Phongmey

Phongmey Gewog is located at 33 km away from Dzongkhag headquarter and comprises 28 villages with 690 households, five Chewogs with the population of 5008 (Population and housing census: 2020). Gewog area sprawl about 99.4 Sq. Km with altitudinal ranges 1300 mts to 3300 mts experiencing mild summer to extreme winter.  It shares boundary with India (Aurunachal Pradesh) to north, Sakteng Gewog to the east and Merak Gewog to the south, whereas Radhi and Bidung geog share their boundaries from west and west-north respectively. Rice production being one of the staple food crop in the geog, most of the farmers in geog own wetlands. With this, wheat, maize, soya-bean and garlic are also cultivating substantially to fulfil the category of self-sufficiency and to aid incomes. Farmers of lower belt of altitude, produces cash crop like garlic, banana, ginger, guava, orange and ground nut for the extra earnings to family. In addition to this livestock products (milk, cheese, butter, poultry and piggery) also constitute secondary income for them.

The Gewog has two significant religious sites, Firstly, Ralang locates magnificently 3 hours walk from the Gewog Centre. It is a panoramic geographical landscape and has got various historical backgrounds. In the mid eighteenth century, Lopen Drubthob Donga Rinchen, eminently known as Drupthob Khezhey, visited the plateau and blessed the sites after subduing the wrathful deities. Later, highly revered saints Lama Tenzin Jamtsho from yabrang village and Meme Gelong Dawa Norbu from Lem village visited and augmented its sacredness by meditating and sanctifying the site. Currently the Gonpa is taken care by Memi Gelong’s successive disciples. To commemorate the accomplishments of predecessors, on the auspicious day, Sermon of Lord Buddha, the community group conduct ritual offerings annually.

Tshongtshongma accounts to second religious landmark, which also demarks the international border with India (Aurnachual Pradesh) and is also highest mountain peak in Phongmey goeg. Historically, it is the holy place being blessed by Late His Holiness Tshongtshongma Rimpoche and it is also believed to be the resident of Local deity Chukpo Jambay Wangpo, who is supreme deity of Phongmey Goeg. Monastery still exist which was built by Tshogtshongma Rimpoche, encompassing the statue of eight manifestation of Guru Rimpoche.

Gewog Profile Merak Gewog 2023

Population and land use

Area(Sq Km)                           99.4

Km from Dzongkhag head Quarter to Gewog center     33 km

Population Figure Total      5008

Male                                   2549

Female                               2459

population Density ( per Sq Km)

Administrative units

Gewog Center                    1

Chiwogs                              5

No of villages                      21

No of Gongtong                  137

RNR Center

RNR Center                        1

Range office                        1

Piggery Farm                       0

Poultry farm                         1

Milk Processing unit             2

Active/ registered Farmers Group         2

No of community forestry                      

No of Farm Road                                  13

Length of farm Road in Kms                 98

No of electric fencing                             63

length of electric fencing in Kms           57km

No functional of Irrigation channel         22

length of functional Irrigation channel    46.59

Health Center

Hospital                            0

No of PHC                        2

No of sub post                  1

ORC with shade               2

Education

Higher secondary school               0

Middle secondary school               1

Lower secondary school                0

Primary school                               3

Extended classroom                      0

Non formal education center  (NFE)    1

Early Child Development  Center(ECCD)    2

Religion and culture

No of community own Lhakhang       14

No of Government lhakhang              0

No of Private own Lhakhang              2

No of chortens                                    218

Bridges

Total number of motorable bridge           4

Total number of Non-motorable bridge    4

Demography by chewog wise

Sl No            Chewog name                      Male         Female           Total

1                   Pimsong                                 126           121                  247

2                   Ya_Brang                                237           232                 469

3                   Thong_Rong                           181           166                 347

4                   Phongmead                             581            617                1198

5                   Lem                                          180           176                 356

                    All chewog                                                                       2617