𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐮𝐛𝐫𝐢 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞

…𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂, 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒘𝒐𝒈𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆

By Kinzang Lhamo

Despite meeting all the criteria for Bhutan’s helicopter fare subsidy scheme, residents of Nubri and Yaksa chiwogs under Tsento Gewog in Paro remain excluded, leaving them without crucial transport support, even as neighbouring highland communities benefit from the scheme. The issue, raised repeatedly in both local and national forums over the years, resurfaced in the National Assembly, drawing attention to concerns about fairness, accessibility, and equal treatment for remote populations.

On June 13, during the National Assembly session, a Member of Parliament questioned the government over the prolonged inaction on a report submitted by the Paro Dzongkhag, which recommended the inclusion of Nubri and Yaksa in the subsidy scheme. Although the report has moved through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Cabinet, and the Ministry of Finance, the two communities remain outside the programme. This has forced villagers to bear high transport costs and face difficulties in accessing healthcare, leaving them isolated.

Lyonpo Tshering, Minister of Home Affairs, stated in the Assembly, “For communities without road access, located at elevations above 3,000 metres and requiring a two-day walk to reach, this issue has already been registered with the Ministry of Finance under letter Ref: C-4/2005/541, dated May 13, 2025.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that Nubri and Yaksa meet all the eligibility criteria, including the absence of road access, high elevation, and no alternative modes of transport. These same conditions qualify other communities such as Soe and Lingzhi Gewogs for helicopter fare subsidies. The Ministry submitted its final recommendation to the Cabinet on May 6, 2025. The Cabinet then forwarded the matter to the Ministry of Finance on May 13, 2025, requesting immediate review and action. However, despite these administrative steps, no concrete progress has been made for the residents of Nubri and Yaksa.

Local leaders and residents continue to voice their frustrations. Many say that their lives should be valued equally with those in other highland communities who already benefit from the subsidy, especially during health emergencies.
“We feel left out. While communities like Soe and Lingzhi have been given helicopter subsidies, we in Nubri and Yaksa are still struggling without any support. The journey to Nubri alone takes around five to six hours, and reaching Yaksa takes seven to eight hours. The path is not only long but also very dangerous. During winter, snow completely blocks the trail, and in summer, the rain washes it away. It’s not safe at all, especially for the elderly and children. Just going to the hospital becomes a big challenge,” said Kaka, Mangmi of Tsento.

For these communities, helicopter services are essential. Without road connectivity, villagers rely on mules to carry goods, while patients in critical condition are carried on the backs of family members or placed on horses to navigate steep and slippery trails, which poses significant risks.

“We try our best during emergencies, but it’s extremely difficult. If someone falls seriously ill, we have no proper way to get them to a hospital. The local health facility is not well equipped, and if the case is serious, we end up carrying patients on our backs or trying to put them on a horse. But the trail is steep, narrow, and slippery, so that’s dangerous too. We have complained, we have appealed, but still, nothing has changed. We just want equal support; what’s being given to other remote areas should be given to us too,” he added.

“We use mules to carry loads. We do have a mule track, but there is no motorable road. In emergencies like serious illness, we have to carry patients on our backs. It’s very challenging,” said Pema Selden, Tshogpa of Nubri and Yaksa.
She also pointed out the lack of healthcare facilities, which in some cases has led to deaths during emergency evacuations due to delays in reaching medical services. Unlike Soe and Lingzhi Gewogs, which are already included in the subsidy scheme, Nubri and Yaksa remain without transport and health infrastructure despite sharing the same geographical difficulties.

“If the government provides us helicopter services, it would be a huge help, especially for the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, and those who are seriously ill. I don’t know why we still don’t have road access; there is no clear reason,” she added.

While helicopters sometimes reach Yaksa during severe emergencies, regular travel remains unaffordable for most residents. Without subsidies, villagers either avoid travel altogether or fall into debt to cover emergency transportation.
Richen Om, a resident of Yaksa, said, “Living here is really difficult because we don’t have road access. Even for minor health issues or daily needs, travelling out of the village becomes a challenge. While we sometimes see helicopters arrive during very serious cases, for regular travel it’s just too expensive for us. That’s why I feel it’s only fair that we also receive helicopter subsidies like the residents of Soe and Lingzhi.”

Residents of Nubri and Yaksa primarily depend on subsistence farming, with limited income from agricultural or dairy products. The lack of road access and buyers limits any opportunity to sell produce or livestock goods, adding financial pressure to already difficult living conditions.

“Our livelihood options are very limited. We grow radish, but it’s just enough for our own use. We depend on cow products like milk and butter, but there is no market to sell them. Even when we try, there is no real profit. Without access to roads or buyers, we can’t generate income, and that holds our community back,” she said.
Health emergencies often force villagers to carry patients across treacherous terrain, facing both physical dangers and delays that can lead to fatalities.

Changlo, another resident, shared, “We are highlanders, and we face real difficulties, especially when it comes to health. Sometimes, patients die before reaching help because there is no road, no proper hospital nearby. We have to carry them on our backs for hours, and even then, we worry about wild animals on the way. It is risky, but we have no other option.”

The absence of veterinary services also poses challenges for these livestock-dependent communities. Without timely veterinary care, animal losses affect both food supply and income.

“There is no veterinary service here either. Even if we manage to call, it takes a long time for help to reach. We don’t get farming materials, and yet we are expected to survive in these conditions. We are living in the modern world, but without modern facilities. If helicopter subsidies can be given to Soe and Lingzhi, then why not Yaksa? Our lives are no less important. We have raised this issue, but nothing has changed,” he said.

The matter is now with the Ministry of Finance for final approval. Until a decision is made, residents of Nubri and Yaksa continue to wait, renewing their call for inclusion in the helicopter fare subsidy scheme. For remote highland communities without road access and limited healthcare, the subsidy could make a life-saving difference and support equitable service delivery in rural Bhutan.