Tibetan settlement officers to meet this month

Friday, 12 January 2007, 12:00 p.m.

Dharamshala: Under the supervision of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan settlement officers from across India, Nepal and Bhutan will meet here at Gangchen Kyishong from 22-25 January 2007.

This is the 5th administrative meeting of the settlement officers.

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche will inaugurate and address the conference.

As per the conference programme, on the first day the participants will review the resolutions passed in the previous conference held here in 2005.

For the next three days, they will discuss how to improve the poverty alleviation schemes and agricultural or Agro industrial development programmes being carried out by the Home Department in the Tibetan settlements.

They will also discuss about how the Tibetan people in their respective settlements can act in compliance with the local and host country’s law.

Besides they will discuss the workings of the cooperative societies, which play a significant role in making the settlements self-reliant.

During their 4-day meeting here, the officers will hear the present Kashag’s policies for various issues, including the Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in exile and introduction of organic farming.

At present, there are 35 Tibetan settlements in India, 10 in Nepal and 7 in Bhutan.