Dharamshala: As part of Sikyong Penpa Tsering’s assessment tour in Dharamshala, he visited schools, monasteries and institutions located in and around Gangkyi and Norbulingka on Tuesday.

Accompanied by Additional Secretary Tenzin Norbu, Department of Home, and Dharamshala Tibetan Settlement Officer Kunchok Migmar, Sikyong visited Gangkyi Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School, Lower Tibetan Children’s Village School, Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen (middle) School, and Sherab Gatsel Lobling to evaluate the status of the school’s education and administration. The directors and principals/headteachers of the respective schools led the visiting group on tour inside the schools and briefed their undertakings.

In his address at Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen Middle School, Sikyong stressed on being a responsible Tibetan and appraised the staff about Kashag’s determination to establish cohesion among Tibetan schools that currently have variations in some spectrums of administration.

Later in the afternoon, Sikyong drove toward Norbulingka and toured Dolma Ling Nunnery, Lhundrub Chime Gatsel Ling Monastery, Jonang Monastery and Nyingtop Ling, a home for handicapped Tibetans, before visiting Norbulingka institution and speaking to the Tibetans there.

Addressing the challenges of the dwindling Tibetan community in India due to factors including falling natality, a decrease in Tibetans coming from Tibet, and an increase in migration of Tibetans abroad, Sikyong emphasised the sustenance of Tibetan settlements through Kashag’s housing and land allotment project. This project aspires to provide land or houses in Tibetan settlements that can accommodate those who have not been facilitated in the Tibetan refugee settlements. 

Sikyong interacting with a group of students.