Prologue:
The
city emerges from bamboo huts, roofed with bamboo thatch, to the improved
Traditional Bhutanese houses, roofed with wooden shingles, to the modern and
well-equipped concrete buildings. The number of households from hundreds
reaches thousands now. The population increased from the hundreds to hundred
thousand. The facilities improved from the footpath to narrow road to wide
enough expressways and highways. The medical and health center, which was small
Basic Health Unit (BHU) in the past, to the country’s largest hospital today,
is the major changes took place in the capital city.
The
place is country’s new capital and abode for largest, smallest, and oldest
dzong in the country, which was built on the behest of Zhabdrung Ngawang
Namgyel in 17th century. The facilities and recreational centers are
well equipped and accessible for the people. Moreover, the social problems
related youths become prominent, and are increasing every now and then.
Impressing places like Kuensel Phodrang where 169 feet Buddha Dordenma statue
installed became one the most stunning places here. This is the capital city of
Bhutan, Thimphu.
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arly in the morning,
I woke up, brushed my teeth, had cleansing face wash, offered the daily ‘Choep’
(religious/water offering), and followed by preparing breakfast. As soon as I
have done with all the works, I sat near the window. With calm mind, I just
looked around for a while to give exercise to my eyes. Through the eyes of the
windows, I looked round city tilting my head around, where I witnessed the
people in different colors of their dresses, driving towards the office; some
majestically walks to the office, some waits for the cabs, some waits for the
city busses and other mode of transportations.
I
was happily looking at them through the eyes of the window. I, myself being an
unemployed middle aged boy, I could notice uncountable incidences happening. I
could make the judgment that people walk, catch cabs or buses, drive their own
cars, etc. based on their monthly income, which clearly shows that the income
level for the people are not same. The luxurious cars appear and go; standard
cars come and go, but office goers without car waits unless cabs and busses
come.
This
is the situation, where our low-income people have problems. When I came across
such incidences, I realized how I have been to Thimphu, which was tremendously
compelling situation for me. My mind was filled with the melancholic sadness,
which forced me to jot down the following lines. However, lines may not be
interesting and appropriate for all, but the situation for me in the city,
became dejected one in last few years.
How
I get into the City
I
was born in the corner of the country’s extremely eastern district, Trashi
Yangtse, which is unknown to the people until it become the separate district
in 1992. My beloved parents, who settled down in Tongzhang were truly loving
and caring for their six siblings, including me. I am third child to be born in
the family, where they took care of me as they did to two elder brothers. I
have a sister and two younger brothers. Including dad and mom, we are of eight
family members with mutual sympathetic values of both parents and siblings.
I
was born there and brought up there. In 1996, on 10 March, Pre-Primary (PP)
schooling started in village based school. With great vision of my parents, I
was sent to school with my beloved friends. It was starting point of my career
at the age of little less than seven, though moral values and accepted values
in human society was started with my parents prior to. My career started in
village based school until sixth grade. I completed my class six in 2002, where
my beloved only grandmother was passed away. It was followed by Tsenkharla
Middle Secondary School for four years starting 2003 to 2006. I completed class
ten from there.
My
deteriorating results just pushed me to experience the city life in Thimphu.
Since my result was not what I expected, then I had to come to Thimphu to
pursue higher studies. I journeyed to Thimphu via East-west lateral highway,
but unfortunately, I had to change the route. I travelled through Assam, India
passing Phuentsholing and other southern Bhutan districts. We travelled in the
truck, and changed to cab. We travelled in the cab through various uphill and
gorges. The travelling was experiencing journey to get into the capital city.
As
and when I enter the capital city, Thimphu, it was of course amazing but
different environment for me. I enter the new place with new thoughts. It
creates self-doubting feelings within me. No matter whatsoever, I just reach
Lungtenzampa, the famous bridge in the capital city. My relative was waiting
for me, near the bridge. With his appearance standing near the bridge, my
self-doubting feeling was cleared. It was truly wonderful for me to settle down
in capital city, with my relatives whom I came across for few times prior to.
However, it was also bitter experience for me, which helped me in learning
more. Anyway, my life expeditions in the city start from Lungtenzampa Bridge
then followed by life with relatives and newly met friends. Two years of my
schooling in Kelki Higher Secondary School, was overwhelming situation for me.
I learned a lot, experienced bitterly within two years.
How
Thimphu city changed?
