The objectives of this page is to provide information subjected to local folks. Innovate, Express, Experience, Exchange, Evolve with place and people. Although, some parts of the terrain in the Gewog is rugged but most of the Agricultural land is situated on gentle slopes to vast stretches of gentle areas along its valley. Approximately about 85.8 % of the Gewog is covered by forest mostly consist
ing of sandy clay soil, which is porous, friable and non-retentive of moisture. Apart from this, the Gewog has also sandy loam soils towards its south found very fertile, high in humus content best suitable for Arecanut & Cardamom, Paddy & maize cultivation which are evidently one of the most dominant cash and cereal crops cultivated in the Gewog on a very large scale for commercial & self consumption purposes. It contributes to almost 90% of the peoples’ cash income generation and the same is used for buying all the necessities enough to last for a year. Obviously, it has contributed to enhancing and increasing the livelihood of the people thereby reducing the poverty incidences in the Gewog at an individual level in general. The Gewog Administration Office renders different services to the people of the Gewog supplemented & supported by RNR-EC Office in delivering services related to it. Moreover, CC Office is also constructed and has started to deliver both online and offline services. It’s already on track to render G2C services to the people of the Gewog with additional complimentary function of collection & delivery of loans and other basic transaction services. The Gewog has one Center school at Kytsheling(Dhapper) in Dramzegang-Medgang Chiwog with 1 lower school Norbugang in Dawaling-Yangphelthang Chiwog, 2 CPS at Tsheringang & Kyidsa Chiwog, 1 ECR at Damzhagsa in Damzhagsa- Tsaphelthang Chiwog and Gangphel ECR in Gangphel Chiwog under the Gewog. Simultaneously, one Dratshang under the guidance of Zhung Dratshang has been established in the Gewog. And the Gewog has two ORCs through which the health personnels from Norbugang BHU-II visits on monthly basis and provide basic clinical checkups and medications. The Gewog has good road accessibility with over 59.8kms of farm road being constructed over the last plan periods connecting every village. All the farm roads are open to traffic during winter months with exceptions during a few months in summer when heavy downpours are quite incessant. It has 90% Telecommunication networks both for B-Mobile and Tashi Cell. Electricity coverage is also 100% but frequently confronts power cuts almost 1-3 times in spring and summer season due to thundering and windstorm. Climate;
Norbugang Gewog is one of the largest Gewog among 15 Gewogs in Samtse Dzongkhag extending to an area of 115.09Sqkm with an altitude ranging from 359 to 460 meters above sea level. The Gewog experience subtropical type of climate with annual rainfall ranging from 1500mm to 4000mm and it falls in sub-tropical monsoon zone. There are varying species of vegetation cover in our Gewog with sub-tropical forest vegetation found along the low lying valleys but it differs as it ascends towards higher elevations. It is characterized by hot wet weather conditions in summer accompanied by frequent hailstorm, windstorms and lightning during spring seasons with cool & warm climatic conditions in winter seasons. It experiences heavy rainfall starting from April month and persists till September & October months at times. Section 2: Main Livelihood Resources and Assets;
The Gewog was known as “Chengmari Gewog” in the past pertaining to its historical oral stories of burying dead bodies of people in this particular place where our Gewog Administration Office stands now. Its popularity propagated even more far beyond attributable to existence of baking Cakes since 1952 and it is running good business even today. Once upon a time, cakes from Chengmari were said to be traded cuisine for Royal families too. And Diana Bridge is one of the longest Bridges in the country and it is located under our Gewog. Local People from nearby areas and from across the border visit this Bridge on daily basis during their leisure times. At present, the Gewog is known by its new name as “Norbugang Gewog” based on directives from our Government. Farmlands of the people constitute over 60.9% of the total area in the Gewog. It is one of the main resources on which the livelihood of the people entirely depends on. People of the Gewog will never thrive without this asset. It is on these farmlands, the people cultivate cardamom and Arecanut on large scale for commercial purposes. Cardamom is the main cash crop grown along this beautiful valley on a greater acreage besides vegetables, paddy and Maize. These two cash crops are cultivated in large scale for commercial purpose which after harvest is sold at markets in India and proceeds from its sale is used to buy basic necessities. The Cardamom production in the Gewog was 45.1 MT and Arecanut with 336 MT last year in 2018(sources; APA 2017-18). It is still deemed to rise even more given proper and on time interventions and favorable weather conditions. The livestock is another important resource for the people in the Gewog. It is a crucial source of income from which people are able to generate income substantially next to proceeds from Cardamom and Arecanut productions. There are approximately 5000 livestock in Norbugang Gewog including all domestic Animals such as Cattle, Sheep, Poultry, Pigs and Goats. However, cattle rearing are dominant amongst