October 21: His Majesty the King granted land kidu to a total of 46 households from the remote community of Beldrok under Kazhi Gewog in Wanduephodrang. The community has over 300 people.

In keeping with the tradition of granting land kidu to the most deserving sections of society, His Majesty the King granted land kidu to a total of 46 households from the remote community of Beldrok under Kazhi Gewog in Wanduephodrang.

Her Royal Highness the Princess, Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, on behalf of His Majesty the King met the representatives of the community in Ganglay Gemjakha on Friday to grant the kidu.

The people of the community welcomed Her Royal Highness and expressed their deepest gratitude to His Majesty the King. Speaking to the people, Her Royal Highness wished them success in establishing their new settlements at Ganglay.

The kidu land at Ganglay is around an hours walk from the nearest road head. The grant of the kidu will be of immense benefit to the Beldrok community commonly known as Bhay Lagha or Newlee, the Beldrok community is the furthest village under Kazhi Gewog.

Located at an altitude of 3,500 metres, the village has 46 households. The highland people of Beldrok lead a nomadic lifestyle. The old people stay back in Beldrok while others are constantly on the move with their yaks- not staying more than two weeks at any given place.

The community is detached from basic amenities. It does not have access to water supply scheme, electricity, community school and basic health unit services.

They have to walk for almost ten hours to reach kazhi Gewog centre at Geyshetsawa. Since they have no houses or housing facilities available at Geyshetsawa, people have to spend a night out in open while attending zomdus and availing other gewog centre facilities.

According to a news release from the Gelpoi Zimpon’s office, the kidu land at Ganglay on which they intend to build houses will serve as shelter when they come to buy their food ration during winter season, during zomdus and other Gewog activities.

Resettlement at the kidu land will also enable children in the community to attend school. Also the elderly people can stay at their new lower altitude residence when winter gets unbearably cold up in the highlands.

As an innovation in the land kidu process, the land is granted as community land. Households can use the land for generations for the specific purposes granted. The villagers said the land kidu is a dream come true for them.

Her Royal Highness the princess, Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck presented soelras to the people. Her Royal Highness also hosted a tokha for the people.