Owning a house and land was far-fetched for many living in the remote villages in Pema Gatshel until the intervention of the National Rehabilitation Programme. Under the programme, some 50 households from remote villages in the district were brought to Khenadrang in 2011 to improve their livelihoods. Today, the resettlers perceive their livelihoods as being better after their resettlement in Khenadrang.
40-year-old Chogyal Rigzin from Shumar Gewog is one of the beneficiaries of the programme. He has been serving as a cook in the extended classroom since 2019. Ever since he came to Khenadrang under the programme, he says his life has transformed.
“We are leading a comfortable life. There’s a school nearby for our children’s education which will help enable them to find jobs and lead a comfortable life. Moreover, the village has all the facilities to lead a convenient life,” said Chogyal.
As Chogyal, other beneficiaries have similar stories to share.
“We are very grateful to His Majesty The King for the Kidu. It has only encouraged us to work harder and improve our livelihoods. Ever since we moved here under the programme, we have been living a comfortable life. I no longer have to worry about gifting my children land in the future. All thanks to the Rehabilitation programme,” said Dechen Wangdi.
“After coming to the village, our lives have drastically changed. We have roads, a Lhakhang and all the other facilities to lead a comfortable life,” said Ugyen Tshewang.
“With the road connectivity, we no longer have to carry goods on our backs and walk long distances to fetch water. We will forever remain grateful to His Majesty The King,” said Dechen Tshomo.
As part of the programme, the people were granted plots to build houses in addition to farmlands. And this has given people the opportunity to improve their livelihoods.
“Life was difficult before this. Being in a remote village, we hardly knew about what was happening in the country before. We had to walk for days to stock up on essentials. We used to have nothing to eat sometimes,” said Chogyal Rigzin.
“It was difficult to lead a comfortable life before in the village. There was no road connectivity and fetching water was a big problem. But life has significantly changed for good,” added Dechen Tshomo.
“Had the rehabilitation program not intervened, our children would have missed out on education. They would have been illiterate like us. Our parents could not afford to send us to school before. The school was also very far from our village,” said Leki Chogyal.
“Before resettling here, we did not have a Lhakhang let alone a proper place to do small rituals,” said Ugyen Tshewang.
Today, Khenadrang has nearly 50 households from remote villages of Chongmashing and Waphel under Shumar Gewog and Borphu village under Nanong Gewog.
Khendrang Rehabilitation Settlement is one of the first projects under His Majesty’s National Rehabilitation Project.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam Pem
