𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 – 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥- 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐱

In a country that has long prided itself on decentralization and citizen-centric governance, it is deeply troubling that numerous gewogs across the country are functioning without the very personnel who make local governance possible. While national leaders continue to advocate for greater autonomy and service delivery at the grassroots, their words ring hollow when basic administrative roles such as Gewog Administrative Officers (GAOs), Community Center Executives, drivers, and caretakers remain vacant for months, even years.

The absence of these essential staff members does not just slow things down- it paralyzes the system. GAOs are not merely record-keepers or number crunchers. They are the engine behind gewog-level planning, budgeting, and coordination. Without them, the wheels of development grind to a halt. The burden then shifts to elected leaders, who are forced to assume multiple roles far beyond their mandates. This not only distracts from their core responsibilities but also risks burnout and mismanagement.

Even more frustrating is the neglect of Community Centers (CCs), the very nerve centers for digital services in rural Bhutan. As the government pushes for e-governance and digitized services, it is shocking that these centers, meant to bridge the digital divide, are themselves disconnected due to lack of trained executives. When villagers must travel for hours to complete tasks that should be accessible in their own gewogs, the promise of inclusive development fades into an illusion.

Drivers and caretakers may not hold policymaking positions, but their absence creates logistical and operational chaos. Without drivers, gewogs are immobile. Without caretakers, offices fall into disrepair, and staff are forced to clean toilets instead of preparing development reports. These roles, often undervalued, are in fact foundational. They ensure that the local government operates smoothly- that meetings happen, that emergencies are addressed promptly, and that services reach people on time.

The ongoing recruitment efforts, contract appointments, and promised structural reforms may eventually offer a reprieve. But the delay in acknowledging and addressing these gaps has already inflicted real damage. It reflects a troubling disconnect between policymaking bodies and on-the-ground realities. When gewogs cry out for help and are met with bureaucratic silence or delayed responses, public trust erodes. Communities begin to question the purpose of decentralization if it cannot guarantee even the presence of a GAO or a CC Executive.

It’s time to stop treating grassroots administration as an afterthought. These positions are not placeholders; they are the lifeblood of rural governance. Without people on the ground, even the best policies are doomed to fail. If Bhutan genuinely believes in empowering local governance, it must start by empowering the people who run it- not tomorrow, not next fiscal year, but now.

Effective governance begins with boots on the ground. It’s time we fill them.