Tshering Tshomo (Dzongkha: ཚེ་རིང་མཚོ་མོ་; born c. 1983) is a Bhutanese politician and former teacher. During the 2023 election, she was the only woman directly elected to serve in the National Council, representing Zhemgang District.
Tshering Tshomo | |
|---|---|
ཚེ་རིང་མཚོ་མོ | |
| Member of the National Council of Bhutan | |
| Assumed office 10 May 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Pema Dakpa |
| Constituency | Zhemgang District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1983 Ngangla Gewog, Zhemgang District, Bhutan |
| Political party | Independent |
Early life
editTshering Tshomo was born and raised in Sonamthang, a village within Ngangla Gewog in Zhemgang District.[1][2][3] She graduated with a degree in education from Paro College of Education and became a prominent figure in the Khengrig Namsum, a cooperative of professionals working to improve the livelihoods of people living in the Zhemgang District.[4][5][6]
Prior to her election, Tshering Tshomo worked as a teacher and a businesswoman, and lived in Thimphu with her two children.[3][6][7]
Political career
edit2023 election
editThe National Council is the highest legislative and policy-making political body in Bhutan.[8] It comprises 25 members, 20 of whom are elected directly from constituencies across the country, and five of whom are nominated by the King of Bhutan; all candidates must be politically independent with at least a university degree.[9] The number of women in Bhutanese politics has been increasing in the twenty-first century, although the Buddhist-derived understanding of women being nangi-aum (lit. 'lady of the house') has led to a stigma that a woman's domain is inside the home, while the man's domain is outside of it.[1][10] Women in Bhutan account for over half of the country's population.[1][6][9]
Tshering Tshomo registered to become a candidate standing in Zhemgang District, stating that she believed it was a "woman's time" to represent the district.[1] She was one of nine women to register; following the Dhamngoi Zomdu selection procedure, only five women were approved as candidates (including Tshering Tshomo), alongside 84 men.[1][2][6][7]
Tshering Tshomo ran alongside four male candidates on a campaign of reversing high poverty rates in the district by promoting eco-tourism.[2][3][6] During her campaign, some of the male candidate suggested that she would not be able to manage the responsibilities of serving as a National Council member due in part to her responsibilities as a nangi-aum.[6]
Following voting on 20 April 2023, Tshering Tshomo was elected to serve on the fourth National Council, obtaining 3170 votes, comprising 15.45% of the total votes cast in Zhemgang District.[2][3][7][11]
National Council (2023–present)
editTshering Tshomo expressed her regret that she was the only female candidate elected to the National Council, and called for a quota to be introduced to ensure adequate female participation on all levels of Bhutanese politics.[1][11] She credited her win in part due to her being a woman, but also due to her campaign pledges being "practical" in nature.[5]
Tshering Tshomo formally took up her role on the National Council on 10 May 2023. While she was the only female candidate directly elected, two other women – Kesang Chuki Dorjee and Tashi Chhozom – were nominated to serve as two of five eminent members of the National Council by Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.[12] Tshering Tshomo is the second woman elected to represent Zhemgang District in the National Council.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Rinzin, Yangchen C. (8 May 2023). "The path to women's political participation in Bhutan". Himal Southasian. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Tshering Tshomo, the lone female National Council elect from Zhemgang". The Bhutan Live. 23 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Dorji, Ugyen (25 April 2023). "Tshering Tshomo stands tall". Kuensel. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "How farmers improve livelihoods in Zhemgang and counter rural-urban migration". Bhutan Network. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b Rai, Monica (22 April 2023). "Fourth time is a charm for Tshering Tshamo". The Bhutanese. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Lhamo, Nidup (22 April 2023). "A lone woman from Zhemgang takes NC seat". Business Bhutan. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Samdrup, Pema (22 April 2023). "Tshering Tshomo, the lone female National Council elect from Zhemgang". Bhutan Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ Choki, Pema (4 August 2023). "The increasingly important role of the National Council over the last 15 years". The Bhutanese. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b Tshering, Kinley (23 April 2023). "2023 Bhutan National Council Election". Daily Bhutan. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ Rinzin, Yangchen C. (14 December 2022). "Towards More Women Political Leaders in Bhutan". The Funambulist. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ a b Khan, Asim (May 2023). "Historic Win in Bhutan: Tshering Tshomo Becomes Lone Women Representative in National Council". BNN. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "His Majesty The King grants Dhar to National Council Members". Kuensel. 7 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.