Dharamshala: The Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, commenced the 15th Administrative Conference of the Tibetan Settlement Officers (TSOs) this morning at Gangchen Kyishong.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Kalon (Minister) of the Home Department, attended the inaugural of the four-day (6-9 November) convention as its chief guest, along with Kalon Dolma Gyari from the Department of Security. It was also attended by Cabinet Secretary Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi; Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, Chime Tseyang; Secretary of the Home Department, Palden Dhondup; Additional Secretaries Tenzin Norbu and Jampa Phuntsok; and 45 participating Tibetan Settlement Officers, including Chief Representative Officers of South Zone, Shimla and Ladakh.

Secretary Palden Dhondup, in his opening remarks, apprised the gathering about the purpose behind hosting successive Administrative Conferences. He said, “The meetings aimed to gather briefings on Settlement Officer’s undertakings and deliberate thoroughly on proposed agendas concerning the welfare of exiled Tibetans in order to implement them later in their respective settlement.”

He additionally underscored the importance of TSO’s role as a bridge between the general Tibetan public and central administration. He added that raising the welfare status of Tibetans and promoting His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visionary guidance among inhabitants of respective settlements is the primary obligation of TSOs while commending all the TSOs of past and present for making Tibetan diaspora one of the most successful refugee community in the world. At the same time, he implored TSOs in the gathering to perform their responsibilities dedicatedly and efficiently, given the unprecedented challenges arising regarding the continued sustenance of Tibetan settlements.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering addressed the conference on issues pertaining to current Kashag’s welfare policies. He stressed that TSOs refer to 16th Kashag’s Vision Paper as a guideline for CTA civil servants and hence briefly talked about its core ideas. He emphasised truthfulness, transparency, and working in compliance with provisions of the Charter to be predominant principles for TSOs to conduct their responsibilities. Furthermore, he implored TSOs to regularly remind their people, especially the younger generation, about the benevolent contributions made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and older generations for establishing this thriving community.

Furthermore, regarding the functioning of TSOs, the head of CTA also emphasised the need to keep strong ties with members of the Local Tibetan Assembly and carry out project plans in accordance with the Office of the Auditor General’s regulations to avoid complications.

A vote of thanks was conveyed by Additional Secretary Jampa Phuntsok before concluding the opening ceremony of the 15th Administrative Conference of the Tibetan Settlement Officers.