In Zhemgang, public servants getting transferred to other places or going abroad for long-term studies have affected providing smooth services to the people.
Over the past two years, Zhemgang Dzongkhag Administration relieved its five sector heads and as of now, these vacant posts are yet to be filled in. In such situation, people do not get timely services especially related to environmental clearance, census registrations, and other official works. “In absence of officials, we cannot avail the services. I think government must relieve the officials only after the replacing officials come here,” said one of the villagers from Trong Gewog, Tshewang Rinzin.
In absence of concerned officials, officiating staff have been assigned to carry out the responsibilities but villagers said, they are clueless about the actual duties. “The acting officers are not really sure about their job. So we wait to wait for the main officials to come to get our work done,” said another villager from Shingkhar Gewog, Dawa Gyeltshen.
Moreover, these days, seven sector heads are on study tour in India while several others are attending in country meetings. Dzongkhag administration explained that transfer cases are directly dealt by the concerned ministries and as such dzongkhag has no authority to retain officials once the transfer order is issued. It also said, they cannot stop officials going for long-term studies as it’s their right.
Meanwhile, the Dzongkhag Human Resource Committee has written to the Royal Civil Service Commission for replacement for the vacant posts. Some residents in Zhemgang said, due to remoteness of the place, most civil servants are not willing to work there. Zhemgang has over 750 civil servants.