The
physical changes from bamboo or cane huts, which was in smaller size, to the
Traditional Bhutanese houses, and to concrete buildings is the Capital city of
Bhutan, Thimphu. Getting every day bigger in its size in terms of population,
which led to increase number of houses, needy infrastructure and others, this
is the way that Capital City enlarged over the recent years. It is located in the
district of Thimphu in western Bhutan. According to the history or photographs,
that I have seen clearly shows it changed over the time. Its shares the borders
with neighboring districts of Paro in the west, Punakha and Wangdue in east,
Chukha in the south and Gasa and Tibet border in the north. It is fast growing
city in the country and capital city of Bhutan.
Entering
in the capital city is one of the thrilling ways of life, which lead to
tremendous enjoyment in the life ahead providing that we have good atmosphere
to live in. However, enjoyment leads the life of every individual, but there
are various problems in the city. With growing its physical structure, it is
difficult for the people living in the city.
The
capital city is the recreational places for the people who come on holidays
from rural parts of the country. The people come to Thimphu to meet their
family, relatives, and friends. They stay here for few weeks enjoying the
pristine vicinity of the city from various viewpoints. They meet with their
relatives settled down in the city. From village to capital, and capital city
to village, they could find differences of the sky and earth. The
infrastructure, for example is one of the differences, which attracts the
people to migrate to the city. The rural-urban migration leads to congestion in
the city. When I first came to Thimphu, I could even imagine that the people
are enjoying tremendous pleasures from the infrastructure the government
installed for them. It was very first notion, prior to proper judgment was
made.
As
I settled down in the city, I could experience various unexpected incidences.
The city has grown into big with little less than hundred thousand people. When
the population is compared with other countries, it is nothing and rather it is
like number of people living in the village.
In
the village like town, so called as Capital City, Thimphu, is growing every day
as I mentioned earlier. The His Majesty the King’s secretariat is located in
the country’s largest Dzong (Fortress), Trashichodzong. The ten ministry’s
offices are stationed in the city, various autonomous agency offices are
located, the largest private sectors offices are stationed, and many
uncountable offices are simply located here. The employment opportunities are
created in this city, the new schools and institutes are coming up, various
infrastructural development are expanding every day, and many more.
The
country’s largest Medical Centre, the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral
Hospital, with medical specialists is standing largest building in the city. In
terms of Judiciary, the Supreme Court and High court is situated here, the
universities, Royal University of Bhutan and University of Medical Sciences of
Bhutan’s offices are positioned, etc. With such offices are installed here,
there are needy recreational centers are fashioned.
From
walking Buddha in Centenary Children’s Park located along the Wangchu River,
facing Changlingmithang stadium, where the last civil war was fought, to the
world’s tallest Buddha Dordenma statue installed on the hilltop of Changbangdo.
National Zoo, the Tibetan style National Memorial Chorten in the heart of city
to Bhutanese style 108 Druk Wangyel chortens on hilltop of Dochula, the
Botanical Garden in Babesa to Royal Botanical Park at Lamperi and other major
recreational places well known for the residents of the city. Coming to other
recreational centers, it is well equipped and professionally installed.
When
we count the infrastructures installed in the city, it seems enough for the
people living in the city. However, getting in to the apartments every
individual stay, we can come across the various problems, which is
unacceptable. It is good that we struggle to overcome the problems that we are
facing, but it is excruciating in one’s life. The school goers residing with
their relatives face the major and extremely piercing problems. Yet there is no
choice than to tolerate it to make our life fruitful.
The
housing problem is one of the major problems in the city, today. The housing
problem is unsolved problems, which will remain unsolved henceforth. By
appearance, Thimphu’s houses look more than enough apartments for all the
people, in reality, the people living in the city faces apartment problem. The
electricity bill, water bill, television bill and other bills are extra
expenses that one has to bear it.
The
price for the vegetables and other grocery items are charged high. The clothing
and other needy things are truly expensive. Haircut, for example, is one of the
price escalating situations in Thimphu. When, I first came to Thimphu, for
haircut, the coiffeurs (Barber) charge only Nu. 20. It then increased to Nu. 25
and followed by 30, 40 and now they charges 50. This clearly depicts the price
escalation in everything that we get in the city exists, and it is escalating
every now and then.
Today,
when I look back, the situation is already altered a lot, which is
unimaginable. Three years of my stay in India was one of the blind situations
of my life as the alteration in capital city was unknown to me. When I get
back, it already altered. The change in physical structure of the city leads to
change in internal utility charges, which give us pinch that it will change as
and when the city grows bigger.
The
Housing Problems
When
it comes to the numbers of buildings, semi-permanent houses, huts and others,
it is more than enough in number. Getting in the world of reality of the life
in city, the houses are not available for every person living in the city.
