Dzongkhag

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A dzongkhag (Dzongkha: རྫོ་ཁག།) is the name for a district of Bhutan in the Dzongkha language. 20 dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some of the bigger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate division known as the dungkhag (sub-district) along with its gewogs, which is again further divided into a number of gewogs. There are total 14 dungkhags in Bhutan.

1 History
2 Dzongkhag administration
- 2.1 The Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT)
3 See also

[edit] History

Earlier, Bhutan had nine provinces headed by the penlops: Byakar, Dukye, Ha, Paro, Punakha, Tagana, Thimbu, Tongsa, and Wangdue Phodrang. Later, the country was divided into dzongkhags. In 1987, the territory under Gasa dzongkhag was divided between Punakha and Thimphu and Chhukha dzongkhag was formed by merging the parts of Samchi, Paro, and Thimphu. In 1992, Gasa dzongkhag was again curved out from Punakha and Trashi Yangtse dzongkhag was curved out from Trashigang.

[edit] Dzongkhag administration

Each dzongkhag is headed by a dzongdag (district administrator). Initially the dzongdags were appointed by the Druk Gyalpo but since 1982 they are appointed by the Royal Civil Service Commission. A dzongdag coordinates all developmental activities within the district under his administration. He is assisted by a dzongrab (deputy district collector) in carrying out the administrative activities. The Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs, which consist of people’s representatives and government officials in the dzongkhags assist the dzongdags to discharge their developmental activities. A dzongdag is also assisted by the Gups elected from the gewogs within the dzongkhag. In the draft constitution of March 26, 2005, the provision for the elected Dzongkhag Tshogdu (district council) has been made for each dzongkhag.

[edit] The Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (DYT)

Under the initiative of fourth Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the process of decentralisation of the administration started in 1981, which resulted in the formation of the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung (district development committee) in each dzongkhag. The DYT of each dzongkhag consists of all the gups, mangmis and chimis of the dzongkhag. The Chairperson is elected from the DYT members by themselves. The DYT may also include the representatives of the municipalities and the towns within the dzonkhag. The DYTs also have non-voting members, which include the dzongdag, the dungpa (where a dungkhag exists) and the dzongkhag officials from various sectors such as the dzongkhag planning officer, the dzongkhag finance officer, the dzongkhag education officer, the dzongkhag chief engineer, the dzongkhag agriculture officer, the dzongkhag forestry officer, the dzongkhag animal husbandry officer, and the dzongkhag health officer.