Priority first?
A heartbreaking news of two teachers and a gewog caretaker being washed away by the swollen river in Denchuka, Samtse while crossing through a temporary zip-line. The search for the missing person is ongoing as of now. Our prayers and wishes are with these brave individuals and their family members as search and rescue continues. Let’s pray for their safe returns.As per the information the bridge on the same river was washed away previously. Bridges getting washed away and sights of swollen rivers are not uncommon at times like this. Many times we don’t have control over the force of mother nature. As of now we don’t know exactly what caused this mishaps. One thing we are all familiar with is: our structures are poorly planned and built.The other common sight is;there are no proper bridges and roads in some far flung corners of our country. People still have to cross swollen rivers, walk muddy roads and dense forests to reach destinations which take days - while cities like Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue and Phuntsholing are fully urbanised at least in Bhutanese context. Meanwhile there are places in East and South where there are still no sources of drinking water, motor-able roads and bridges. In summer the people from these places bear the brunt of such harsh calamities. Water sources get’s cut off, roads and bridges get washed away living the places completely isolated from the nearby gewogs and dzongkhags.The suffering faced by these communities is immense. We in the urban often fails to realise.
On the contrary, the government keeps funding on building high end infrastructures which has little or no use at times. When I say this,you might think I’m being arrogant and blind but look no further;those massive hydro projects,dzong’s and countless lhakhang’s and recreational facilities being built in urban areas for billions;sometimes from grants and loans; other times burning the little coffers.Now GMC has opened crowdfunding for project 108. Many devotees and donors from within and overseas have already poured millions or billions for this sacred cause. They say a once in a lifetime opportunity; we get it. We whole heartedly support these spiritual causes, we are not against any such paramount or divine initiatives but what if we could only think little far and beyond our comfort zone for our very own citizens who lives in far flung corners of our country? Giving them access to clean drinking water, roads and bridges for smooth commute. Hospital for emergency and schools for children would be a game changer for these communities. Aren’t these infrastructures basic need of citizens? If so, how much of a merit we will receive if we build ones? These are the wild thoughts which often hits me when I travel to those locked out places.The instant comparison becomes inevitable. Life might look easy and calm with cheerful bright faces on outside but if we go near and listen them carefully they are nothing but some lost souls who are missing basic vitalities of life. They have missed almost everything in life which we sometimes say “blessed” to have in our life.This incident reminded me of such encounters.