18 December, Bengaluru:  Kalon of Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration concluded a successful six-day visit in Karnataka, during which he toured the Tibetan settlements in the state and met with Hon’ble Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and other key Indian leaders and bureaucrats.

On 8 December, the Nangsi or Home Kalon Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang arrived in Bengaluru and was received by Chophel Thupten, Chief Representative, CTA (South Zone) at Bengaluru International Airport. At the Guest House, Kalon was received by Chief Representative office staff, Administrator of the TCV Hostel, and various student organisations based in Bengaluru.

The next day, as per an appointment earlier sought by the Chief Representative, the Nangsi Kalon met with Shri. H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, at his official residence. During the meeting, Home Kalon apprised the Chief Minister about a large number of Tibetans residing in Karnataka and deeply thanked the people and State Government of Karnataka for the generous assistance and support they’ve rendered to the Tibetan community for the last 60 years.

Kalon also requested the CM to extend the same level of support in the future too, while highlighting that Karnataka is one of the pioneer states in India that has been extending various support programs and schemes to Tibetans.

Kalon also put forward before the CM a very important project, which the latter agreed to discuss with his concerned Department officials and consider accordingly.

Moreover, Hon’ble Chief Minister also extended a very warm welcome to Home Kalon and said he was pleased to be of any help to the Tibetan community in Karnataka.

Visit to the Tibetan settlements

Thereafter, on 9 December, Kalon left Bengaluru for Rab-gayling Tibetan settlement, Hunsur. Kalon was received by the Settlement Officer of CTA and all other Heads of various governmental and non-governmental organisations based in Hunsur.

In the afternoon, Kalon presided over a public meeting which was organised by the local Settlement Officer. The Assistant Commissioner & Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Hunsur Division, on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of the District Administration of the State Government of Karnataka, the Local Revenue Officer, the Village Panchayat Officer and the local resident Tibetan Member of Parliament, and the Chief Representative of CTA (South Zone) were also specially invited to the event.

RTC certificates for Tibetan farmers

At the event, for the first time ever, Tibetan farmers in Hunsur received their Right to Tenancy Crop (RTC) certificates, which is a result of the many meetings held at various State and district levels regarding the implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy of 2014. Subsequently, the land lease agreement between the Deputy Commissioner of the Mysore District and Settlement Officer of the Rab-gayling Tibetan settlement was signed two years ago.

As such, the Hunsur Tibetan farmers are now finally able to avail the RTC certificate, which entitles Tibetan farmers to all the grants and subsidies made available by the State Government of Karnataka. Hence, it was a very important landmark event for the Tibetan farmers in Hunsur.

The Hunsur Settlement Officer, Lhakpa Dolma, welcomed the delegates, following which the Chief Representative, Chophel Thupten, addressed the gathering in English for the benefit of the Indian leaders. Thupten provided the background to the prior efforts that culminated in this landmark event. He also thanked the State Government, especially the District administration, who has been very supportive in making this certificate available for Tibetan farmers.

Later, the Assistant Commissioner handed over the RTC Certificates to the Hunsur Settlement Officer and spoke about the need for proper land usage by the Tibetans in Mysore District. The Nangsi Kalon also thanked the State Government of Karnataka and reiterated the points made by the District Administration, laying particular emphasis to the need for proper utilisation of the lease lands allotted to Tibetans.

Kalon also outlined the Kashag’s Five Fifty Vision, in which the long-term sustainability of the Tibetan settlements is a crucial aspect. As such, this achievement of getting RTC certificates for Tibetan farmers will further help them get benefits on agriculture-related programs and help realise the Kashag’s long-term vision, he said. The Chairman of the Local Tibetan Assembly proposed a vote of thanks and the meeting concluded with refreshments served to Indian officers.

Thereafter, Kalon left for Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, where he was received by Settlement Officers of Lugsam & Delar Settlements and Heads of all Tibetan governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Visit to Bylakuppe settlement

On 10 December, Kalon was the Chief Guest at the 29th-anniversary celebrations at Bylakuppe to mark the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The celebration also coincided with the completion of the renovation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Palace at Bylakuppe. The celebration was attended by Abbots and representatives from various monasteries, former Kalon, Chitues, Chief Representative, retired CTA officers, ITFS Executive members, and heads of various organisations based in Bylakuppe.

Kalon addressed the public and spoke at length about the Kashag’s Five Fifty Vision, the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy – 2014, and the importance of proper land usage allotted to Tibetan. He also advised Tibetans not to get carried away by social media critics of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA and emphasized instead on the importance for Tibetans to uphold and maintain unity and harmony.

