By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct 18: The state government of Uttarakhand in India has taken a significant step towards the implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP), directing all its departments to submit comprehensive reports on the TRP within a week, the Times of India reported on October 12.
The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy was formalised by the Government of India in October 2014, following consultation with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also known as the Tibetan government-in-exile. The policy aims to address the needs of Tibetan refugees residing in India, with an aim at addressing the socio-economic and welfare needs of Tibetan refugees residing in India.
Uttarakhand state has a few Tibetans settlements including Deckyiling, Dhundupling, and cluster colonies in Rajpur and Herbertpur.
Radha Ravuri, the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Uttarakhand, directed all state departments regarding the implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy. According to Raturi, the state government received this directive from the Union Ministry of Home (MHA) during a meeting held at the state secretariat on October 10.
Dhondup Gyalpo, a Tibetan welfare officer in Dehradun conveyed his optimism and the positive impact that the implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy will have on the Tibetan refugee community in Uttarakhand. Gyalpo told TOI, “It is an extremely important move for us. We have been demanding help for basic facilities like proper roads and infrastructure in our settlement which will now be possible.”
Gyalpo emphasised the challenges of limited job opportunities for Tibetans. Many Tibetans have been involved in businesses like selling winter sweaters and operating eateries, but these opportunities have been restricted. ”If our children get the benefits of government schemes, the entire community will get benefitted,” he further added.
The key aspects of the TRP 2014 are the extension of various state and central government schemes and provisions, as well as improvements in infrastructure facilities within Tibetan settlements. These schemes include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), the Public Distribution System (PDS) and National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the land lease document. The TRP 2014 states that state governments should sign a lease document for the land occupied by Tibetan refugees. This lease is to be granted for a period of 20 years, or until it is revoked or cancelled. This provision offers a level of security and tenure to Tibetan refugees who may have been occupying land without formal documentation.
In South India’s Karnataka state, authorities have begun implementation of a new policy that enables Tibetan refugees in the state to legally obtain land records with their names on it, for lands they have been cultivating for the past five decades. All the District Commissioners of the three districts – Mysuru (Bylakuppe and Hunsur), Uttara Kannada (Mundgod) and Chamarajanagar (Kollegal) have been issued directives to implement the order and issue the Tibetans in those settlements the RTC (Rights, Tenency and Crops) record.
The policy directed state governments to provide concrete support in terms of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities within and around Tibetan settlements. This includes road infrastructure, electrification, safe drinking water and healthcare services within and around Tibetan settlements.
