DHARAMSHALA: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), FFR Division, at the instance of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, convened a meeting of the official of East Asia Division, MEA, Government of India, concerned state government department officials of Maharastra, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, J & K , Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Sikkim and officials of MHA, FFR Div. and Kalon Gyari Dolma, Department of Home , CTA Kasur Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi, Secretary and Addl. Secretary, DOH, Secretary, Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chief Representative, Bangalore, President, FTCSI, and the Settlement Officers of Shimla, Odhisa, Bhandara, Dharamshala, on 26th February 2014 at the Media Room, North Block.

The meeting was chaired by Shri Rajeev Sharma, Additional Secretary, MHA and was presided over by Shri K.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary, MHA. The chair started the proceedings by stating that the meeting shall review the problems of the Tibetan refugees and find way to address them.

The discussion were focused on the issues relating Tibetan Refugee Settlements pertaining to settlement land, civic amenities like drinking water, roads, electricity other matters related to the development of settlements. Particularly issues related to settlement land records and rehabilitation issues exiting in settlements in Karnataka, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, and Bhandara.

Kalon Gyari Dolma while expressing the deep sense of gratitude and appreciation to the people and governments of both the state and union for their invaluable support and help rendered through the over last five decades, familiarised the chair with some of problems relating Tibetan refugees facing problems such as to land lease documents not being issued, insecurity due to eviction fears from rehabilitated areas, livelihood avenues, unemployment among youth and non accessibility to developmental schemes of the government by Tibetan refugees. Hon. Kalon thanked the MHA for convening the meeting and recalled fruitfulness a meeting convened by MHA way back in 1986.

Shri Gautam Bambawale, Joint secretary, East Asia Div. MEA said that government of India considers His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Tibetan refugees are honoured guest of India and India shall make all efforts to make their stay in India comfortable.

The states officials gave their perspectives on the various issues relating to the Tibetan refugees and assured their assistance and sustain their support.

Shri K.K. Pathak advised that CTA submit a proposal outlining general area specific list of need and problems of the Tibetan refugees (TR) in India so that a comprehensive policy for the TRs welfare can be framed.

The meeting concluded with Shri K.K. Pathak thanking all the officials their participation.