Lhakpa Quendren

Panbang – In the remote hamlet of Marangduth in Panbang, a labourer couple is filled with joy as they move into their new home after 14 years of living in a small bamboo hut.

For the parents of two sons and a daughter, 45-year-old Namgay and 44-year-old Lhadon, their longstanding dream of having a safe home has finally come true.

Namgay said that his family no longer has to endure the hardships of a rain-soaked hut during the monsoon and the difficulties of winter caused by chilling winds. “We are grateful for all the support we have received.”

Namgay and Lhadon

The construction of a single-story concrete house was initiated by Panbang Primary School, which raised funds through donations and collected seed money from its teachers and staff. The new house, located a few meters above the initial bamboo hut, features four rooms, a living room, toilet, and kitchen.

The decision came after the school administration studied the family’s situation, as their son repeated the fifth grade for the third time. The construction of the house was deemed necessary to help the son perform better in his studies.

The secretary of the school’s project steering committee, Pema Chogyel, said that initially, the school had planned to build a safe hut. “However, after visiting the site, the decision was made to construct a concrete building for sustainability.”

He said that the project has received support in the form of donations, including transportation, machinery, and construction materials such as cement, sand, gravel, and bricks.

The construction of a house that would otherwise cost Nu 1.2 million has been constructed within the budget of Nu 350,000.

“We collected Nu 2,000 from each teacher as seed money, in addition to the financial support received from others,” Pema Chogyel said. “The money was used to cover the labour charges and purchase other necessary materials that were insufficient through donations.”

Six labourers, including carpenters and masons, have been involved in the construction, while the teachers and school staff have contributed manual labor during the weekends wherever needed.

The project started in August and is expected to be inaugurated on December 17. As there is no auspicious day in the coming days, the family was advised to move into the new house.

Pema Chogyel said that the project could not be immediately implemented due to financial constraints. Currently, the remaining tasks of fixing the window glass and the electrification are in progress.

Their eldest daughter, who completed Class 12 two years ago, is temporarily employed at a lodge in Panbang. Their second eldest child is in the fifth grade, while the youngest is a monk.

Their son, Leki Lethro, a fifth-grade student, said that he could not concentrate on his studies at home because the entire family had to share a small hut. “I was unable to study well in such conditions, but now I can study in my own room without disturbances.”

Namgay and Lhadon are grappling with a challenging situation as they battle to meet their financial needs by solely relying on manual labour within their neighbours’ fields.

Despite the challenges of walking due to a persistent ailment in his right leg, Namgay has actively contributed to the construction of his house, including plastering work. He also engages in nearby construction activities to sustain his family.

The family owns about two acres of land along Bjoka gewog centre road. However, this land remains fallow due to the persistent human-wildlife conflicts.