3.5 AMENITIES AND SERVICES

Social amenities, primarily in the form of educational, health and community facilities are essential services that a town government is obliged to extend to its residents, for the facilitation of a basic standard of living. Apart from government agencies, some times private and non-governmental agencies also play a critical role in the provision of these facilities and amenities. Though they are not many, one should not neglect the presence of the private sector in Gelephu.

The success of these amenities depends on the factor of serviceability, in proportion to the population of the town and the proportion of population of the town that is served adequately by these amenities. It is also essential that there be a hierarchical structure of the facilities, which would be provided as per the scale of the settlement, starting from neighborhood facilities, to town level facilities and on upto regional facilities. For instance, in the case of educational facilities, the provision of nurseries at each Urban Village level, Junior High schools at a higher level, followed by High Schools and Colleges at the levels of the town, and of the country. The hierarchy, or the grade, of any service is established as per the quantum of population it is expected to serve. This leads to a pyramidal structure where, the highest order facilities are fewer in number and serve the largest quantum of population. Accordingly, the number and scale of component facilities and infrastructure that go into the making of each one of the different hierarchies of facilities vary significantly.

The provision of these facilities is eventually done by the competent departments in the required hierarchies, to encourage and facilitate the parent social function to permeate into the population. For instance, the establishment and acceptance of education as an important component of the social process, necessitates the provision of different hierarchies of educational facilities, to cater to all the component age groups of the concerned population. Montessori schools, primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and colleges are all inter - linked and are part of the national strategy for human resources development. Similarly, the other factors affecting the “social existence” of any population are the factors governing its health (physical and mental), and, the facilities for managing the law and order of society.

The existing scenario of Social Amenities and Services in Gelephu town could be broadly classified under the following sub-heads, as per the nature of facility and the degree of obligation the town authorities are subjected to for the provision of these facilities, to the resident population. Though the amenities and services listed below include the ones provided by private and non-government agencies, it shall be understood that government plays a pivotal role in providing these facilities for the town residents.

The details about each sector/ department are an outcome of discussions of the planning team with the various sector-heads and the questionnaires circulated amongst concerned departments.

3.5.1 Health Amenities

Gelephu General Hospital

Gelephu General Hospital is a forty bedded hospital with facilities like OPD, eye section, dental section, X-ray unit, malaria section, operation facilities and testing laboratories. The staffing pattern includes doctors, technicians, nurses and support staff which put together is about 75 persons. The future proposals for strengthening of hospital facilities include construction of staff quarters, incinerator for disposal of hospital waste, medical store and an ambulance and air-conditioning equipments for the trauma cum intensive care unit.

National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) Office

The NMCP office was established in Bhutan with an ambition to eradicate malaria from the country. The main prevention and control strategy then was active surveillance, case management and vector control by spraying insecticides. Although the NMCP started as a separate program, it is now integrated into general health services. Currently the NMCP office located just adjacent to Gelephu General Hospital has been occupied by Royal Bhutan Army. Presently the NMCP office is housed in a rented building near Gelephu Dratshang. The staffing pattern includes doctors, technicians and support staff, which put together is about 25 persons. The future proposals include the establishment of a vector borne disease research and training center including an entomology unit to maintain animals for rearing mosquito colonies, for which five acres of land is required. Other proposals include maintenance of existing property, training programs and procurement of laboratory equipment, office equipment and vehicles.

Click here for existing public amenities and services

Veterinary Hospital (Department of Livestock)

The Veterinary Hospital is located north of the town along the Gelephu-Trongsa highway. The existing landholding is about 1.5 acres with facilities like office building and veterinary laboratory. The staffing pattern includes a veterinary doctor, laboratory technicians and support staff which put together is about 15 persons. Future proposals include expanding the hospital to dzongkhag level veterinary hospital within the same premises and extension of existing premises if land is made available for construction of sheds/ wards to house sick animals.

3.5.2 Educational Amenities

Gelephu Middle Secondary School

Gelephu Middle Secondary School is located in the Gelephu industrial estate with schooling facilities from class VII till class X. There are 338 male students and 379 female students occupying 12 classrooms with 30 staff members including teaching and non-teaching staff. The future proposals include expanding the existing school into a junior college and construction of other facilities like extra classrooms, multipurpose hall and staff quarters.

Gelephu Primary School

Established in the year 1991, the Gelephu primary school is located near the municipal office along the Gelephu-Trongsa highway with schooling facilities from pre-primary till class VI. There are about 1243 students, with 30 staff members including teaching and non-teaching staff. A part of the primary school including a few buildings and the basket-ball court has been currently occupied by the army. Though there are no future proposals the school staff and parents, express their fear about the location of a highway just above the school, as it becomes dangerous for the kids walking down along the highway.

Regional Education Store

The Regional Education Store is located near the municipal office along the Gelephu-Trongsa highway. It serves about six dzongkhags and their primary task is storage and distribution of educational materials like books and stationary. During the Tshechu festival in the Gelephu Dratshang, the department puts up a stall to increase awareness about literacy and education amongst the general public.

Kuendrup Early Learning Center and Samphel Nursery School

The Kuendrup Early Learning Center and Samphel Nursery School are private schools located near the Gelephu Dratshang and on the fisheries road respectively.

 3.5.3 Recreational Amenities

Football Ground

The existing football ground along Gelephu-Trongsa highway measures about 4.5 acres and is close to the heart of every resident of Gelephu. People of all age groups, enjoy playing different games like archery, football, cricket, etc. The Tsewang Goempa is located adjacent, at the junction of the roads. The existing pavilion on the ground is utilized as a dais during special events like National Day celebration.

Gelephu Sport’s Association Hall

The Gelephu Sport’s Association Hall is located near the football ground and its function is to facilitate sports amongst youth in Gelephu. The structure encloses a badminton court which at times functions as a multipurpose hall for various town meetings. There is a need to renovate the existing structure and provide additional facilities, so that it functions as a sporting centre of Gelephu.

Losal Cinema

 Located in the heart of the town core, Losal Cinema is a major landmark for the commercial precinct of existing Gelephu town. The cinema hall has currently closed down, but the people of Gelephu still regard it as one of the important entertainment centers in the town.