State health minister promises reserved MBBS seats for Tibetans, plot of land to Mentseekhang for medicinal plant cultivation
DHARAMSHALA: The Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (TMAI) also known as Mentseekhang based in Dharamshala celebrated its 54th Founding anniversary at a ceremony held at the institute’s auditorium yesterday.
The chief guest at the ceremony was Shri. Kaul Singh Thakur, Health and Revenue minister of the state government, accompanied by Shri. Ravi Thakur, member of state legislative assembly. Other dignitaries at the ceremony include Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Penpa Tsering of the Tibetan Parliament, Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk, Secretaries of various departments of the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Parliamentarians.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shri. Kaul Singh Thakur assured the Tibetan medical institute and the Tibetan community of the state government’s continued support and assistance. He also promised to fulfill all the requests made by the Central Tibetan Administration and TMAI including providing a plot of land for the cultivation of medicinal plants and allotment of reserved MBBS seats for Tibetan students in state medical institutes.
He exclaimed that India and Tibet share a historical and spiritual bond and it is India’s, particularly Himachal Pradesh’s good fortune to be able to help the Tibetan people in their time of need. He also thanked His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his noble contribution towards world peace and for making Dharamshala a tourist destination on the world map.
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, in his address at the ceremony, said that the TMAI is a source of pride for all the Tibetan people; particularly lauding the institute’s achievement in the field of medical service to the public.
Sikyong also asserted that the Tibetan medical institute is an epitome of the present Kashag’s three guiding principles of unity, innovation and self-reliance. “ The TMAI helps achieve unity in the community as well as with other communities of Tibetan Buddhist traditions through its service of medical and astrological science; it continues to innovate through the production of new
medicines like detoxifying agents in the traditional system to benefit patients, and it is one of the most successful organisation in the exile community in terms of it’s economic viability,” he said.
Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, congratulated the institute on its 54th anniversary and emphasised the need to continue its focus on quality of medical and astrological education. “Material development is important. However, it is more important to maintain the quality of knowledge and the professionalism of the doctors while serving the patients,” he said.
Lauding the important role played by TMAI in improving the quality of life among the Tibetan public, Health Kalon Dr. Tsering Wangchuk, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the state government of Himachal Pradesh and the Central government for its continued assistance to the Tibetan people. He urged the minister to fulfill the requests made by the institute regarding land for cultivation of medicinal plants and also requested for more MBBS reserve seats for Tibetan students.
Mr. Tsering Tashi, Director of TMAI, read out a brief historical background of the Tibetan medical Institute.
The ceremony also saw presentation of awards to meritorious students, felicitation of long-serving staff and presentation of Tserampa degree to graduates. The ceremony was attended by over 500 people including staff and students, well wishers, sponsors, donors and heads of various Tibetan governmental and non-governmental organisations.
