WHY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES MUST UPDATE ON A REGULAR BASIS?

1) Elected Representatives are directly accountable to people. That is why we are also referred to as People’s Representatives. If that be so, informing people on issues and developments on a regular basis should be one of our direct responsibilities. In other words, the role of Oversight and Review.

2) People’s Representatives have promises to keep. Therefore, social media such as Facebook, WeChat, Telegram and Whatsapp are quick and have better reach-out to update constituents on achievements and shortcomings. Nothing but tapping the best out of these 21 Century technologies will only benefit the electorate.

3) A sad reality is that due to rural-urban migration, there are not many people residing in village homes these days. That said, it doesn’t mean those residing in urban pockets (including those studying and working abroad) do not care about their rural homes, parents and relatives. They remain somehow closely connected and for them, such as FB and WeChat are the lens through which they look at their rural homes and developmental activities. Plus, electioneering has made Postal Ballots possible in Bhutan and therefore, keeping abreast of latest developmental information for those who reside away from rural homes or overseas are also moral and official duties of the People’s Reps.

4) By being on social media, it also extends opportunity to the educated constituents to connect, express ideas and solutions to certain rural issues they think their People’s Representatives should address. Some really come up with wonderful ideas and recommendations, and as for me, I have found that their ideas are mostly sustainable and implementable. Uneducated folks, no matter how frequently we meet in Gewog and Chiwog zomdu, cannot feed us with insights and concrete recommendations as educated ones do.

5) People’s Representatives or Parliamentarians are legislators too. Not only by being on social media but also actively engaging and discussing laws and amendments greatly benefit friends and followers in our circles. By doing so, we are advocating on laws. And, making citizens well informed of laws and amendments usher in peace, unity and tranquility in the country. Often, social media helps lawmakers understand an array of psycho-social behaviors of people which in return help Parliamentarians make good laws. This, however, is only an informal channel while formal consultations and public hearings are key to making better laws.

6) While many information found on social media do not hold water and need self-censorship, some information very well leads to discovering truths and hearing issues on certain loopholes or undesirable public policies, regulations and activities instituted by the Government in power. Thus social media aides to State scrutiny and Oversight.

7) Media posts and updates of Representatives (be it from Gups, Thromdhey Reps, MPs) should be precise and honest, supported by valid pictures, data and statistics. Otherwise, mere uploads can be viewed adversely by the constituents/netizens and they have a reason to do so. If you aren’t traveling, you do not have pictures; and if you aren’t observing and reading, you do not have statistics. Therefore, only facts must be published.

(Note: There are also many reasons why People’s Representatives shouldn’t be on Social Media. But on my scale, being on social media clearly outweighs not being on social media).