CURRENT SITUATION OF TIBETAN REFUGEES IN EXILE

1. CURRENT SITUATIONOF TIBETANREFUGEES IN EXILE Tsering Paljor Geography Teacher, Tibetan Homes School Mussoorie, INDIA Geographical Association Annual Conference - University of Derby 12-14 April 2007

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND • Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 • His Holiness the Dalai lama & 80,000 Tibetan refugees seek refuge in India, Nepal and Bhutan • The problems faced by Tibetan refugees in India A refugee family in the early 1960’s Tibetan refugees at Mesemari camp in 1960’s

3. His Holiness’ Priorities a) Rehabilitation of refugees b) Education of children c) Preservation of Tibetan culture & identity • The assistance given by the Government of India • The establishment of first Tibetan settlement in 1960 • The first school for Tibetan refugees comes into being on 3 march 1960 • Setting up of cultural institutions, monasteries, nunneries, with the stress on Tibetan language as integral part of cultural heritage Tibetans doing road construction works in the early 1960’s

4. TIBETAN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION • The Tibetan Government in exile was established in April 1959 in Dharamsala. • It is popularly Known as Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) • The Tibetans both Inside and outside recognize the CTA as their sole and legitimate government • His Holiness the Dalai Lama has democratized the Tibetan Government set up in India

5. CTA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

6. TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA • A Total number of 52 settlements in South Asia. 35 in India, 10 in Nepal & 7 in Bhutan • There are 24 Agricultural Settlements, 16 Agro-industrial settlements, 10 Handicrafts based settlements and Individual settlers all over the country A Tibetan settlement in West Bengal

7. TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA & NEPAL • The Location of different settlements • The administrative set up in the settlements • The life in the settlements

8. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS • Life in the Tibetan settlements in India • Agricultureas the primary occupation in the settlements • Small scale business during winter A Tibetan ploughing his land in the settlement Tibetan Market at Mussoorie

9. DEMOGRAPHY OF TIBETAN POPULATION IN EXILE • Total of 122,078* Tibetans living in exile worldwide • 85,000 in India, 13,000 in Nepal and 1,500 in Bhutan • So far 12,153number of Tibetans have moved to other parts of the world • The largest concentration of Tibetans in the west is located in USA & Canada ( 7000 ) Source: Tibetan Demographic survey Dharamsala 1998

10. NEW REFUGEES • Approximately 2000 to 2500* new refugees come to Exile in India Every year • Steps taken by the Government in exile to rehabilitate them New Arrivals from Tibet at THF, Mussoorie. 2006 * Tibetan Reception Centre, Dharamsala New arrivals at Tibetan Reception Center, Dharamsala

11. NEW REFUGEES • Opening of Reception centers. • Overcoming the problems posed by difference in age groups. • Percentage of Different age groups of new refugees • Educational facilities for Teenagers and young adults in TCV and THF schools • Launching of basic education programme for adults Tibetan Reception centre at Dharamsala Photo

12. AGE GROUP PERCENTAGE OF NEW REFUGEES Source : the book “ challenge in Exile”

13. CHALLENGES IN EXILE • Growing Age of His Holiness the Dalai Lama • Unemployment problems faced by educated Tibetan Youth • Danger of losing Tibetan identity

14. THANK YOU

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