Shillong: A brief summary of the task undertaken at the Shillong Tibetan settlement to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as per the guidance of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The local COVID-19 core committee is formed under the leadership of the Tibetan settlement officer Mr Pema Dhondup and the member comprises of Chithue Yangchen Dolker, abbot of the monastery, Mentseekhang doctor, Sambhota school headmaster and representatives from all the sections of the community. The local associations and the general public contributed donations to the committee fund to empower and enable it to combat the pandemic. The primary objective of the committee is to look after the welfare and health of the community settlers and especially, to facilitate settlers with health issues. As per the request made by the Tibetan settlement officer on behalf of the committee, who accordingly met with Dr Manoj Basaiawmoit (District Medical and Health officer) and Dr Robert Marak (District Surveillance officer) for extending medical assistance, which was kindly accepted by the latter to render their assistance and cooperation.
The committee on behalf of the Tibetan community of Shillong contributed Rs. 30,000.00 to the honourable Chief Minister’s relief fund as a mark of solidarity and brotherhood. Due to the nationwide lockdown amidst the unprecedented crisis, around 14 vulnerable settlers who are faced with the loss of livelihood are provided free ration kit worth of Rs. 9841.00. As a part of the emergency budget allotted from Department of Home, Tenzin Tharpa, a mental health patient is supplied with ration worth of Rs. 1744. Moreover, students Mr Tashi Wangdu and Ms Tenzin Chungda under Nyamdak C category were provided stipends of Rs 2000 and Rs 5000 each from the Department of Education fund. Mr Tsewang Dorji who is under Nyamthak D category is provided with a stipend of Rs. 6000 from the Department of Home.
As per direction from the Central Tibetan Administration, the Department of Home has allocated COVID-19 Emergency Fund to those Tibetans facing hardship posed by the unprecedented crisis and extended lockdown. Today, TSO disbursed one-time relief support of Rs. 5000.00 each to ten settlers who qualify as recipients, i.e., vulnerable and in need of urgent assistance. As part of the Health department’s fund, the settlement office has provided rations worth of Rs. 6647.00 to the settlers under home quarantine. Tibetan Settlement Officer along with the Mentseekhang doctor distributed the Tibetan medicine to 44 settlers above the age of 65 years to boost and strengthen their immune system.
Rueben G. Laloo (pastor of Presbyterian Church) donated food commodities towards the Tibetan community as a mark of brotherhood and the Settlement Officer on behalf of the community thanked them for their noble work. MLA Sanbor Shullai donated to local Buddhist monastery a complete set of Sanitizer equipment with disinfectant, a sack of rice, potato and hand wash supplies.
Tibetan settlement office, the monastery, Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, Sambhota School and the settlement is sanitised from time to time to disinfect the respective premises and to provide a healthier environment. As per budget allocated from Department of Health (CTA), we have procured 14 sets of PPE kit, 4 sanitizer spray machine with disinfectant medicine, hand sanitizer and hand wash, 500 pieces of face mask, gloves 50 pc, one infrared thermometer.
-Report filed by Shillong Settlement Office