December 16: With no banking facilities, the people of Sibsu Dungkhag in Samtse have to travel all the way to Samtse, which is about 50 kilometres to avail themselves of the services.

The salary of the government officials working in the Dungkhag are deposited in the BoB office in Samtse. They have to go to the bank themselves or authorize someone to withdraw money on their behalf.

They said that to avail banking facilities like loans, they have to take a leave from the office. They told BBS that It is time consuming and expensive.

“We have to send one teacher monthly to withdraw the salaries of all the staff. It is risky to carry a huge amount of cash along the border,” said Penjor, Principal, Peljorling Middle Secondary School.

The Bhutan Power Corporation, Bhutan Telecom and the Regional Revenue and Custom offices say that that a BoB branch office will benefit them immensely since they have to deal with huge amount of revenues.

Not only had the civil servants, the farmers also said that there is a need for a Bank.

Narayan Giri, the Gaydrung of Sibsu Geog said that Dungkhag with five Geogs and branch offices, armed force and schools need banking facilities.

He added that farmers are not able to save their hard earned cash.
The issue has also been discussed in the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshochungs but residents say nothing has been done so far.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of BOB, Kinga Tshering, said that though there are only few branch offices making profits, they are ready to expand their services.