The Lugsam and Delar Settlement Officer proposed the welcome and vote of thanks, respectively. They also read out statements of the Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament to the public. Chitue Pema Delek, on behalf of the Phodrang Renovation Committee, provided an overview of the palace renovation project and presented a statement of accounts. The school children and community groups presented a cultural program.

In the afternoon, Kalon allotted five new houses which were constructed earlier this year for retired CTA Officers. The five new retired CTA Officers took formal possession of their houses. Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery conducted special prayers and consecrated those new houses.

On 11 December, Kalon was invited by the Settlement Officer to view the completion of the drinking water project. The Assistant Engineer of the local Government provided a detailed explanation of the project and showed how the drinking water machine system works while explaining the channels distribution process. The Nangsi Kalon and local settlement officers thanked the State Government for funding this crucial project.

Later, the Nangsi Kalon paid a visit to a few individual houses that are engaged in dairy farming. Thereafter, he paid an inspection visit to the Organic Research Tibetan Centre and discussed the development of introducing some new crop demonstration in the centre. He also stressed the need to make the centre more viable and called for some rigour in their work. Next, he inspected the construction of a new Guest House project by the Nangsi Department.

On 12 December 2018, Nangsi Kalon inaugurated the newly built old aged home at Bylakuppe. The Bylakuppe Old aged home is managed by the Lugsam Settlement office. Gelek Jungney, the Settlement Officer, took the initiative to raise the necessary funds to build the old aged home, which was earlier in very poor shape.  The new Old aged home is funded by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Vimala Association through Debbi Carrani based in Italy.  The Nangsi Kalon, in his address, asked the authorities to ensure proper maintenance of the new buildings.  He further added that while the external infrastructure looks beautiful, the internal welfare of the old people should be given utmost priority.

The Nangsi Kalon also inspected the ongoing project of construction of houses for new arrivals from Tibet. He instructed the project officer and contractor to complete the work by the end of February 2019 and ensure the allotment of the houses to new arrivals in March 2019.

Later, the Nangsi Kalon chaired a Shung-Mol meeting of all CTA staff, heads of monasteries, President & Secretaries of various organizations, and Camp Leaders. The Chief Representative spoke about the recent meeting held in Bangalore regarding the re-enforcement of rules and regulations of lease land usages in all five southern settlements.

The Nangsi Kalon addressed the meeting by touching on all important issues such as 1) Kashag’s 5:50 Vision of sustainability of Tibetan settlements and also the future sustainability struggle of CTA importance of Tibet issue;  2) His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s charismatic leadership, guidance and gratitude to Tibetans; 3) Hon’ble Sikyong’s recent visit to foreign countries and the success of raising funds at the US and Canada Governments; 4) Development of Paljor Department, its financial budget increase, SARD programs of Gang JongDevelopment Finance Corporation; 5) Developmental program of Religion and Culture Department and the upcoming long life offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Bodh Gaya and mementos of Buddha statue to all monasteries in exile; 6) Developmental program of Education Department such as rise in scholarship program and administrative changes in the CST schools; and  7) Providing facilities to CTA staff with construction of many staff quarters and popular new CTA “T” office building, and most importantly, a final word of advice on the need to abide by the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and build trust and faith on CTA.

Visit to Kollegal settlement

On 13 December 2018, the Nangsi Kalon left for Dhondenling settlement, Kollegal, where he was received by the Settlement Officer and heads of various governmental and non-governmental organizations. That same afternoon, he chaired a public meeting at Dhondenling settlement. The Settlement Officer, Mr. Thupten Tsering, welcomed the Kalon and gave an introduction. Later, the Chief Representative addressed the gathering on the importance of proper land usage and provided an update on the recent meeting held in Bangalore where all five southern settlements decided to reinforce the rule of proper utilization of the agriculture lands allotted to Tibetans.

The Nangsi Kalon addressed the meeting on a wide range of issues such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s accomplishments and commitments towards to Tibetan issue, Sikyong’s achievements meeting with various international leaders through worldwide tours, new programs initiated by various departments of CTA, and, most importantly, he urged the people to maintain unity and strength and not concede to the influence of Chinese agents on social media where attempts are made to create disharmony among the Tibetan community.  The President of the Local Tibetan Assembly proposed a vote of thanks and urged the people to always stay united and not allow any anti-social elements to have the upper hand in society.

The Nangsi Kalon was accompanied by the Chief Representative of CTA (South Zone) during his tour of the Tibetan settlements in Karnataka. Prior to his departure, on 14 December 2018, the Nangsi Kalon visited the Small Trade Learning Centre at Nelamangala and met with trainees students and staff.  He advised students to treat their profession seriously and make the best use of the facilities available in the centre. He also thoroughly surveyed the campus and plans to make optimum use of the area campus.

The Nangsi Kalon left Bengaluru for Delhi on 15 December 2018.