Hundreds lives away from the capital city like Hongtsho, Yoselpang,
Khasarapchu, Namselling, Kabesa and some beyond, and they work in the offices
located in the territory of the capital city.
The
houses constructed in the capital city are small. Due to high price for the
land per decimal, the people cannot buy larger chunks of the land. They
purchase small chunks of the land and build a house according to the size of
the land. This ultimately brings the size of the house is small. The house rent
is really high and higher than that of the size of the apartment. The ‘Tenancy’
Act of Bhutan, if implemented strictly would help tenants gain some advantages.
However, today, we face acute shortage of houses so the Tenancy Act is
‘un-followed’ by the house owners and tenants.
Once
I went looking for vacant apartment in and around the core city areas with
great expectations, where my expectations were unfulfilled. For uncountable
days, I ran up and down, back and forth, looking for vacant apartment with two
or three bedrooms, a toilet (s), Kitchen, living room, and other necessary
basic facilities attached. I was sorry to myself, as I could not get vacant
house. Whether rent is high or low, I was really in need of apartment to
reside. I did not compromise the rent but eagerly looks for vacant apartment
immediately.
After
knocking the several doors, with help of my friends, I finally met with house
owners. The apartment was vacant, designed for the family. I went inside and
checked thoroughly, it was okay, Nu. 9,000 was rent, which was reasonable. The
water bill whether used or not, it is fixed to Nu. 150 a month. The electricity
bill fluctuates depending on usage. The rooms are fully furnished and wooden
floored, two toilets, the balconies, geyser, and other basic facilities
installed.
However,
conditions apply for all the tenants. The conditions are not entertain big
family, no children are entertained, weaving and roaring at the high voice is
strictly prohibited, no other relatives are entertained, and many more. The
house owners have their own choice. Today, their choice is good enough, but one
day or another, house owner with such choices will not get tenants, which
ultimately remain their house vacant. It was truly a rude act but I have to
swig it.
There
are tens of hundreds of huts installed in the heart of city. Along the ring
road, road is being filled up by the semi-permanent structures where low-income
people from across the country lives in. The Motithang city camp, Chubachu City
camp, Kalabazar city camp and many more are playing vital role. The low-income
families working under the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) lives in.
Nevertheless, what about our other working families, where their monthly income
is low and lower than that of city labourers. They are isolated. They live in
some privately owned huts with cruel conditions of the areas.
The
Drivers, for instance, they earn less income. However, they live in concrete
building where the rent is charged high. The low income houses built and
managed by National Housing Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL), allocated
to some high-income families. Some low-income civil servants in Thimphu settled
down as far as Khasarapchu, Hongtsho, Yoeselpang, Kabesa, and other outskirt
places of core city area. Not only the low-income civil servants, but also the
corporate and private employees suffer the same trends of civil servants. As of
now, they are not entitled with housing allowance like civil servants. They have
to pay themselves the full house rent at the end of the month.
To
get an apartment to live in happily, we have to struggle for several months
looking for vacant apartments. The high-income civil servants, provided with
government houses at various levels. They are peacefully enjoying the free
housing with free electricity, water bills, and other basic needs.
Nevertheless, our government forgets the low-income people who all are working
hard enough, dedicating their time on their work to the service of the
Tsa-Wa-Sum. Therefore, I am sure that incentive such as free housing and other
basic needs to low-income people.
The
Scarcity of Safe drinking water
The
water is one of the essential parts of the life. Without water supply to our
body adequately, will result in ‘End of Life’. The water plays an important
role in the universe for the life of all individuals to survive. The water used
for irrigation purposes, washing, drinking, and millions of purposes.
In
the capital city, before few years or decades, the water supply was adequate
for all the purposes. Conversely, with extension of the city, the safe drinking
water becomes scarcity over the years. The people living in the city get
inadequate water supply in recent years. The City Corporation installed various
water reservoir tanks for every newly extended town. Still water supply lacks.
When
people living in the city do not get safe drinking water, the people are
infected by various diseases, which is life threatening for all the people.
When patients admitted in the hospital for longer time of period, costs
millions to give treatment, which is borne by the government. This is indeed
harming the government budgetary system.
The
Poor Sanitation
The
city being one of the under developing cities in the country, the sanitation
problem is one the major concern for all the people. The city by outer
appearance is dirty and the garbage is thrown everywhere freely. The people
living in the city have acute low thinking power, which in return collectively
makes our city dirty. The plastics, bottles, can juice covers, the unwanted
sachet boxes, kitchen wastes; human excretions and many more are nakedly
seeable, floating on the city roads, the rivers, and drains.
