DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration commenced its tenth annual meeting of Tibetan settlement officers from 13 – 16 July at the Tibetan Reception Centre in Dharamshala. Over 44 settlement officers across India, Nepal and Bhutan participated in the four-day meeting cum workshop.
The first day inaugural function was presided over by officiating Sikyong Kalon Dolma Gyari and Mr. Tempa Tsering, Representative at Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama based in New Delhi, as a special guest along with Education Kalon Mr. Ngodup Tsering and Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk. Secretaries of various departments of CTA also attended the event. The first day was chaired by Home Kalon Dolma Gyari and the next three ensuing meetings were chaired by Home Secretary Mr. Sonam T. Khorlatsang. The meeting concluded with the unanimous passage of 7 (3) resolutions all related to overall long term sustainability and development of the Tibetan settlements. On 16th July 2105, The Home Secretary Mr. Sonam T. Khorlatsang, in its valedictory function, gave a warm welcome and introductory speech, and briefed the consolidated report of the Department of Home.
While Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, in its valedictory speech, expressed immense pleasure over the outcome of this meeting as presented by the Home Secretary. He also extended heartfelt greeting to all the participants on behalf of Kashag.
He added that Present Kashag believes that settlement officers have left no stone unturned in dealing with public grievance and problems. He further added settlement officers are representative of Central Tibetan Administration-CTA and have a huge responsibility with absolute commitment and dedication of which Kashag is highly appreciative. “Formulation of Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014’ by the Government of India is a great honour or milestone achievement for us. However, everyone concerned must put in more effort to implement these policies to benefit the Tibetan in India” he said.
“By the grace of His Holiness the Dalia Lama and also with dedication and sincerity of elders in our community we should feel proud to stand out from the rest of refugees spread over the world for being successful in preserving our religion, culture and language for over 56 years of refugee in exile”.
“The general perspective on the mindset of our community reveal strong sense of dependency, wherein individual doesn’t put much effort to achieve success in every field. With their mind so demoralized, they are inclined to think they can’t succeed in their work and give up without even trying. Giving up this way is the biggest weakness, he observed. It is essential to encourage people with such negative traits to interact with others and instill in them the determination for success in every work rather than sticking to negative mindset. Dependency of mindset in our community has to be changed in order to be self reliant. Therefore, kindly address this issue at public gathering to encourage the general public to change the mindset of dependency.
Besides he highlighted the growing importance of current status of Tibet’s issue worldwide and its positive development on the issue of Tibet by giving example of recent EU president speech urging China, for the first time, to negotiate with HHDL Representative on Tibet. The recent upgrade and introduction of program on promotion of Tibetan Entrepreneurship in the settlement to promote self reliance and benefit to the livelihood of the settlers could contribute towards sustaining the settlement in general.
In the end, TIPA, on request by DoH, performed Tibetan culture song and dance to honour the settlement officer during farewell dinner hosted by Department of Home.
– Report filed by Department of Home –
