The Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee, from Khamdang-Ramjar constituency, presented a report to the House on the status of action taken regarding the petition on strengthening highland and border communities, which was originally presented by the Member from Khamdang-Ramjar constituency as a petition during the Third Session of the Fourth Parliament.

In the report, the Committee highlighted the ongoing government initiatives to support settlements in Chokhor, Soe, Lingzhi, Jangphutse, Melongkhar, and Dukti, emphasizing their strategic importance for national security and cultural preservation. While existing programs provide targeted short-term support, consultations with local communities revealed persistent gaps in healthcare access, infrastructure, market connectivity, transport services, land availability, and mitigation of human–wildlife conflict, which collectively threaten the sustainability of these border settlements.

The report also highlighted several challenges faced by communities, including economic hardships due to declining livestock productivity and market access, limited land holdings, transport and connectivity constraints, shortage of labor, gaps in healthcare services, human–wildlife conflict, and difficulties in sustaining education facilities for scattered populations. The Committee’s proposed recommendations includes:

1. Economic incentives and livelihood strengthening through productivity grants, government-led infrastructure projects, market access facilitation, and microfinance and enterprise support.
2. Improved connectivity and physical access via helipads, community helistops, terrain-appropriate mobility solutions such as cable cars, mule trails, and light ropeways.
3. Human capital development by enhancing rural education quality and deploying trained teachers with incentives for remote postings.
4. Strengthening health, gender, and social services through deployment of qualified medical staff, periodic mobile health camps, and inclusive care for vulnerable populations.

After thorough deliberation, the House, noting the importance of these issues, directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to form a committee—led by the Ministry with Local Government heads, Dzongdas, and relevant officials—to review the concerns of border-area residents, identify gaps not covered in the report, and present their findings, including any required interventions policy recommendations, during the next Winter Session.