The
septic tanks, in the middle of the city, the popularly known as ‘Main Traffic’
areas are flooded with human excretions, during the rainy season. It is really
embarrassment for us while we are going with tourists. During monsoon season,
almost all the parts of capital city are flooded with human excretions, as the
septic pipes are not connected well. The hoteliers, residences and others do
not pay attention to their wastes. They dump in the river, water drains, and
other isolated places in order to make their homes clean.
Medical
facilities at Top
The
health and medical facilities are at top. The Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National
Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) is located in the heart of capital city next to
National Memorial Chorten. The 350-bedded hospital plays an important role in
health and medical servicing for the people of every nook and corner of the
country. The thousands of people visit the hospital every day for medication
purposes. The scores of specialist, the doctors, hundreds of nurses and other
health officials employed in JDWNRH, who all gives services for the
indoor-patients or outdoor-patients day and night.
The
children health care unit and emergency services provided here is one of the
priorities of the public health. Starting from chronic diseases to the
in-chronic diseases irrespective of regions was treated here based on their
severity of the diseases. Of hundreds and thousands visited hospital every day,
the scores of severely ill people referred to, from various other hospitals in
the country every day.
The
hundreds of nursing students of different levels study in Royal Institute of
Health Sciences (RIHS), who all help permanent employees based on their
practical experiences. This also help the patients un-left untouched.
Therefore, health and medical facilities are good enough for the people of
Thimphu and every citizenry of the nation as a whole.
The
social problems
Owing
to the growing city, the social problems are rising daily. The youth related
problems in the city are major concern over recent years. The hundreds of youth
studying in schools and colleges, hunting for employment are engaging in
smuggling and abusing drugs, drinking and fright within themselves forming the
groups, etc. are the youth related problems. The government and other concern
authorities are working, advocating the public on it to solve the problems, but
the problems increase every year as reported.
The
stabbing, homicide, fights within gangs on various issues are concern and
threat for the people living in the city. The social gathering places though is
recreational centers assumes to be the starting point of the social threats.
The youth of all ages irrespective of boys and girls, engage in drinking
alcohol, which ultimately lead to ego clash. The drug dealers supply various
tablets and marijuana, where youth of all ages engage in.
The
cause of drug abuse and drinking is family problems, no proper place to stay,
no proper care, lack of parents’ advice and all. When the parents and relatives
that person is staying with, lacks proper advice and under the influence of
friends, the youth engage in drugging and Alcoholism. The drug and alcohol push
up their mind and lead to ego rising and finally they start forming in groups,
and fight broke out in the city. These create unsafe society.
The
old aged people who stay in Thimphu have no relatives and siblings give
tremendous pressure to the city. They create unsocial society by sleeping in
the street, begging to make their life ahead. The beggars have different
intension for begging in the street. They beg during the day and drink in the evening
or at night, which is also one of the major problems in the city.
There
are many other social problems such as discotheques, nightclubs, karaoke and
others. They attract all kinds of people. The people gathering there drinks a
lot, eventually lead to exhibit unsocial behaviors that lead to problems in the
society. The girls are spoiled from such centers under the influence of
alcohol. However, these problems are in our hands whether to keep it awake or
keep it away from human existence.
Unemployment
is one of the major problems in the city. With very less job opportunities in
government and other related employment agencies, the job seekers increase
every year by thousands. The government works hard enough to solve it by
framing the policy to send youths to work in overseas, which are not doing
well. The Guaranteed Employment Program (GEP) was initiated, which does not
work well. Still, the employment opportunities to every youth are not fulfilled
as of now. There are thousands of youths left unemployed. The unemployed youths
after desperately looking for employment lead to bars and restaurants, where
alcohol is main thing or vibrant solution to clear up their agony of running
office to office every day. This creates the social problems.
There
are many such problems in the city apart from above-mentioned points. However,
to keep short, I summarize the points. In this we can understand our capital
city have problems. When people think of capital city, they feel cherished
themselves to come and experience the city life. In reality, it is very
difficult place to live in.
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Epilogue:
With
advancement of the city to all the directions, there are need to first solve
the social problems. If the problems that we are having today are not solved,
there are very chances of increasing in near and coming futures. If suppose,
above mentioned problems arise then it would be good for the people? No, that
is not good at all. Solve it jointly from now and let shine the sun of
Happiness amongst the people of Bhutan who come to Thimphu or who settled down
in various corners of the country.
