His Majesty the King granted land kidu to 887 farmers out of 963 farmers from Tsenkhar Gewog in Lhuentse yesterday.
Meeting individually with the kidu recipients, His Majesty said that, if their excess land was bonafide, they would not have to pay for it. People cultivating land without thram were also granted the kidu to register the land in their name.
His Majesty told the villagers that land was a major concern of the people and granting its kidu was the King’s main responsibility.
Issuing the kidu kasho to the farmers, His Majesty cited three reasons for granting land kidu to the people. First, land will make the people economically independent. “If our people can live a happy and prosperous life, we will have a strong nation,” His Majesty said. Second, unless it has a detrimental effect on the environment, it is useful to give the land to the people rather than keeping it barren. More importantly, His Majesty said that, as the King, it was his responsibility to help the people out of their problems.
His Majesty also granted kidu of khimsa (residential plot). The people, who have their houses on land not registered in their thram, were granted kidu to register the land in their thram.
In Tsenkhar Gewog, over 1400 acres of land was granted as kidu to the farmers. Besides, His Majesty exempted the excess land payment worth Nu 15.69 million.
Tshering Dorji, one of the kidu recipients from Lajay, had two acres of excess land. Apart from granting him land kidu, His Majesty waived payment for his excess land. “I was totally depressed when I was told to pay Nu 13,400 for two acres of excess land. Now that His Majesty has granted the kidu, I have no words to describe my happiness,” said Tshering Dorji.
His Majesty also granted as kidu the excess land the people surrendered to the government in 2001 but still cultivated. Besides, the plots occupied by dratshang, rabdey, community lhakhang and private lhakhang without thram were also granted as kidu.
“People are overjoyed. It is happening for the first time in the kingdom’s history,” said Tshering Tenzin, the member of parliament from Menbi-Tsenkhar constituency.
Jangchub Dorji from Tsenkhar, who received 10 acres of excess land as kidu, joined his palms in a gesture of prostration and said, “Thank you, Gyalpo Rinpoche, you are truly our King.”
His Majesty informed the people that all the land-related problems would be properly sorted out in all 20 dzongkhags within the next two to three years.
His Majesty commanded in the 86th session of the National Assembly in 2006 that he would resolve all the national land-related issues personally.
The land kidu came to Lhuentse after the recent cadastral re-survey commanded by His Majesty the King. The survey, which started in June last year, was completed last December.
In the next few days, His Majesty is expected to visit all the gewogs and villages in Lhuentse.
His Majesty is accompanied by His Royal Highness Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck and Her Royal Highness Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck.
by Tempa Wangdi
http://www.bhutanobserver.bt
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