Tibetan Refugee Settlements:
Soon after the first refugees started coming to India, the Department of Home was established to coordinate the immediate relief assistance for them and to find a long term solution for the resettlement of refugees. The resettlement of refugees also involves providing basic amenities and adequate source of livelihood.
Settlements:
There are 45 Tibetan settlement Offices functioning directly under the jurisdiction of Department of Home across India, Nepal, Bhutan and the welfare and interests of these settlements are looked after by their respective Representative or welfare officers. The settlements are primarily assisted by the Government of India and other voluntary aid organizations.
Click (Settlement Map) for the Location of Tibetan Settlements. It looks after 15 agriculture-based settlements, 13 Handicraft based settlements and 16 cluster and scattered communities in India. In Nepal, there are 8 agriculture-based settlements, 3 Handicraft based settlements and 2 cluster and scattered communities. All of the 7 communities in Bhutan are agriculture based communities.
Types of Tibetan Settlements in India:
Agricultural based
Handicraft Based
- Bomdila – A.P. is under the jurisdiction of Tenzingang (A.P.) Settlement Office.
- Lingtsang Munduwala, Rajpur Tibetan Women Handicraft Centre, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Nainital & Saharanpur are under the jurisdiction of Dekyiling Settlement Office.
- Rewalsar (TSO Pema) & Sundarnagar are under the jurisdiction of TSO Mandi.
Name and email of respective Tibetan Settlement offices in India:
| Sr. No. | Tibetan Settlement Office | CRO/Officer Name | Email ID |
| 1 | C.R.O. Bengaluru | Thupten Tsering | [email protected] |
| 2 | C.R.O. Sonamling, Ladakh | Tsetan Wangchuk | [email protected] |
| 3 | C.R.O. Shimla | Tenzin Nangwa | [email protected] |
| 4 | Bir Dege, Bir | Tsering Phuntsok | [email protected] |
| 5 | Bir Tibetan Society, Bir | Karma Gelek | in[email protected] |
| 6 | Bir Chauntra, Chauntra | Pema Youdon | [email protected] |
| 7 | Dickyi Larsoe, Bylakuppe | Dhondup Gyalpo | [email protected] |
| 8 | Phuntsokling, Dalhousie | Tenzin Lhakyi | [email protected] |
| 9 | Darjeeling, West Bengal | Tenzin Norden | [email protected] |
| 10 | Norgyeling, Bandhara | Kalsang Sichoe | [email protected] |
| 11 | Dekyiling, Dehradun | Norbu | [email protected] |
| 12 | Samyeling, Delhi | Phuntsok Topgyal | [email protected] |
| 13 | TSO Dharamsala | Kunga Tsering | [email protected] |
| 14 | TSO Gangtok, Sikkim | Tenzin Tsepak | [email protected] |
| 15 | Doegu Yulgyelling, Herbertpur | Tsultrim Dorjee | [email protected] |
| 16 | Rabgyeling, Hunsur | Thupten Tsering | [email protected] |
| 17 | Kalimpong, West Bangal | Dhondup Sangpo | [email protected] |
| 18 | Dhondenling, Kollegal | Gelek Jungney | [email protected] |
| 19 | Palrabling, Kullu/Manali | Thupten Choephel | [email protected] |
| 20 | Gapa Tibetan Society, Kamrao | Rapten Tsering | [email protected] |
| 21 | Lugsung Samdupling, Bylakuppe | Lobsang Yeshi | [email protected] |
| 22 | Phendeling, Mainpat | Tenzin Dadon | [email protected] |
| 23 | Choephelling, Miao | Tenzin Chokden | [email protected] |
| 24 | Doeguling, Mundgod | Lhakpa Tsering | [email protected] |
| 25 | Phuntsokling, Orissa | Tenzin Gelek | [email protected] |
| 26 | TSO Mandi, (Pandoh) | Dolma Tsering | [email protected] |
| 27 | Paonta Cholsum, Paonta | Gelek Jamyang | [email protected] |
| 28 | Sakya, Puruwala | Dhonkhang Wangyal | [email protected] |
| 29 | Kunphenling, Ravangla | Dorjee Tsering | [email protected] |
| 30 | Kham Katok, Sataun | Sonam Wangdue | [email protected] |
| 31 | Shillong, Mehgalaya | Pema Dhondup | [email protected] |
| 32 | Bonshi, Solan (Dolanji) | Tenzin Choephel | [email protected] |
| 33 | Tashiling, Sonada | Tenzin Yangzom | [email protected] |
| 34 | Tenzingang, Arunachal Pradesh | Yangdup | [email protected] |
| 35 | Dhargyeling, Tezu | Tenzin Namgyal | [email protected] |
| 36 | Tuting, Arunachal Pradesh | Rinzin Dorjee | [email protected] |
| 37 | TSO Bomdilla | Yangdup | [email protected] |
Types of Tibetan Settlements in Nepal:
1. Rasuwa, Walung and Sholukhumbu all come under the jurisdiction of Shawara Settlement Office
2. Lotserok falls under jurisdiction of Tashiling Settlement Office
3. Baglung comes under the jurisdiction of Tashi Palkhiel Settlement Office.
Name and email of respective Settlement offices in Nepal:
| Sr. No. | Tibetan Settlement Office | Officer Name | Email ID |
| 1 | Choejor (Boudha & Jorpati) | Ngawang Chokdup | [email protected] |
| 2 | Shawara | Tsering Dolma (acting) | [email protected] |
| 3 | Gyalsa phakshing | Karma Gyaltsen | [email protected] |
| 4 | Lodrik | Tashi Dorjee | [email protected] |
| 5 | Tashiling | Yeshi Choedon | [email protected] |
| 6 | Tashi Palkhiel | Karma Soepa | [email protected] |
| 7 | Jawalakhel, Samdupling | Dorjee Rinzin | [email protected] |
Types of Tibetan Settlements in Bhutan:
Agriculture Based (under TSO Bhutan)
Handicraft Based
none
Cluster Communities
none
All of the above communities are under the jurisdiction of the Bhutan Tibetan Settlement Office.
Name and email of Tibetan Settlement office in Bhutan:
| Sr.No. | Tibetan Settlement Office | Officer Name | Email ID |
| 1 | Bhutan | Dorjee Gyalpo | [email protected] |
Problems and goals:
One of the greatest problem in the settlements is that there is an undergrowth of population within the community and on top of that lots of existing Tibetans in India are migrating to western countries in pursuit of higher standard of living. Moreover the number of Tibetans fleeing from Tibet has highly reduced due to the strict restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. The goal now is to provide more opportunities and facilities to the Tibetans and more importantly to the youths in order to enable them to be self reliant and also to have them contribute towards the cause of Tibet by serving in the exile Tibetan community in India.