Joint Secretary Dr Tsewang Phuntsok Assumes Charges as New Tibetan Settlement Office of Dehradun.
Dehradun: The official handover ceremony between outgoing Tibetan Settlement Officer Dhundup Gyalpo and incoming Settlement Officer Tsewang Phuntsok was held from 28 April to 1 May 2025. The event was held in the presence of Joint Secretary Migmar Dorjee, representing the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration.
On the first day, office files, documents and inventories under the custody of TSO were handed over, followed by a visit to Tashi Kyil Monastery, Pal Dechen Choekorling Monastery and Mindrolling Monastery in Clement Town, Kham Lingtsang Tibetan Colony in Dehradun. The local Tibetan community dignitaries warmly received them by holding a Tibetan traditional Khatak. They also met with Shri Anand Bardhan, the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand.
Following day two and three was continued with a visit to Tibetan Homes School and Sambhota Tibetan School in Mussoorie was continued, met with administrators, followed by a visit to Mussoorie scattered Tibetan road site stalls, Tibetan Women Centre, Rajpur, and Tsering Dhonden Tibetan Colony. The TSO also paid a courtesy call to Shri. Subhash Kumar, former Chief Secretary of the state government of Uttarakhand, and other dignitaries.
A brief official ceremony was conducted on the final day started at 9:00 AM of 01 May 2025, beginning with paying obeisance to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the chair exchange and handing over of office seals followed by traditional Tibetan ceremonial sweeten rice and tea, and scarf offering ceremony by representatives from various Tibetan communities falling under its jurisdiction at the settlement office.
The ceremony subsequently continued in the community hall of Dekyiling Tibetan Colony, in the presence of all the representatives of monasteries, LTA Dekyiling speaker, and the president of TFM Dehradun, Principal of schools, along with the heads/representatives of Tibetan colony and scattered Tibetan communities in and around Dehradun and the general public of Dekyiling and Gepheling Colony.
The outgoing TSO Dhundup Gyalpo introduced new TSO Tsewang Phuntsok and witnessed Migmar Dorjee representing the Department of Home, CTA, to the public and gave his closing speech to the public. The ceremony was concluded after speeches by the new
TSO Phuntsok, witness Dorjee, Pema Tenzin, President of Dekyiling Local Tibetan Assembly and vote of thanks by Tenzin Woeser, office secretary of TSO Dehradun.
-Report filed by TSO, Dehradun
