𝐌𝐏 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐰𝐨𝐠 𝐓𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐠𝐩𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

…𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒈 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒘𝒐𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚.

By Kezang Choden

Members of Parliament have called on Chiwog Tshogpas to take a stronger and more active role in identifying and resolving issues at the grassroots level, emphasising that without their involvement many concerns risk going unnoticed. Tshogpas, they noted, are the closest representatives to the people and must be well-informed about conditions in their respective chiwogs in order to identify the changes needed for the well-being of residents.
Parliamentarians acknowledged that they cannot personally visit every village to investigate problems faced by citizens. However, they assured that any issues raised by tshogpas would be recorded and brought up for discussion. MPs encouraged tshogpas to work closely with their respective gups to ensure pressing matters are addressed in a timely manner. Gewog administrations were also reminded to work collaboratively with tshogpas to resolve challenges confronting the community.

They said that strengthening communication and accountability at the chiwog level would allow local concerns to be addressed more effectively, thereby improving the quality of life in rural areas.
Sonam Tashi, the MP from Lamgong Wangcha Constituency in Paro Dzongkhag, underlined the importance of local representatives in rural development. “When gewogs raise issues related to rural development, they are not to be overlooked, as such matters directly affect the lives and livelihoods of the people,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots leadership, he said meaningful solutions can only emerge if gewog officials, especially tshogpas, actively engage with residents to understand their concerns. “Tshogpas are the closest link between the government and the public, and their responsibility extends beyond administrative duties to listening, mediating, and ensuring that community needs are voiced at higher forums,” he said.

According to the MP, rural challenges often go beyond infrastructure and include social, economic, and environmental issues. Without open discussions between tshogpas and the public, he warned, such problems risk being ignored or inadequately addressed. He encouraged tshogpas to hold regular community meetings and present consolidated feedback to gewog administrations. “Such collaboration helps in finding the right solutions and strengthens public trust in local governance,” he said.

Kinley Gyeltshen, the Gup of Gangtey Gewog in Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag, expressed agreement with the MP’s views and said tshogpas are also paid officials who must share equal responsibility with gewog administrations. He recommended that chiwog tshogpas report to the gewog office on a regular basis to work alongside the administration.

“This ensures timely delivery of services and allows the gewog to respond promptly to public needs,” he said. While communication between gewogs and tshogpas often takes place through social media groups, he noted that face-to-face meetings are more effective in identifying and resolving issues.

He also pointed out that many tshogpas only visit the gewog office once a week, which restricts the flow of information and delays action on urgent matters. “Because of this, even the gups sometimes remain unaware of certain problems faced by the people until it is too late,” he said. Kinley Gyeltshen stressed the need for closer collaboration, more frequent meetings, and proactive communication to bridge the gap between gewog leadership and the communities they serve.

Gakiling Gewog Gup Wang Tshering said voters should select educated nominees during elections so that representatives have a better understanding of plans, budgets, and procedures, enabling them to serve more effectively. He acknowledged the difficulty of coordinating work across distant chiwogs, where villages are often spread far apart.

“Tshogpas cannot visit the gewog office frequently because of the distance, so formal meetings are held once every three months,” he said. “Despite the distance, our tshogpas are hardworking and active. They keep in touch, follow up on issues, and ensure that information reaches the people.”

According to Wang Tshering, close cooperation between the gewog administration and tshogpas enabled the successful completion of the first phase of Small Development Program works on schedule. The gewog is now awaiting budget approval for the second phase. He said the program supports small, community-focused improvements and that timely funding would help maintain momentum. The gewog, he added, will continue to engage with citizens and tshogpas to set priorities for the next phase of works.

Passang Dorji, the Tshogpa of Dorithasa Chiwog under Gakiling Gewog in Haa, said he sometimes travels to the gewog office two to three times a week to follow up on public services and community issues, even though Dorithasa is far from the gewog centre. He said that such frequent visits help speed up paperwork and coordination with officials.
The tshogpa also conducts eight chiwog meetings a year to gather concerns, share official updates, and plan local priorities so that residents receive timely information. “Community members are encouraged to raise issues related to roads, water, agriculture support, and documentation,” he said. “I take these points to the gewog administration and follow up until a response is received.”

Dorji said that regular meetings make it easier to keep records and inform residents about upcoming programs and deadlines. He also noted that continued follow-up and direct communication with gewog officials helps ensure that services are delivered without delay.

MP Sonam Tashi said that MPs serve as observers and play a vital role in ensuring efficiency, transparency, and accountability in local governance. He called for giving due importance to Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdu meetings, which, he said, provide a platform for determining development priorities for each dzongkhag.
He added that empowering decision-making at the grassroots level would strengthen local governance and allow communities to address their needs more effectively. “Delegating responsibilities to local authorities will enhance administrative efficiency and foster public trust in the system,” he said.