Tshering Tshomo

Tshering Tshomo was born and raised in Sonamthang, a village within Ngangla Gewog in Zhemgang District.{{Cite news |last=Rinzin |first=Yangchen C. |date=8 May 2023 |title=The path to women's political participation in Bhutan |language=en |work=Himal Southasian |url=https://www.himalmag.com/women-political-participation-national-council-election-bhutan/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095121/https://www.himalmag.com/women-political-participation-national-council-election-bhutan/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=23 April 2023 |title=Tshering Tshomo, the lone female National Council elect from Zhemgang |language=en |work=The Bhutan Live |url=https://thebhutanlive.com/nation/tshering-tshomo-the-lone-female-national-council-elect-from-zhemgang/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095122/https://thebhutanlive.com/nation/tshering-tshomo-the-lone-female-national-council-elect-from-zhemgang/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Dorji |first=Ugyen |date=25 April 2023 |title=Tshering Tshomo stands tall |language=en |work=Kuensel |url=https://kuenselonline.com/tshering-tshomo-stands-tall/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095120/https://kuenselonline.com/tshering-tshomo-stands-tall/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |title=How farmers improve livelihoods in Zhemgang and counter rural-urban migration |url=https://www.bhutan-network.org/portfolio/knc-zhemgang-bhutan/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=Bhutan Network |language=en |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105104023/https://www.bhutan-network.org/portfolio/knc-zhemgang-bhutan/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Rai |first=Monica |date=22 April 2023 |title=Fourth time is a charm for Tshering Tshamo |language=en |work=The Bhutanese |url=https://thebhutanese.bt/fourth-time-is-a-charm-for-tshering-tshomo-from-zhemgang/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095120/https://thebhutanese.bt/fourth-time-is-a-charm-for-tshering-tshomo-from-zhemgang/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Lhamo |first=Nidup |date=22 April 2023 |title=A lone woman from Zhemgang takes NC seat |language=en |work=Business Bhutan |url=https://businessbhutan.bt/a-lone-woman-from-zhemgang-takes-nc-seat/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604000233/https://businessbhutan.bt/a-lone-woman-from-zhemgang-takes-nc-seat/ |url-status=live }}

Prior to her election, Tshering Tshomo worked as a teacher and a businesswoman, and lived in Thimphu with her two children.{{Cite news |last=Samdrup |first=Pema |date=22 April 2023 |title=Tshering Tshomo, the lone female National Council elect from Zhemgang |language=en |work=Bhutan Broadcasting Service |url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=184773 |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095123/http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=184773 |url-status=live }}

The National Council is the highest legislative and policy-making political body in Bhutan.{{Cite news |last=Choki |first=Pema |date=4 August 2023 |title=The increasingly important role of the National Council over the last 15 years |language=en |work=The Bhutanese |url=https://thebhutanese.bt/the-increasingly-important-role-of-the-national-council-over-the-last-15-years/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095123/https://thebhutanese.bt/the-increasingly-important-role-of-the-national-council-over-the-last-15-years/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite news |last=Tshering |first=Kinley |date=23 April 2023 |title=2023 Bhutan National Council Election |language=en |work=Daily Bhutan |url=https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/2023-bhutan-national-council-election |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105095119/https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/2023-bhutan-national-council-election |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Rinzin |first=Yangchen C. |date=14 December 2022 |title=Towards More Women Political Leaders in Bhutan |url=https://thefunambulist.net/magazine/the-subcontinent/towards-more-women-political-leaders-in-bhutan |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=The Funambulist |language=en |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105104023/https://thefunambulist.net/magazine/the-subcontinent/towards-more-women-political-leaders-in-bhutan |url-status=live }} Women in Bhutan account for over half of the country's population.

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. 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.

Tshering Tshomo ran alongside four male candidates on a campaign of reversing high poverty rates in the district by promoting eco-tourism. 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.

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.

Tshering 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. She credited her win in part due to her being a woman, but also due to her campaign pledges being "practical" in nature.

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.{{Cite news |date=7 June 2023 |title=His Majesty The King grants Dhar to National Council Members |language=en |work=Kuensel |url=https://kuenselonline.com/m-grants-dhar-to-national-council-members/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105104022/https://kuenselonline.com/m-grants-dhar-to-national-council-members/ |url-status=live }} Tshering Tshomo is the second woman elected to represent Zhemgang District in the National Council.

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Category:Living people

Category:Members of the National Council (Bhutan)

Category:Bhutanese women in politics

Category:21st-century Bhutanese politicians

Category:21st-century women politicians

Category:People from Zhemgang District

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)