Dharamshala, December 28 – The Himachal government has made a decision to extend the land lease for the Tibetan refugees living in the state by 50 more years. The Himachal government also made a decision to allow the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to purchase and register the land property directly without assistance of a middleman.
Meanwhile the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) hosted a dinner to the members of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, who are here in the town to attend the winter session between 26 and 30 December.
There are over 68 attendants including Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Mr. Virbhadra Singh and the speaker of the Himachal Vidhan Sabha Mr. Gangu Ram Musafir.
Thanking them for their presence and accepting the ATPD’s invitation, Pema Jungney, chairman of the ATPD, said that Tibet and India are inter-related politically, culturally and religiously, because of which Tibetan culture is still alive and flourishing after 46 years of staying in exile.
The chairman also gave a description on the background of the CTA, its democratisation processes and the composition of the ATPD.
Kalon Tripa of the CTA Prof. Samdong Rinpoche also addressed the gathering. He thanked the continuous support and warm hospitality of the Himachal government to the Tibetans living in the state.
He mentioned that the Karnataka state in south India is the largest hometown of the exile Tibetans after which comes Himachal Pradesh. Rinpoche also said that in Himachal there are around 20 Tibetan schools and many monasteries, which provide education to the Tibetans, Bhutanese and to those from other Himalayan regions.
Thanking the ATPD, chief minister Mr. Virbhadra Singh said that he and his government have always considered Tibetans as their family and will be happy to do something for the cause of Tibet.
He also said that the gracious presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has blessed the state and its people.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)
