Contact is taking a holiday!

Photo: CTA

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the newly elected President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also known as the Tibetan Government-in-Exile is on his first visit as Sikyong to the various Tibetan settlements of Phuntsokling settlement in Odisha, Phendeling settlement in Mainpat, and Chhattisgarh and Norgyaling settlements in Bhandara, Maharashtra where he met the general public, spoke to young Tibetans and visited the monasteries there. His four-day tour began on April 9.

At Phuntsokling settlement, Sikyong visited the Settlement Office, the local assembly, the Regional Federation of Tibetan Co-operatives, a home for the elderly, the local Mentseekhang branch health clinic and local Tibetan workshops, reports CTA’s official website tibet.net.

He discussed the issues currently facing Tibetans, focusing on the situation in the Tibetan settlements in India, Sikyong spoke of the sustenance of the settlements and the role and responsibilities of local young people. He urged young Tibetans to learn vocational skills which can benefit both themselves and the community as whole and announced the 16th Kashag [Cabinet]’s plans to offer loans to Tibetan entrepreneurs starting new businesses in the settlements.

He provided updates on his Kashag’s activities over the last ten months and reaffirmed the 16th Kashag’s commitment to “resolve the Sino-Tibet conflict through the mutually beneficial Middle Way Approach proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, reports tibet.net.

Sikyong advised Tibetans to keep good relations with their host communities, reminding them of the hospitality the Indian government and people have shown to Tibetans over the years.

Photo: CTA

On April 12, at Phendeling settlement in Mainpat, the Settlement Officer Tenzin Dhadon read out a brief annual report of the settlement’s activities. Sikyong expressed concerns over the ongoing repressive policies of China inside Tibet, citing the shutting down of Tibetan schools, monasteric education institutions and the severe restrictions on religious freedom.

Penpa Tsering also spoke to unemployed Tibetan youngsters in the settlements and encouraged them to learn vocational skills.

Sikyong concluded his tour at Norgyleing Tibetan settlement in Bhandara on April 14 and said that he will be visiting the settlements in northeast India in June.