others for the income generation from dairy products is comparatively higher than products from any other livestock. Last year alone, the Milk, Cheese and Butter production were 282.45 MTs, 5.522MTs and 5.513MTs respectively (sources; Gewog Annual Database 2018). These products are easily sold in nearby markets of Samtse. The income from dairy products is considerably huge and it obviously contributes to enhancing livelihood of the people in the Gewog thereby reducing poverty incidences at an individual household level and national level on the whole. The Gewog has 77.8KMs of Farm Roads stretched over all the five chiwogs in the Gewog (sources; APA 2017-18). Initially, its maintenance was not possible to the extent it is being done during the last 11th FYP and this 12th FYP plan period. The elected Government has been wise enough in sanctioning CMI (Common Minimum Infrastructure) budgets into respective Dzongkhags through which the Gewog Administrations was able to implement major and routine maintenance & improvements of existing farm roads in all the Chiwogs. Most of the farm roads are ply-able all the year round irrespective of seasonal change impacts while some are still with ongoing improvement activities ensuring road accessibilities to farm products of all kinds. The people feel that with the continued support of GDG by the past government and CMI budget by new government in their respective Demkhongs, all farm roads will one day become ply-able for all kinds of vehicles. Although the Suspension Bridges for commuters on foot are not available like it used to be in those old days when farm roads were not there. With two suspension bridges over Diana khola to Kyidsa and Merik village which benefits more than 350 households. Another inevitable resource is RWSS for all people in the Gewog and in the world in general. Most of the people in many parts of the world do confront with acute shortage of drinking water while many are forced to drink unsafe water. Many infant deaths in the world are attributable and associated with it. We are very lucky ones from many unfortunate ones in the world who are exposed to life threatening risks on a daily basis. People in Norbugang Gewog in particular do not see such kinds of inevitable challenges. There are more than 21 RWSS schemes in the Gewog which has contributed to providing and ensuring clean & safe drinking water to the people. The RWSS coverage is 99% in the Gewog and 1% less accounts to RWSS water sources dried up or are affected by heavy rainfalls during monsoon seasons (sources; Annual health census 2018). There is a Tsheringang and Kyidsa CPS in the Gewog with 1 ECR- Damzhagsa ECR in Damzhagsa-Tsaphelthang Chiwog. Gewog has also one Center School in Kyistsheling under Dramzegang-Medgang chiwog. It has been playing a great role in making illiterate infants into literate lots who are indeed the future citizens of the country and the stake of our country lies in their hands in future. The Gewog has two ORCs through which monthly medical checkups are conducted but patients with other bigger issues do visit the BHU-II at Tshongdukha under Dawaling-Yangphelthang Chiwog. And the referrals are made to Samtse general Hospital and Thimphu JDWRR Hospital. The power cuts are frequent in the Gewog although the coverage is 99% on aggregate and 1% less accounts electricity coverage due to Lamji village consist of 6 households’ falls under off-grid zone. However they are supplied with solar power and we hope they will connect with the power within 12th FYP. It is being felt for an immediate intervention from the concerned authorities. It is justified that such power cuts are confronted pertaining to non clearance of its right of way passing through the thickest of the forest on higher elevations and cables running through underground along the plains and valleys. On an average, the power cuts happen 2-4 times daily during monsoon season due to lightening and heavy rainfalls which has become a nuisance for the people in general and the civil servants going to their Offices. And same implies to T-Cell and B-Mobile networks’ connectivity despite good coverage in the Gewog. Nothing can be assured about its connectivity too. Sometimes, people experience no services for couple of days and on this note its reliability is a question for the people. Nevertheless, it is critically useful for the people and it has become a necessity for the people in general. Norbugang Dratshang,two lhakhangs and Shivalaya Mandir has served as a place of worship and spiritual solace for the people in the Gewog. The people of the Gewog are very fortunate to have 3 numbers of Lhakhangs and 1 mandir including both community and privately owned ones. Norbugang Dratshang has become a place of religious learning for Monks. With upcoming of industries like Ice Beverages limited, Lhazey pre-form & closure, KP Noodles and Ice Cream (CSI) in the Gewog, people had been benefited with employment opportunities and income generations. The main objective of establishing this firm is to progress towards import substitution of similar raw materials, beverages & food items currently being imported from other countries
Norbugang/Chengmari Gewog
Total Area (sq. KM):115.09
Altitude Range (M):359-469 Meters
Total Population (Male):2,636
Total Population (Female):2,435
Total Village:18
Gewog Center Road (KM):0.00
Total Farm Road (KM):77.80
Communication Coverage(%):100.00
Total Poverty(%):53.50
Total Household:861
Total Gungtong: 0
@ source - http://www.localgovernment.bt
