The uncertainty amongst Gaydrungs or Gewog clerks across the country regarding their posts has re-emerged. Their contract ends after three weeks. The Cabinet extended the contract by three years in 2019 following extensive deliberations in the National Assembly. However, the post has been in limbo since 2016 after a Royal Civil Service Commission or RCSC’s organisational development exercise found their position irrelevant.
The local leaders in Dagana deliberated on the need to regularise the post of Gaydrungs during the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu session.
“Gaydrungs are the ones who mostly deal with the public and provide the services. The Gewog offices will face difficulties in rendering timely public services if the post of Gaydrungs is discontinued,” said Bali Raj Gurung, Khebisa Gup, Dagana.
“Gups can’t take part in every Gewog related works due to their various responsibilities. Though we have Gewog Administrative Officers, they have separate duties. So, Gaydrungs have been looking after annual tax collection and other management works,” said Neuley Tshering, Tsangkha Gup, Dagana.
The members, after a lengthy discussion, decided to submit the resolution to the Department of Local Governance.
Meanwhile, like in the past, Gaydrungs across the country are pleading with the RCSC and the government to retain their posts.
“Our position has remained unsettled so far. We don’t know who our parent agency is. So we have been working under pressure thinking we might have to resign from office anytime. If possible, our request to agencies concerned is to recruit us as regular civil servants under the Home Ministry or as a part of the Local Government,” said Tshering Wangmo, Gaydrung, Samar Gewog, Haa.
“We feel sad and worried. All the Gaydrungs all over the country are unhappy that their contracts are coming to an end. We now have to worry about our family’s livelihoods and we are not sure if we would get a new job,” said Gembo Dorji, Gaydrung, Gozhi Gewog, Dagana.
“With all the experience we gained and now that we are facing resignation, we feel sad that all we gave for our profession and the people seem like they count for nothing. If we are reinstated after the contract expires, we request that we should be also entitled to post-service benefits,” said Tsheltrim Dorji, Gaydrung, Chhoekhor Gewog, Bumthang.
Gups in other districts also acknowledge the roles played by the Gaydrungs in rendering services to the people.
“All 205 Gups will have the same opinion regarding the critical roles that Gaydrungs shoulder in Gewog offices. I have noticed how important Gaydrungs are after I joined the office. So, we request that the current practice of having a Gaydrung in the Gewog office should be upheld,” said Namgay Tenzin, Samar Gup, Haa.
“We are not supporting the Gaydrung’s cause because we worry that our workload would increase if they leave. It’s because Gaydrungs support the Gewog office in delivering timely service to the people. All Gups throughout the country have been expressing the need of Gaydrungs and we want to reiterate it once more,” said Sangla, Chhoekhor Gup, Bumthang.
The responsibilities of a Gaydrung are collecting tax and insurance premiums, processing land transactions, filing and maintaining records of official documents, and performing other official functions as directed by the Gup, Mangmi, and Gewog administrative officer. Today, there are about 200 Gaydrungs.
In December last year, the Prime Minister during the National Assembly session said the government would talk to the RCSC and decide the fate of Gaydrungs after the third local government elections.
The Home Minister in a call interview said that the matter is under discussion. He also said it is only a matter of a few weeks before the decision is announced.
The decision when announced could be a welcoming one or one that could spark huge debates on the relevance of the post, once again.
Kipchu and Pema Tshewang
