Is the proposed 35% rise in tax on all types of vehicle by MoIC justifyable?

A few days back, a report filed by Tenzing Lamzang in Kuensel revealed that the Ministry of Information and Communication proposed a 35% rise in tax for all types of vehicle. The ministry has also proposed a hike in the registration fees and insurance amount. The issue immediately caught the attention of the public.

There are people pouring their frustrations online forums including Kuenselonline under the name of anonymous or the nickname. None of these people seems to welcome the proposal. Instead many accused and alleged the Ministry for bringing such proposal.

The reality is that now many low income people are no worried that they will not be able to own a car, not even the Indian cars. Many also said that the government's vision or the manifesto of equity and justice is now becoming more questionable. It is also a sign that the rich will remain rich and poor will will never become rich if that is the case.

Everyone knows that traffic congestion is predominantly the problem of just two urban areas in the country. they are Thimphu and Phuentsholing. But even in these two towns, the problems persits only for a fe hours in day during the peak hours.  On the other hand, majority towns in the country are still empty without a single vehicle such as Lhuentse and Pema Gatshel. Today, many people in the east art of the country  pay huge some of their income as transport charge everyday. For instance people in Kanglung town pay more a Nu.100 to reach Tashigang Town which is just about a 20km where as in the wetern part people pay only Nu.150 to reach more than 60km like Thim-Paro journey. Thisis mainly driven by the lack of vehicle in the country.

 If the present proposal is approved by the Government, what will happen to this people? Will they be able to pay for the further increase in the charge? Is government not directly coercing these innocent famers and poor people to pay more?


The few promient questions that lingers into my mind are:
1. Is there really a traffice problem in the country today?
2. Does government has enough measures to make the public transport affordable through out the country?
3. Are we really into the right trak on acheiving the Gross National Happiness?
4. Does the government really moving towards the reduction of poverty inthe Country during the tenth five year plan.