budget constraints and prioritization thereof. Further, the road needs to be constructed in a national protected area, and we could only get forest clearance this year. We will complete the farm road within this year,” said Sonam Dhendup, the Langthil Gup.
There are 15 households in the village. Until the road construction is complete, the villagers will have to continue living a life, deprived of any developmental activities.
Passang, Trongsa
