COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Human Settlements
Lack of Skilled Manpower
14.20. Both the Public Health Engineering Division and the Survey of Bhutan are constrained by lack of skilled
manpower. The levels of skills required in Survey of Bhutan are particularly high as the technology being introduced
is highly sophisticated.
IV. Review of Past Performance
A. Objectives in the 6FYP
14.21 The broad objectives for the Human Settlement sector in the 6FYP were to:
· achieve a balanced development of all urban centres and create a functional, healthy and aesthetically
pleasing physical environment for urban living. This objective included the provision of basic
infrastructure such as roads, power, drainage, water, sanitation, recreation, communication and trading
facilities. The conservation of environmental character, architecture and agriculture land were also
important objectives.
· improve public health by reducing the incidence of water borne diseases through provision and
promotion of adequate water and sanitation facilities. In quantitative terms, the following rural coverage
was envisaged by the end of 6FYP : water supply in 40% of the total number of villages by constructing
600 new schemes; sanitation facilities in 30% of the households with a target of building 6,211 toilets;
smokeless stoves in 100% of the households; and rehabilitation of 303 water supply schemes.
· promotion of prototype rural houses with a view to bring about a better utilization of private investments
being made in construction of new rural houses, improve general living conditions and to reduce rural
urban disparities to stem migration. This objective envisaged the construction of a total of 210 houses
following the prototype designs.
· ensure that rural and urban areas are developed in a systematic and environmentally sound manner, and
that the administration of land registration is improved.
B. Achievement of Objectives
Rural Water Supply
14.22 Between 1974 and 1990, a total of 1,387 rural water supply schemes were constructed in rural areas. The
6FYP set a target of constructing 600 new schemes but only 258 were completed as of January 1991. Construction
of another 123 schemes were reported to be in progress. Beneficiary communities contributed labour for the
construction and maintenance of water supply schemes. A total of 35,000 households (estimated total household
number is 70,000) or 305,000 people would benefit from rural water supply programmes if all of them were
functioning. However, many of the older schemes are no longer functioning. Thus the actual numbers of households
benefitting in 1991 is estimated to be about 26,000 or 225,000 people. Services are evenly provided to all areas of the
country.
14.23 Since the start of 6FYP in 1986, the rate of construction of water supply schemes was reduced substantially
from 250 schemes to 150 schemes per year. This reflects a change in emphasis, from large numbers of schemes of
poor quality to a smaller number of higher quality schemes. The quality of construction in schemes have improved
with training of technical staff and standardisation of designs in 1988. But the lack of technical staff in the districts
remains a major constraint in improving the quality and scale of water and sanitation programmes.
14.24 A maintenance and operation policy was adopted by the Department of Works and Housing in 1990. This
will ensure that timely repair works are undertaken by the users. However, much remains to be done in terms of
organization and motivation of the communities in maintenance of schemes.
14.25 On average, the beneficiary communities contribute 15% of the cost of the schemes in the form of labour.
Schemes are designed for a 20 year service period.
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