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1.Background.
Thimphu Dzongkhag is located in the western part of the country. It shares boundaries with Gasa, Punakha &Wangduephodrang Dzongkhags in the east, Chukha & Dagana in the south, Paro Dzongkhag in the west. In the north, it borders the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.
Thimphu is among the more developed Dzongkhags in the country. It has a relatively good road network, especially in the lower Gewogs. The Gewogs in the northern part of the Dzongkhag, which have rugged and mountainous terrain with extreme cold climate,
are connected only by mule track making access and delivery of development
services difficult and expensive.
Most of the lower Gewogs in the Dzongkhags have easy access to the national referral hospital, national research centers, central ministries, and agriculture related corporations and the financial institutions. Further, extension services are available in all Gewogs and so are facilities for primary education and health care. 95% of the households are supplied with electricity including solar light for Lingzhi Dungkhag.
The Dzongkhag has one Dungkhag and 8 Gewogs. Chang, Dagala, Genyekha, Kawang and Mewang Gewogs fall directly under the Dzongkhag Administration while the three Gewogs of Lingzhi, Naro and Soe fall under the Lingzhi Dungkhag Administration. The forest cover area is about 1059.3 sq. kms. (105930 Hectares)
The Gewogs at the lower valley in the Dzongkhag are already relatively developed compared to other regions in the country with wide telecommunication and road coverage and good access to local markets. Rice, which is the staple food, is grown extensively by a majority of the people in Gewogs like Chang, Kawang, Mewang and Genyekha. People also cultivate wheat as a winter crop. The dry land owned by the people is used for orchard plantation and vegetable cultivation for commercial
purposes. The other more remote Gewogs in the alpine region, namely Dagala,
Soe, Naro and Lingzhi, depend on Yak rearing as the main economic activity.
People of Lingzhi Dungkhag also collect and sale wild medicinal and aromatic
plants, which is an importation source of income.
Thimphu, the capital town, is also located in the Dzongkhag. Chang Gewog (except for a few villages) and a portion of Kawang Gewog is under the jurisdiction of the Thimphu Municipality. Thimphu town occupies most of the areas of Chang Gewog, further expansion of the town area is within these two Gewogs.
2. Development Potentials.
Physical: Gewogs located in remote places specially in the temperate and Alpine areas in Lingzhi Dungkhag have potential for Livestock/Diary development, cultivation and sustainable harvest of medicinal and aromatic plants. It also has scope for tourism development. Rest of the Gewogs in lower valleys with warmer climatic conditions have good potential for Agriculture, horticulture other cash crop like potato, vegetables and livestock/diary development. Dzongkhag has fairly good natural forest cover for establishment of wood based industries.
Infrastructure: The Dzongkhag has relatively stable and extensive road network and telecommunication facilities in lower areas whereas the remote Gewogs in the Alpine regions are connected by regularly maintained mule tracks thus providing access to the people for marketing their produce and transportation of essential consumer goods. There is strong policy support for Agriculture, Horticulture, and Livestock/Diary development, development of Private sector and establishment of employment generation enterprises. Dzongkhag has easy access to National research centers, Central Departments, Ministries, Corporations and financial institutions etc. Further Gewog extension services are available in all Gewogs and so are primary education and health care. Also about 95% of the households in the Dzongkhag are supplied with electricity (Solar light in Lingzhi, Soe and Naro Gewogs).
Human: There is low influx of in migration supported by National policy that ensures local population is not threatened by outside forces. Increasing number of qualified personnels are joining Dzongkhag Administration. Thus increasing the capability and strengthening the HRD division. Local communities have started shouldering greater responsibilities for development programme. Decentralization process has further encouraged peoples participation in decision making, planning and
implementing of development programme in the villages/Gewogs.
Economic: The Dzongkhag is accessible to the local markets, markets in bordering areas (including India and Bangladesh). There is scope for tourism development because of existence of rich cultural heritage, historical sites and rich Bio-diversity. The Dzongkhag has great potential to increase cash crop production, which should be exploited for economic upliftment of rural farmers. The production of livestock, diary products, vegetables, potatoes, apples, mushrooms can greatly enhance the cash incomes of the rural people. There also exists opportunity for the development of Agro & wood based industries, hollow blocks, marble and stone chip industries.
3. Current Situation.
As of now Thimphu Dzongkhag has 1 Dungkhag (Lingzhi) & 8 gewogs. Dzongkhag Administration takes care of all construction/renovation and maintenance of Tashichho Dzong, Lingzhi Dzong and Dzongkhag Administration office. On account of remote location and the cold climatic condition, contractors do not come forward to take up contracts in Lingzhi.
Objectives and Targets
i. To promote decentralization, good governance & peoples participation.
ii. To promote balanced development amongst the Gewogs.
iii. To promote efficient management and coordination services.
iv. To protect and preserve rich cultural heritage.
v. To conserve environment and natural resources.
Strategies
i. Strengthening Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT), Gewog Yargey Tshogchung (GYTs) by providing basic support services like Gups office, telephone, furnitures and other office equipments.
ii. Providing efficient management and coordination services within the Dzongkhag, Gewogs and with Central Agencies for effective implementation.
iii. Provide better and prompt services to the people through provision of adequate facilities and manpower.
iv. Developing human resources capacity at the Dzongkhag and Gewogs by providing incountry trainings to the staff as well as DYT & GYT members.
v. Preservation of cultural heritage sites through timely maintenance and renovation of Dzongs, Monastries, Lakhangs and Goenpas of Cultural and Religious Importance.
vi. Undertake measures to raise the level of public sensitivity and commitment to the preservation and promotion of our Bhutanese rich cultural heritage.
vii. Conservation of environment and natural resources base through awareness building and sustainable utilization mechanism.
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