Community-based activities may now be implemented immediately
Small Development Projects4 February, 2010 – About 441 projects that include building farm roads, rural water supply schemes and basic health and education infrastructure in all 205 gewogs should begin immediately with the Indian government releasing Nu 394 mn yesterday.
The ambassador of India to Bhutan, Pavan K Varma, handed over the cheque of Nu 394 mn to prime minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley as mobilisation advance to start implementing the projects, which constitute the first lot of small development projects (SDP) worth Nu 1.3 bn in all.
Bhutan will receive a total of Nu 7 bn for SDPs in the 10th plan, which is a new financing window introduced between Bhutan and India in the current plan, said GNH commission secretary, Karma Tshiteem.
“Indian assistance to Bhutan comes in two forms: program grant assistance and project tied assistance, which includes all big infrastructure development items in the 10th Plan,” he said.
In the 10th plan, where India has committed Nu 34 bn support, Nu 20 bn is provided as project-tied assistance, Nu 7 bn as programmme grant and a new component of Nu 7 bn for SDPs in key socio-economic areas has also been allocated.
Activities in SDP, which originated from the local governments and reflect local priorities, are within the 10th Plan, said Karma Tshiteem. “SDP activities are community-oriented and will have a huge impact on poverty reduction and in improving the lives of people living in the rural areas of Bhutan,” said the GNH secretary.
He said that the first lot of 441 projects was identified in November last year by the SDP committee, comprising members from the government and Indian embassy in Thimphu.
Construction of rural water supply schemes in the villages of Nyerbing, Lunangpo and Sheripam in Mongar and one bloc-three unit classrooms at Woop community school in Drepong gewog, Mongar, are among the first lot of SDP.
GNH commission officials said the 441 projects cover all the 20 districts in the areas of drinking water supply, health, education, construction of administrative offices and community hall, roads, bridges, culture, irrigation channels and renewable natural resource (RNR) centres.
Lyonchhoen, while receiving the cheque, said that such support is a reflection of India’s special sensitivity and concern for the problem of poverty in Bhutan. “This assistance goes entirely towards projects that will be implemented in all gewogs and will address the specific needs of the people at the grassroots,” he said. “It will directly improve lives and living standards of the people.”
Pointing out that SDP is “all important and pivotal”, Indian ambassador Pavan K Varma said that all efforts will be made to expedite the clearance of further projects. “It’s important to identify further projects in a credible manner,” he said. “SDP is finally finding fruition.”
GNH commission officials said that, among the 441 projects, connecting gewog centres with road is a priority followed by rural water supply schemes. For instance, Nu 21.25 mn has been estimated from SDP to build a farm road from Doksum village to Yallang school in Trashiyangtse. The farm road will then be extended to Yallang gewog centre, according to officials. Today, only about 139 of the 205 gewog centres are connected with roads.
Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley said that Bhutanese people, particularly in the rural areas, are eagerly waiting for the projects and would be most happy to hear the money has been released.
India is by far Bhutan’s largest donor. Their total assistance to the 10th Plan is Nu 34 bn of the total Nu 74 bn capital expenditure.
“Now that the mobilisation fund has been released, all activities waiting for this money will start implementation immediately,” said Karma Tshiteem.
By Phuntsho Choden
