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Building Bhutan’s Inclusive Future

How a small district in the mountains is leading big change for persons with disabilities.

By Governance for Public Goods and Services

July 8^th, 2025

“Yes we can!”

In the quiet hills of Gesarling, Bhutan, Suk Raj Sherpa remembers the names people used to call him. “He’s different than us,” they would say.

At just 31, Suk Raj has faced more barriers than most people encounter in a lifetime—not only physical, but social and emotional ones too. But ask him what keeps him going, and he’ll answer without hesitation: "Never give up. Just keep trying until you succeed. That’s my motto: Yes we can!"

Suk Raj Sherpa is seated on a chair, being interviewed during the retreat. He is wearing a traditional Bhutanese outfit and appears calm and focused. — Suk Raj Sherpa speaks up for inclusivity in Bhutan.

Breaking Barriers

Like many others living with disabilities in Bhutan, Suk Raj has spent years navigating a world not built for him. Applying for jobs meant climbing stairs to offices with no ramps or elevators. Out of ten applications, none worked out. The message from some around him was clear: stay home, pray, hope for something better.

But he refused.

A Community of Courage

In the mountainous district of Dagana, the challenges are especially steep. For Leki Om even daily life is a battle. “There are so many challenges,” she says. “Going to the bathroom, earning a living. Life is difficult.”

Chado, her husband, faces his own daily trials. “My wife can’t see, and I have problems with my hand,” he says. “We have to go to the hospital every month.”

But something is changing in Dagana.

Chado and his wife Leki Wangmo sit cross-legged on the ground outdoors during a workshop activity. Surrounded by nature, both are smiling warmly. — Chado and his wife Leki Wangmo. Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Building an inclusive Bhutan, one Step at a Time

With the support from UNDP and the Office of the Prime Minister, local leaders in Dagana have been taking bold steps to make public services more accessible. Their mission is to ensure that persons with disabilities are no longer an afterthought, but at the heart of how services are designed and delivered.

UNDP Bhutan, in partnership with the Office of Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination and the Disabled People’s Organization (DPO), organized a three-day workshop under the "Inclusive & Future Smart: Transforming the Public Sector for Improved Service Delivery" project. The project is funded through the UNDP Funding Windows by the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and Republic of Korea.

27 persons with disabilities and their caregivers attended the three-day workshop at Punakha. For many this was a first-time experience. Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Inclusive public services for all

Kesang Deki, Cabinet Secretary of the Royal Government of Bhutan, emphasized the power of inclusion to shape a fairer future for all:

"We envision a society where everyone has the same chance to succeed. Inclusive public services are the foundation of this vision."

Kesang Deki, Cabinet Secretary of the Royal Government of Bhutan, sits for an interview. She is wearing two official-looking pins on her collar. — Kesang Deki, Cabinet Secretary of the Royal Government of Bhutan

From policy to people

Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness is more than a slogan, it’s a national commitment to ensure no one is left behind.

Mohammad Younus, UNDP Bhutan’s Resident Representative, echoes the sentiment:

"It's critical to make public services accessible to all. This work, done hand in hand with local government and persons with disabilities, is helping shape a more inclusive Bhutan. We are grateful to the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea for their generous support in making this possible.

Chado and his wife Leki Wangmo smile as they pose together holding a colorful empty frame, as if they are the photo inside it. The frame reads — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Workshop participants sit outdoors in a circle surrounded by nature, actively engaged and looking enthusiastic as part of the outdoor activities. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

A man and a woman sit close together outdoors, leaning on each other and smiling brightly as they engage in conversation during the workshop’s outdoor activities. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

During the outdoor activities, a woman leans in to whisper something to a man beside her, who smiles in response. Another man next to them is also smiling, capturing a lighthearted and joyful moment. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Chenco, a father, sits beside his son Sonam, proudly watching him enjoy the outdoor activities. Both are seated and sharing a quiet, joyful moment together. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

A woman stands in the center of a circle of participants seated outdoors, holding a white paper with colorful artwork on it. One participant is actively drawing on the paper, while others in the background watch and smile, enjoying the activity. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

A woman and a man sit outdoors in nature, smiling brightly at the camera during the retreat's outdoor activities. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Two women and a young girl sit cross-legged on the ground outdoors, surrounded by nature. The girl holds her mother’s hand as they all appear engaged and connected during the activity. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Candid moment during the outdoor activities, showing six participants—five seated on the ground and one in a wheelchair. All are smiling and appear engaged in the moment, surrounded by nature. — Photo: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

Dagana: A Role Model

Back in Gesarling, Suk Raj now sees something new on the horizon.

“When I heard that Dagana is becoming an inclusive town, I felt there would be more opportunities for us. I feel proud that Dagana can be a role model for the rest of the country.”

Suk Raj Sherpa sits in his office, reading a paper up close while wearing glasses. Two laptops and a computer mouse are visible on the table behind him. — Suk Raj Sherpa working at his desk in Gesarling, Bhutan

From Words to Action

And so, what began with a few determined voices—speaking out through stigma, climbing past barriers—has grown into a movement.

A movement that says: You belong. You matter. You have the right to thrive.

In Bhutan, inclusion is no longer a dream.

It’s becoming a reality—one ramp, one voice, and one brave heart at a time.

Footnotes

The governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea fund this initiative through the UNDP Funding Windows. Photos: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

FootNotes

The governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea fund this initiative through the UNDP Funding Windows. Photos: Karma Jamtsho/UNDP Bhutan

© 2026 Governance for Public Goods and Services

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