Over the mountains, through the valleys and rivers, nestled in a nook is Chhudzom Gewog. Previously known as Dovan, Chhudzom is one of the most remote gewogs under Sarpang Dzongkhag.
Monsoon landslides keep the gewog cut off from the rest of the country for most part of the year. And during short winter, people from the gewog come down to the plains to shop for nessecities that will keep them going for rough monsoon ahead.
As monsoon sets in, the only source of information for a few people living in Dovan is the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Radio. BBS Radio plays a crucial role in informing, educating and entertaining them.
However, even Radio is a luxury for many of them. Only a few places in Lhayuel Chiwog have access to Radio.
[pullquote]
Dovan is a place which is completely isolated and isolation makes people ignorant. If we could have Radio sevices here in Dovan we could tackle ignorance easily.”
Kinley Tshering,
Teacher,
Jangchubling Primary School,
Chhudzom
[/pullquote]
The Technical Department of BBS said the transmitter in Samtenling gewog cannot cover the entire Chhudzom area. They said since there is no electricity in Chhudzom, they cannot installl a transmitter.
Under such circumstance, the villagers use cell phone, and word of mouth to keep abreast of the happenings.
A teacher in Dovan, Kinley Tshering said, they make it a point to let the students know what is happening around the world. “Dovan is a place which is completely isolated and isolation makes people ignorant. If we could have Radio sevices here in Dovan we could tackle ignorance easily,” said Kinley Tshering.
|
[media id=374 width=320 height=260]
|
|---|
A resident of Lhayuel chiwog, Hari Ram Gurung, 31, said they used to receive clearradio reception until a few years back. “The reception got bad after the gewog was connected to cellular network.”
He said they tried to get BBS TV reception by installing antenna made of aluminum wire, just like a few people did in Gelephu and Jimiliing, but it did not work.
Many people BBS spoke to said they do not know what is happening in the country.
They say they have no idea about the new parties that have come up, the candidates, party logo and the upcoming parliamentary elections.
