Rocky road ahead for PDP government
The newly installed Tobgay government has begun the five-year long journey in power with stunts – the culture that is very hard to keep alive for so long. It depends on who hard his grip is to control people around him to follow his path.
He rejected the security escort around him and a luxury bungalow meant for the head of the government. Further, he denied taking luxury cars in his duty. Does it mean austerity measures to rein the weak economy or aspiring to live the simple life he was accustomed to.
But the new PDP team has volumes of challenges to deliver the promises. The voters are anxiously waiting to see if they will come into reality.
During the election race, Tobgay and PDP candidates made numerous promises including nine months maternity leave for mothers, increase salary and allowances for the government employees and local government, 20% house rent for government employees, shelters for homeless citizens, rights for women with foreign spouses and initiate Meet-the-people once every week.
Similarly, the PDP had promised to Revise Tenancy Act, revise National Minimum Wage rate, table the Right to Information (RTI) Bill in the parliament, do away with Pedestrian Day, prioritise solving census issue in southern Bhutan and initiate an annual grant of Nu 2m for every gewog.
In fact, the some gewogs have already started drawing plans where they would spend Nu 2m grants received from the government every year.
Other promises to be fulfilled within the first 100 days in office include do away with preliminary exams to enter civil service, do away with taxes for small and rural businesses, launch allowance for senior citizens above 70 years, guarantee full employment for youth, lift vehicle import ban for rural businesses and farmers to buy utility vehicles, negotiate with the relevant state governments of India to restart Bhutan lottery business and review present proposal to increase electricity tariff, try best to ensure not to increase
The new PM has fulfilled one of many promises he made during the last hours of the election rallies – that petroleum subsidies will be restored. It has come into effect from today.
The voters are now more aware and conscious citizens and are likely to point fingers at the government for any failures. And strong opposition will take every opportunity to take revenge of the loss when parliament begins.
The future course of the government will be clear only when the new government unveils budget as summer session of the parliament begins.