Rural Migrants Return Home

Radhi gewog in Trashigangwears a cheerful look.The village which wasalmost deserted earlieris now inhabited again,holding promise of growingprosperity.Over the past decade,rural backwaters sawproliferation of gung tongs(empty households),but now the natives arereturning.

The gewog isnot just seeing an increasein population, but housestoo with several newconstructions in place.Radhi Mangmi PemaWangchuk attributes theincreasing number ofhouseholds and populationto the availability of basicamenities and developmentsin the community.About eight newhouseholds were registeredlast year and more than sixnew houses were built inthe last few years.

'Since Ibecame Mangmi, I have seenmany migrants returning tothe village and many newgungpas were registered aswell,' said the Mangmi.The Mangmi said initiallythere were many gung tongs(empty households) inRadhi gewog, but today thenumber of gung tongs isgradually decreasing.Radhi gewog had morethan 100 gung tongs in2012 but the number ofgung tongs has decreased toabout 40 as of today.

'Earlier, people wentto urban centers leavingbehind their villagesmainly due to lack of basicamenities and lack ofsources to earn a livelihood,'said the Mangmi.But as of today, theavailability of market androad connectivity, ricecultivation and bureyweaving in Radhi has comeas boon.

'Besides, thevillagers are also earningfrom other farmingactivities,' said the Mangmi.Earlier, the villagers hadalmost no income as...