Did you know that Darkarla Gewog is more than just a name? It is a vibrant village block. Darkarla Gewog sits within the Thimphu District of Bhutan.
Let’s explore what makes Darkarla Gewog special. Gewogs are administrative units in Bhutan. They are like village blocks. Darkarla Gewog is one such block in the Thimphu District.
Bhutan is divided into 205 gewogs. These gewogs average 230 square kilometers in area. Each gewog is further divided into chewogs for elections. They are also divided into thromdes for administration.
The Parliament of Bhutan has shaped the gewogs. Legislation in 2002 and 2007 defined their structure. The Local Government Act of Bhutan 2009 is the most recent law.
Each gewog has its own administration. A Gewog Tshogde or gewog council manages it. This council reports to the Dzongkhag Tshogdu or district council. The Gewog Tshogde includes a Gup or headman and a Mangmi or deputy. It also includes elected Tshogpas from villages. Representatives serve for five years.
The Gewog Tshogde has important powers. It can regulate resources and manage public health. It can also levy taxes on land and utilities. The gewog administration oversees roads and buildings. It also handles agriculture. They formulate local five-year development plans too. The Gewog Tshogde prepares its own budget.
Bhutan began decentralizing in the late 1980s. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck initiated this program. In 1991 he introduced the first Geog Yargay Tshogchung. This created a framework for local administration. Gewogs became official units. Each was headed by a Gup or headman. The first elections in Bhutan selected these Gups.
In 2002, a second act called the Geog Yargay Tshochung was enacted. This expanded the gewog administration. It included the Gup, Mangmi, and Tshogpa.
The Local Government Act of 2007 superseded the 2002 act. This further expanded local bureaucracy. It also gave more powers to gewog administrators. Additional administrative levels were created. These included Dzongkhag Thromde Tshogdes.
Since 2009, thromdes or municipalities have replaced chiwogs. Thromdes are tertiary administrative divisions. Some thromdes have independent bureaucracies. Others are managed by the gewog or dzongkhag.
In 2002, Bhutan had 199 gewogs. By 2005, this number increased to 205.
Darkarla Gewog remains an integral part of Thimphu District. Its administration ensures local governance. This promotes development and well-being.