Mandi: The Mandi Tibetan Welfare Officer, Tenzin Tsultem, and the office staff paid a courtesy visit to the member of the National Commission for Minorities, Smt. Rinchen Lhamo, on 5 February 2023, on behalf of the Mandi Tibetan Welfare Office and Tibetan residents of the Mandi district.

At the time, as a Buddhist member of the National Commission for Minorities, Smt. Rinchen Lhamo was in Mandi to visit Zigar Monastery, Guru Padmasambhava Statue, Nyingma Monastery, Drukung Kagyu Monastery at Rewalsar (Tso-Pema).

During the reception held at Zigar Monastery, Tibetan Welfare Officer appreciated the visiting delegation for her immense support and concern towards the minority communities of Himalayan region, as well as her timely guidance and help to the Tibetan community. He further expressed gratitude to the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh and Govt. of India for continued support and hospitality towards the Tibetan diaspora and briefed her on the history of the Tibetan habitat around Mandi, Sundernagar, Rewalsar, and Pandoh. Smt. Rinchen Lhamo underscored the importance of timely following up on the district-level local administration.

In addition, Tibetan Welfare Officer Tenzin Tsultem and the staff conferred the issue of Land Lease as per Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy-2014 and Himachal Pradesh TRP-2015 with Smt. Rinchen Lhamo. The Welfare Office also presented her a petition stating the current procedure of the official formalities for the Land Lease, urging her guidance and support towards the issues and requesting her future assistance, to which she extended her assurance to look after the matter and do her best in the interest of Tibetans.

-Report filed by Mandi Tibetan Welfare Office