His Majesty said that it was his hope, that they will take good advantage of the profound concern and love of the King. “You must not waste this opportunity given through His Majesty’s unprecedented Kidu. You must build houses so that they may serve as strong and safe homes for your future generations,” said the fourth Druk Gyalpo.

His Majesty said that our King is young, but each and every duty he undertakes in order to fulfill the aspirations of our people, he does so with great wisdom and passion. “It has been three years since I abdicated the Throne and submitted the duties of King to His Majesty. In this short time, His Majesty has shown his immeasurable love and desire to work for the people. For our small landlocked nation we need a wise, compassionate and dynamic King who loves and serves his people and nation. In His Majesty we have all of these qualities and we must consider ourselves truly fortunate.”

“In the last year His Majesty the King travelled across the eastern dzongkhags. He walked to remote villages, visited individual households and discussed your problems and needs while sharing meals with you in your homes. His Majesty met over 40,000 to 50,000 of you personally,” said His Majesty. The fourth Druk Gyalpo told the gathering that His Majesty started the cadastral resurvey in 2009 and till date, 7,947 households were granted land Kidu amounting to 9,287 acres. “The land Kidu was granted because His Majesty felt that as an agrarian society, land is the primary asset of our people.”

The fourth Druk Gyalpo told the people that the work has been disrupted by the devastating earthquake of September 2009 and that His Majesty will travel to all the dzongkhags to continue this process.

“Following this unprecedented, shocking earthquake, we are all aware how His Majesty out of deep concern, came here to meet and assist the 6,241 households affected. To those of you who lost family, property and livelihoods, His Majesty granted Kidu soelra of Nu 87.5 million. For those whose houses were damaged timber and CGI sheets were granted as Kidu,” said the fourth Druk Gyalpo.

“Even beyond all this, His Majesty felt that unless the CGI sheets can be carried to the house or the timber sawed and transported, it would be very difficult for you to rebuild your homes. Therefore, His Majesty commanded the Royal Bhutan Army to deliver construction materials to the households and to assist you where it is needed most,” he told the people. “His Majesty also commanded the government to identify forests from which timber can be sourced for the people. I feel that this new responsibility commanded to the armed forces is special. While the security and sovereignty of the country during times of threat is the responsibility of the armed forces, henceforth they will also have the sacred duty of assisting the King in looking after the welfare of the people of Bhutan.”

His Majesty told the people that the true lesson we must learn from the devastaing natural disasters is that our small country must always be united as one family. “If one person should be in need, it is the duty of all others to come to his aid. As Bhutanese, we must care for each other.”

His Majesty assured the people that the government, together with the people, will rebuild as soon as possible the 1,476 affected houses, of which 335 houses must be rebuilt, offices and outreach centers of different government agencies in the 13 gewogs of Mongar.

In Mongar, 73 sacred lhakhangs have been damaged of which 23 must be constructed as new lhakhangs. 107 chortens were damaged of which 43 are beyond repair. “These lhakhangs and chortens play a central role in our society and communities. We must work together with the government to rebuild and repair them. We must ensure that they are built more beautiful and more sacred than before,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo also commended the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa government. “Our political parties and the members of Parliament have displayed competence and maturity comparable to established democracies. I pray for the success of democracy and of our nation and for the happiness of our people,” said His Majesty.

Following the royal address, the representatives of the people expressed their gratitude for His Majesty the King’s tours of remote villages and for the extraordinary land kidus. They said that His Majesty the King is also looking after thousands of old, poor and disabled people as well as students from poor families personally. And most recently, the burden of the natural disasters had been greatly relieved by His Majesty’s Kidus.

They offered their gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo for everything they had been granted during a historic 34-year reign made possible by a King’s complete selflessness and devotion to the people. His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo also met with the people affected by natural disasters, in Pema Gatshel, Trashigang and Mongar. His Majesty will be leaving for Lhuentse.

His Majesty is accompanied by their Majesties the Queen Mothers Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck and Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, HRH Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck and HRH Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck.