Darjeeling: Parliamentarians Youdon Aukatsang and Tashi Dhondup successfully concluded their official visit to Darjeeling, Sonada, Mirik, Kurseong and Ghum from 29 November to 9 December as per the visitation and assessment programme to Tibetan Settlements and Communities.
After visiting Mirik and Ghum, the parliamentarians gave a public talk to over 70 members and addressed their concerns and questions. The event was organised by Darjeeling Tibetan Settlement Office. They also held a meeting with the local dignitaries of Darjeeling and board member of Charkpori Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute.
The parliamentarians then met Former MLA and Current Chairman of the West Bengal District Development Board, Mr Amar Singh Rai, at Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture. They introduced him the new Tibetan Settlement Officer of Darjeeling and apprised him about Tibet and Tibetan situation.
They presented him the souvenir of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and requested him in getting an appointment of West Bengal Chief Minister for Home Minister of Central Tibetan Administration in regard to the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014, to which Mr Amar Singh obliged.
On 6 December, Sonada Tibetan Settlement officer facilitated Parliamentarians a visit tour in Sonada Sambhota School after which they gave a public address to the local community.
They visited Samdup Dhargye Choeling Monastery, Kiwi plantation area and Sambhota Sonada School’s boys and girls’ hostels which is managed by Sonada Tibetan Co-operative Society. They also had a meeting with around 80 students of Sambhota Schoool.
On 7 December on their final leg of the official tour in Kurseong, the parliamentarians gave an address to the Tibetan community which was followed by an interactive Questions & Answers session.
During this official visitation programme, the Parliamentarians gathered many suggestions from Tibetan people and students. They conducted two public meetings and six talks. The parliamentarians mainly focussed their talks on the guidelines of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, Tibetan issue on international platform, importance of democratic polity and the significance of Tibetan people’s accountability in it, responsibilities of every Tibetan people in exile with regard to the issue of Tibet, protection of Tibetan language which is the basic of Tibetan identity and responsibilities of each and every Tibetans to contribute towards the Tibetan cause.
The official visit successfully concluded with a comprehensive enquiry about the conditions of the general public and schools. The parliamentarians will register the concerns and will forward to the related departments of the Central Tibetan Administration through the Standing Committee of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for effective redressal.
-Filed by Tibetan parliamentary secretariat