By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 25: The exile Tibetan government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), has prepared community quarantine centres for 25 Tibetan college students who recently arrived in Dharamshala from Baroda, Gujarat, Varanasi, and Uttar Pradesh. On Monday, its Task Force Committee on Covid-19 visited the students at Sherab Gatsal Lobling, and the Tibetan Reception Centre at Khanyara.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay, Education minister Dr Pema Yangchen, Heath department’s secretary Palden Dhondup, Dharamshala S.O. Kunga Tsering and the centre’s Nodal officer Tenzin Kunsang were present for the meeting with the students. “Around mid-March, we requested various settlements across India to prepare quarantine facilities. At one point, around 1700 Tibetans in total were quarantined all around India. As for Dharamshala, there are not many places reserved for such an initiative, the health department has been looking for places and we have managed to reserve Sherab Gatsal Lobling, Tibetan Reception Centre and Shugseb as our community quarantine centres as of now,” said Health secretary Palden Dhondup.
Sherab Gatsal Lobling has been allotted for college students, Lower TCV for school students, and Reception centre for the general public. As the number of residents coming to Dharamshala increases, CTA plans to set up more quarantine centres for the public. Although the CTA President urged the public to restrict travel at the moment, “We advise all students to stay put in their respective places or hostels if they have a bed and basic facilities at their service. Since March, I have been stressing how this pandemic could become worse in May and urged the public to avoid travel to prevent the spread.”
Earlier this month, Tibetan students studying in Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda were notified by the university authorities to vacate the hostel and return to their home states as part of the state’s measures. CTA along with Samyeling Settlement office helped these students for travel and logistic arrangements.
“At present, the lockdown situation and complete social distancing may trigger mental health issues in some, however, maintaining a calm mind in the face of crisis is highly advisable,” Dr Lobsang Sangay advised the students held at the quarantine centre. He ensured that CTA’s efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 situation in the Tibetan community are underway. Education minister encouraged students to be productive with the help of learning materials online during the lockdown.
