PAONTA: After the 50th founding anniversary Golden Jubilee Celebration of Paonta Cholsum Tibetan settlement. Home Kalon and Speaker addressed the public on 22 April 2017 at the settlement community hall.
Home Kalon informed that as part of 15 Kashag’s program to communicate with the public on Kashag’s policy and initiatives; he had toured southern Tibetan settlements. Here at Paonta, as per invitation received earlier, he had attended the settlement golden jubilee celebration and at the same time address the public.
Speaking on 15 Kashag’s five fifty strategy, Kalon informed that during the Kashag’s five year term the best outcome would be resolution of Tibet issue but if we have to live in exile for another fifty years than we need to strengthen our administration and keep the Tibet movement alive and ever stronger.
With rising China the challenges are enormous and in order to strengthen the administration and to keep the Tibet movement alive, we need to facilitate the requirements for fifty years strategy, said Kalon.
Kalon informed on the Kashag’s programs and initiatives under five fifty strategy. He informed the public on the important legal document “The Tibetan Rehabilitation policy 2014” formulated by the Government of India, which safeguards our stay in India. The other various programs such as integrated Settlement Development project (ISDP) through community participatory process; establishing of a banking-like institution; CTA’s sweater and agricultural Loan programs, leadership development programs, all these are towards fifty year strategy.
Kalon spoke on middle way approach to strengthen awareness among the general public and amplify the CTA’s stand for maximum outreach and garner support.
Further, he spoke on Kashag’s focus on eduction, preventive healthcare initiatives, need to increase Tibetan population, importance of SFF, military post, CTA’s Budget, women empowerment policy and Tibetan women’s day, reforms in the Tibetan electoral rules, CTA’s Tibet advocacy campaign year 2017 and 2018 gratitude year celebration.
Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel greeted personally and on behalf of Tibetan Parliament in exile. As a Speaker, he was happy to meet personally and address the public.
He reminded of our grim situation and said that our situation is different from other countries. Compared to other communities we have distinct culture, religion, language and identity and stressed the need to preserve it, said Speaker.
We Tibetans are known to be loving and compassionate nature, followers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He urged to follow the advice of His Holines the Dalai Lama.
Since 30 years His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s effort towards science and Buddhism meetings; there is a new opportunity. In olden days monks and nuns studied Buddhism while lay people just worship and are faithful, He said.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama always advise to make effort to study Buddhism and now even more and more Chinese are showing interest in Buddhism, recently famous Chinese actors and officials are meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There is a renewed hope, we need to pay more attention to Buddhism, Tibetan language and culture.
Speaker spoke on three important issues first is the resolution of the Tibet issue, then the CTA’s welfare initiatives towards Tibetan communities and finally protection of Tibet’s environment. The talk was followed by few question and answer session.
After the talk, Speaker and Kalon attended the Mussorie Homes opera performance KhenLobChoeSum.
– Report filed by Department of Home –