Lhakpa Quendren | Gelephu

With less than three weeks to the poll day, the six National Council (NC) candidates of Tsirang pledged to address the issues that matter most to the public.

Reviewing the education policy, addressing human-wildlife conflict, youth-related issues, and unemployment, improving agricultural production, and healthy lifestyles, supporting disabled people and senior citizens, accelerating economic development, and improving public service delivery are among the prominent promises of their campaign. 

Nima Wangdi, 42, from Damphu town pledged to review policies to promote and uplift the health and education sectors, amend policies supporting women and senior citizens, create opportunities for youth employment, and review other existing policies. 

Strengthening the existing policies of agriculture and livestock, the transportation sector, games, and sports activities to ensure a healthy lifestyle are among his pledges.

Having worked as a teacher for over a decade at different schools in Tsirang, Nima Wangdi said that he understands many issues. 

“I understand, studied, and want to bring change and a lot of progress. Elect who knows your problem, help you anytime, and bring changes,” he said.

To actively participate in reviewing laws and policies, advocate the importance of professionalism in line with transformation, and support disabled people and others requiring support are what a 55-year-old Narapati Nepal from Semjong gewog pledged. 

He also pledged to support the government in urgent solutions to people’s issues on marketing and export of agricultural produce. 

Describing himself as an approachable and humble person, Narapati Nepal said, he worked as a responsible civil servant in different capacities in reputed institutions.

“I am seasoned, mature, and experienced, have integrity and the right attitude towards the public welfare. I feel this post is befitting for me,” he said.

Fifty-six-year-old Gopal Thapa from Gosarling gewog pledged to play an active role in reviewing laws and policies, a voice for the underprivileged and the underrepresented sections, and addressing issues to the outflow of manpower to foreign countries.

“I would be a team player carrying out a pivotal role between the National Council and the Royal institutions using my knowledge, expertise, and experience,” he said.

Gopal Thapa also pledged to actively participate in the various issues and provide meaningful solutions, review the Land Act for wetlands and chhimsa, issues concerning education quality, and discontinue the arts stream.

“I will act as a bridge between the two houses in the review of the policies and government plans. I will voice out pressing issues the low and the middle-income families are facing,” he said.

Addressing additional tax for the essential items, agri-marketing challenges, low salaries, service delivery, human-animal conflicts, and loans, among others, are his pledges.

Yangkhu Tshering Sherpa, 53, from Patshaling gewog pledged to review legislation and support for agriculture and education development.

With his working experiences in education, and agriculture and as a former parliamentarian, he said that his presence in the Parliament would make a difference in the areas he pledged.

To maintain the price level of the vegetable products, he pledged to establish cold storage facilities in Tsirang. “Given that Tsirang produces the largest share of vegetables in the country, the facility is required for balanced regional development.”

Saruajit Rai, 43, from Sergithang gewog pledged to create conducive and inclusive social welfare, review and amend policies and guidelines to overcome challenges and ensure transparency and accountability.

“I would ensure transparency and accountability by facilitating access to services and assistance. I will also ensure to accelerate economic development affected by the pandemic and improve public service delivery,” he said.

Ragu Nath Nepal, 39, from Mendrelgang gewog promised to address youth-related issues and unemployment, improve agriculture production, and review the policy for senior citizens.

“Tsirang has very fertile soil, and the weather is favourable to grow many vegetables. If not for us to address the current issues, the future generation would face difficulty to tackle such issues,” he said.

“Grown and raised in the village, and also understanding the challenges faced by the people, I will put the public interest ahead of my own interest if given a chance,” Ragu Nath Nepal said.