Dharamsala : As per the designated schedule of Tibetan settlements official visitation by the 16th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, parliamentarians Mr. Lobsang Yeshi and Mr. Sonam Norbu Ratsa’s visit to the Tibetan settlement in the district of Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh, viz., Yangchen Gatseling in Shimla, Tibetan Bonpo Foundation in Dolanji, Paonta Choelsum Tibetan Society in Paonta Sahib, Gapa Tibetan Society in Kumrao, Kham Kathok Tibetan settlement in Sataun and Sakya Tibetan Society in Puruwala as well as Herbertpur in Uttarakhand from Aug 21 to Sept 2 was successfully concluded with their arrival at their respective residences on Sept 2 .
They were warmly received by the concerned authorities on their arrival at Shimla on Aug 22 as was received with equal exuberance during their visitation to the other Tibetan settlements afterwards.
On 22 Aug, with the commencement of their pre-defined program, the parliamentarians visited the clustered Tibetan community scattered over Shimla such as those near Napa House, Bus station, Ladhaki Mohalla etc. They also visited Namgyal Monastery Old Age Home as well as the nearby Tibetan residential areas, after which they went to Shimla Central Tibetan School.
Following their program, they visited the respective offices of the Tibetan settlements, Local Tibetan Assembly as well as the community halls, Mentsekhang, Primary health clinics, handicraft centers, schools and monasteries at Paonta Choelsum Tibetan Society in Paonta, Sakya Tibetan Society in Puruwala and Doegu Yougyaling Tibetan settlement in Herbertpur respectively.
They also inspected the ongoing tree plantation project at Sakya Tibetan Society while at Doegu Yougyaling Tibetan settlement; they visited the scattered Tibetan community nearby viz., Balluwala and Ex-SFF Elderly People Home.
While on their visitation, they also intimated themselves with the grievance concerning their welfare and administration by holding public talks and exchanging opinion with them.
A general meeting with the local authorities of Tibetan communities was conducted and a total of 12 public addresses were given. While Mr. Lobsang Yeshi elucidated the audience on the critical situations inside Tibet and India and its relative international political scenario; various campaigns undertaken by both the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile at local and international level; and on various provisions by the Central Tibetan Administration for the welfare of Tibetan community, particularly educational scholarships and programs, Mr. Sonam Norbu Ratsa talked on achievements and legacy of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama; on the mutually beneficial Middle Way Policy for the resolvement of Tibet’s issues, Evolution of exiled Tibetan democracy as well as on the importance of proper parental nurturing of their children and their future prospects.
They also addressed the students of various schools on the importance of education, future prospects/career and on having self-reliant mindset. They also engaged in question-answer session with both the teachers and the students.
This itinerary of 10 days concluded successfully with their comprehensive inquiry and intimation about the conditions of destitute and recording of the grievances concerning public, schools and monasteries.
The grievances as per chronicled by the two parliamentarians will be forwarded to the concerned departments of the Central Tibetan Administration under the Cabinet for effective grievance redressal through the standing committee administration of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
