LG: Among the 33 candidates vying for the post of gup for the local government (LG) election in Paro, three are women.

They are from Dokar, Sharpa and Wangchang gewogs.

Tsheten Zangmo, 36, from Dokar gewog, had previously been the gewog’s mangmi before she decided to contest for the post of gup.

Tsheten Zangmo gives credit to the training sessions provided by Bhutan Network for Empowering Women (BNEW) for encouraging her to contest for the post. If Tsheten Zangmo is elected as a gup, she promises to establish more non-formal education (NFE) centres and introduce early childhood care and development (ECCD) centres in the gewog.

“Being a woman, I want to encourage other women to at least be able to read and write and help children learn better as they near school-going age,” Tsheten Zangmo said. “People say that remote schools lack quality education and teachers. I don’t think so. When children are enrolled directly in school, they fail to grasp the lessons. ECCD centres are thus important.”

Sangay Lhamo, 40, from Sharpa gewog was the gewog’s tshogpa before she decided to stand for gup.

“If I’m elected, I will pave the way for other women to contest in future elections. Today, many women in my gewog are educated and I hope to lead as an example.”

Sangay Lhamo promises to prioritise the needs and changes in every chiwog with hard work and dedication.

Phub Dolma, 36, from Wangchang gewog was a mangmi of the gewog before she decided to stand for the post of gup. “Being a woman, I want to set an example and pave the way for other women to participate in such platforms,” Phub Dolma said. “With the experience I have, if I’m elected, I promise to bring a lot of developments in every chiwog for the next five years.”

The Bhutan Media Foundation and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation are supporting the logistics of Kuensel’s LG coverage

Thinley Zangmo