𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬, 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

…𝒈𝒖𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒎𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔

By Leki Chungdon

Local Government leaders are once again raising concerns over the lack of proper housing facilities for Gups and Mangmis, saying the issue has affected their ability to serve communities effectively. Many have urged the government to extend either a house rent allowance or government housing- benefits already provided to civil servants and Members of Parliament.

Gups, who serve as administrative heads of gewogs, are the first point of contact for anyone visiting the gewog for official work, community coordination, logistics, or transportation. Despite this central role, many elected leaders continue to live in cramped or temporary accommodations, sometimes far from their gewog centres. While some Gups from nearby chiwogs can commute from home, others serve from remote areas and face difficulty finding decent housing near their offices. Several leaders say this has affected their efficiency, personal safety, and overall service delivery.

Local Government officials are required to attend office during regular hours like civil servants. In practice, however, their responsibilities extend beyond office hours. Visitors often arrive during weekends, evenings, and public holidays, and Gups and Mangmis are expected to respond to community needs at all times. Despite this round-the-clock service, they are not eligible for government quarters or house rent allowance. By contrast, civil servants and Members of Parliament receive either official accommodation or rent allowance equivalent to their grade or position. Local leaders say this disparity is unfair and demoralising for those working at the grassroots level.

Several Gups have submitted appeals to the Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management under the Ministry of Finance, calling the issue “long overdue” and urging policy reforms to support future Local Government leaders. One Gup, who has spent the last three and a half years in a single-room residence near his gewog office, said he continues to adjust to the space due to the ongoing housing shortage. His experience reflects the broader struggle faced by many local leaders across the country.

Local Government leaders hope the government will review the matter and introduce clear entitlements for Gups and Mangmis- either through the construction of government quarters or the provision of a house rent allowance on par with civil servants. They believe that addressing this gap will strengthen local governance and improve service delivery to rural communities.

Wang Tshering, the Gakiling Gup, said, “Most of the nearby houses are built for personal use, so it is extremely difficult to find one available for rent. Because of this shortage, Gewog staff occupy individual rooms in the RNR building, with some rooms converted into office spaces. My room is very small, and I have to cook and sleep in the same space. It is far too cramped to accommodate my family of five, so I am living here alone. Being separated from my family while managing my responsibilities has been very difficult.

“The situation becomes even harder when illness is involved. When my family is unwell, I cannot be with them, and when I fall sick, there is no one here to take care of me. At one point, I was ill for several days, and the isolation affected my mental wellbeing to the extent that I felt on the verge of depression. I eventually took leave and returned home to rest and receive proper care.”

He added, “As local government leaders, we are satisfied with the salaries we receive. However, there is a clear disparity in benefits and allowances compared to other public servants, which reflects how LG leaders, who work directly with the public at the grassroots, are valued. For example, civil servants and Members of Parliament are provided with benefits such as house rent allowance, while LG leaders receive none. At present, we only receive a lump-sum travel allowance within the gewog, equal to a single day of daily subsistence allowance each month.

“These disparities are discouraging. We are not asking for more than others. We are only requesting benefits and allowances on par with those of other public servants. Under such circumstances, it would be acceptable and highly beneficial if LG leaders, especially Gups and Mangmi, were provided with convenient government quarters.”

“Government housing would not only support us but also improve services for visitors. Due to the current housing shortage, we have no option but to accommodate visitors in the multipurpose hall, which often feels inappropriate and uncomfortable. My living situation affects my safety, mobility, and day-to-day duties. Without proper government-provided housing or affordable private rental options, it is challenging to maintain a secure and stable environment for myself and my family. Inadequate accommodation also limits my ability to host visitors, conduct meetings, and engage effectively with the community.

“Overall, this situation adds unnecessary stress and reduces efficiency in my work. Proper housing would improve safety, accessibility, and my overall effectiveness in serving the community. We can only hope that convenient government quarters will eventually be provided for LG leaders, particularly Gups and Mangmi.”

Tempa Rinchen, the Mangmi of Gakiling Gewog, said, “I have faced significant housing challenges while serving in the gewog. Since I live far from the office, I wanted to rent a house nearby, but there were no rental options available around the Gewog Office. The lack of proper accommodation has affected my ability to deliver timely services. I spend nearly two hours travelling one way from my home to the office. That time could otherwise be used to support the public and respond to community needs more efficiently. For now, I feel that the benefits provided to local government leaders are fair in relation to those given to civil servants and Members of Parliament. However, I strongly believe that additional support, either through government quarters or a house rent allowance, would be the most appropriate and fair solution for LG leaders.”

Other leaders also shared similar challenges. The Denchukha Gup said, “My gewog is small, so we do not face major challenges, but I have seen that Gakiling and Sangbay Gewogs have their offices located far from the settlements, and their local leaders struggle with housing issues.”

The Sakteng Gup said, “My gewog office is 25 kilometres from my village. It is inconvenient, though not extremely difficult, but I believe it would help if all Gups and Mangmis received a house rent allowance or were provided government quarters.”

The Karmaling Gup said, “My village is 26 kilometres from the gewog office, and it is challenging to manage. It would be helpful if the government provided a house rent allowance or government quarters. However, we must also consider whether it is fair or the right time to make such a request. If the government has the budget, they will certainly provide the facility.”

The Tashicholing Gup said, “I live very close to the gewog office, so I do not face any housing or travel problems. But I have seen other gewogs face difficulties because their villages are far from the gewog office.”
The Toedwang Gup said, “I live in my village, which is 7 kilometres from the gewog office, and this creates challenges. I often struggle to reach the office on time, and people are left waiting. We get an office vehicle only while travelling to work, but after office hours there is no transport. I have to walk back home through dense forest, which is risky during summer when bear encounters are more common.”

Addressing the housing challenges faced by Gups and Mangmis is not merely a matter of personal comfort but a crucial step toward strengthening local governance. With many leaders struggling to find suitable accommodation near their gewog offices, their efficiency, safety, and ability to serve communities are compromised. Providing government quarters or a house rent allowance on par with civil servants and Members of Parliament would not only support the leaders personally but also ensure that rural communities receive timely and effective services. Local Government leaders hope that the government will consider these appeals and implement clear policies to secure housing entitlements, ultimately enhancing the delivery of public services across the country.