By Navjeevan Sharma
DHARAMSHALA: Arunachal Pradesh has officially adopted the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act for Tibetans residing in the state. The Central Government of India formalised the Act in 2014.
Confirming the announcement, Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of the state wrote to Dr Lobsang Sangay, the President of Central Tibetan Administration.
“I am happy to inform you that in the cabinet meeting convened by me on 12 August 2017, I along with my colleagues decided to adopt and extend the Tibetan rehabilitation policy 2014 in the state of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
“As you are aware, Arunachal Pradesh has the fourth largest number of Tibetans in India. We have four Tibetan settlements Tezu, Miao, Tuting and Tenzingang. Therefore, in order to provide better opportunities to Tibetan youths residing in Arunachal Pradesh, my cabinet resolved to implement the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014 as framed by the union Government of India,” he added.
President Dr Sangay thanked the State government of Arunachal Pradesh led by Shri Pema Khandu for confirming the implementation of the policy.
“I thank my dear friend Shri Pema Khandu who is an ardent follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and life long friend of the Tibetan people. The state of Arunachal Pradesh shares an unshakeable and historic bond with the Tibetan people. This gesture will further strengthen this bond of friendship and affinity between the two,” Dr Sangay said.
“Taking this opportunity, I would also like to recall the late Shri Dorjee Khandu, former chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for his significant contribution towards the welfare of the Tibetan people. One of the great Chief Ministers of the state, he was a lifelong follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and catered to the welfare of his people,” he added.
Since the official announcement of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act by the Union government of India in 2014, several states including Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand have also formulated the policy as requested by Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Based on the Rehabilitation Policy Act, in the presence of HH the Dalai Lama in Mundgod and recently in Hunsur, both in the Indian state of Karnataka and two of the largest Tibetan settlements have officially signed land lease agreements ensuring the sustenance of the Tibetan settlements.
