DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Home today began a four-day participatory needs assessment (PNA) training for settlement officers for the department’s latest developmental initiative known as the ‘Integrated Settlement Development Plan (ISDP)’.
The Integrated Settlement Development Plan (ISDP) is part of the Central Tibetan Administration’s efforts to strengthen self-reliance and resilience of the Tibetan people to secure the sustainability of Tibetan settlements in the long run. It is a bottom-up process of addressing the developmental needs of the Tibetan communities all over.
The four-day training is being attended by Tibetan Settlement officers along with participants from settlements. The training is currently being held at three regional zones in Dharamshala (north zone), Salugara (northeast) and Bylakuppe (south zone) covering all Tibetan settlements in south Asia.
The inaugural address of the north zone training was delivered by Mr Chhimey Rigzen, Secretary (Acting) of the Department of Home. He introduced the principal purpose of the training and explained how this training can bring about holistic development in the Tibetan settlements.
“The purpose of this training is to impart the best tools and techniques in the field of participatory development. The training will not only make the participants familiar with the techniques but also equip them with the ability to adapt their knowledge of the ground situation with the techniques of PNA to bring out best results,” he said.
“It begins with mapping of Tibetan settlements with the help of various stakeholders to understand the core aspirations of the common Tibetan. The PNA training is vital as comprehensive vision for a common future cannot be created without understanding the aspirations of the public,” he added.
The secretary also spoke about the five major projects of the home department, which includes compiling latest population census, women empowerment, youth empowerment, and agricultural projects.
After the PNA training, the participants of the training will lead the PNA process in their respective settlements. They will facilitate PNA meetings in their settlements with various stakeholders including monks & nuns, farmers, small business owners, women, school dropouts, new arrivals refugees, etc. to solicit opinions and views.
The process will be implemented initially on an experimental basis in four settlements, of which three will be in India and one in Nepal.
The introductory remarks of the training was delivered by Dr Kunchok Tsundue, chief planning officer of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The ISDP is funded by the USAID under the Tibetan Self-Reliance and Resilience (TSRR) Program towards upliftment and development of the livelihood of Tibetan people.
The training will conclude on 8 April 2017.