The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) pledged to revise the salary of local government (LG) officials and to provide an annual grant of Nu 2 million (M) to empower the gewogs.

PDP said that the gewogs would have full discretion to use the grant for developmental projects or any other related expenses. “This grant will go a long way in meeting urgent local needs. It can also be used as relief in times of disasters. The grant will also give financial flexibility to gewogs which will go a long way in helping them function independently.”

According to the 11th Five Year Plan report, about Nu 25 billion was allocated for local government. Gewogs in the country were allocated at least Nu 4M in the 11th Plan.

LG officials received 40 percent pay rise from last year when the parliament endorsed the revision.

“To facilitate LG members to travel within and outside gewogs or thromdes for monitoring of development programmes and activities, the government has decided to revise daily allowance by 33 percent for gups, 50 percent for mangmis, and 66 percent for tshogpas,” Lyonpo Namgay Dorji said in the Parliament session last year.

The parliament also approved the mileage claim for gups at Nu 16 a kilometre and others at Nu 6 a kilometre for travel beyond 10 kilometres.

The pledges were to encourage capable individuals to serve the LG bodies by making it attractive and to encourage autonomous decision-making.

Staff reporter