Trashigang dzongkhag has achieved 37 of the 45 key performance indicators (KPI) of the dzongkhag’s key result areas set for the 11th Plan.

During the terminal review meeting on June 8, Trashigang dzongdag, Chekey Gyeltshen, said five indicators are on track and three at risk.

The dzongdag said that compared to the 10th Plan where the dzongkhag received a budget of Nu 950.560 million (M), the 11th Plan saw an increase of about 52 percent in the total budget outlay. Trashigang received Nu 1,440.867M in the current Plan.

He said the dzongkhag witnessed developments not only in the urban centres but also at the villages.

A total of 12 gewog centre roads running some 168.92km were blacktopped in the 11th Plan. Works to construct new roads to Merak and Sakteng also commenced in the current Plan.

In the education sector, seven central schools were opened. While the number of students decreased from 11,871 in the 10th Plan to 11,123 in the current Plan, the number of teachers increased from 623 to 691.

Under the health sector, the number of grade I basic health units (BHU) increased from two in the 10th Plan to five in the 11th Plan. The number of doctors increased from nine to 19 in the current Plan.

The agricultural and dairy production also saw a sharp rise in the 11th Plan. The dzongkhag received 39 power tillers in the last five years and the length of electric fencing increased from 43.8km to 181.18km. In addition, 13 sanam tshongkhags were also established in the gewogs.

Besides the renovation works on the 359-year-old dzong, a total of 852 choetens and 41 lhakhangs were renovated in the last five years.

Dzongdag Chekey Gyeltshen said the construction of the 96 bed boys’ and girls’ hostels in Dungtse central school in Phongmay and establishment of a lhakhang and drashain Sakteng could not be completed and has to be carried into the next Plan.

Each project is expected to cost Nu 5.50M and Nu 7M respectively.

Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, who along with education minister Norbu Wangchuk and works and human settlement minister Dorji Choden chaired the review, said it was important that the people are informed about the achievements of the past five years.

Lyonchhen said that as an elected leader, it was his responsibility to share what the government had achieved in the last five years. “This is a new practice and I find this important for the public to know,” he said.

He said that while the country has seen several developmental activities, the biggest achievement of the last five years is that people are happy and that peace in the country continues to flourish.

Lyonchhen explained that while the country’s debt has increased in the current Plan, people should not be worried as it was all incurred in the hydropower activities.

He said that these debts would self-liquidate as and when the hydropower projects compete. “People should be proud that the non-hydropower debt has decreased in the last five years.”

Comparing the current achievements with the 10th Plan results, Lyonchhen said that the comparison was not to criticise the former government but it had to be based on the previous achievements.

Youten Tshedup | Trashigang