Dechen Dolkar

The establishment of a one-stop service centre near the dzongkhag administration has drastically eased the burden for the people of Haa.

People no longer have to make the arduous journey to Thimphu to access various services.

The one-stop centre in Haa was initiated by Chandra Kumar Rai, a 21-year-old youth from Chukha, in December last year.

Chandra, a high school graduate, felt compelled to establish the service centre after seeing his mother make frequent trips to Thimphu for licence renewals and tax payments. Recognising the importance of conserving people’s time and resources, he embarked on this initiative.

With support from the Department of Tourism and Helvetas, Chandra underwent training to effectively operate the centre. The services offered include online services such as business assistance, tax payments, documentation, and all government-to-citizen (G2C) services.

Operating with minimal fees, Chandra has already assisted 300 to 400 individuals within four months, primarily focusing on tasks like property tax payments and license renewals.

The space and furniture for the centre were provided by the dzongkhag administration.

Chandra’s main services revolve around facilitating property tax payments and licence renewals.

He said that many people approach him seeking assistance with online services and payments.

Haa Dzongdag Melam Zangpo said that outsourcing these services to the private sector is aimed at delivering efficient services, while also fostering employment opportunities for the youth.

He said that similar requests for one-stop service centres have been emerging from gewogs, signalling an increasing demand for streamlined and efficient services.