A message from Thumi Sambotha Tibetan Schools Society    April 22nd 2022

Hello and Tashi Delek! I hope you and everyone associated with LTDM, France are doing well. I am happy to inform you that covid 19 situation in India has improved and coronavirus positive cases have dropped down significantly. Sambhota schools have started functioning normally with 100% students and teachers attending their respective schools. Our senior students will be appearing for their annual and board examination this month and their exams will be over by the end of May 2022.  

I hope covid situation in France too might have got better and people might have started living the pre covid life. I hope you and your team may start travelling soon to India to assess and oversee your contribution in the Tibetan schools across India. I have been hoping to see you during your visit to India with your LE TOIT DU MONDE,France team.

 News from Kalimpong's school, by Kelsang Dawa, Principal. January 2021 

The school is still under lockdown because of the 3rd wave. Kalimpong is not really affected by the 3rd wave and there are very few cases in town. But since the government has instructed complete ban on schools and colleges all over the state of West Bengal, we are no exception.

The school transfer is over....we are now Sambhota Tibetan School and not CST.  All the permanent Indian teachers and non-teaching staff left for their respective Indian Government Central schools.

New teachers appointed by the Sambhota headquarters have started joining and have already begun conducting classes online since yesterday (for classes X and XII who will be required to write All India Secondary and Senior Secondary Examination in March) .

Winter vacation for other classes is until the 6th of February. We hope the government will allow schools to open and let children learn and grow.    

.../... COVID certainly ruined lives of millions of children specially in countries like India and other developing nations where 60 to 70 percent of families do not have access to technology, internet and gadgets. So many students have already forgotten what they had studied or learned in school. I was really shocked to watch a series of interviews conducted by a news channel with several groups of students in rural areas of India. Children who were studying in class 8 before the covid could not read books of class 2...that’s back to primary from intermediate. These past two years just made these young kids go blind.

Situation in Nepal

The Tibet Office in Katmandu calls LTDM for help.

The COVID cases in Nepal have slowed down, but it is a worrisome that it may again be hit by the pandemic. The second wave of the pandemic adversely affected Nepal and India. It is sad to say that many Tibetans in Nepal were also infected by the pandemic and some passed away due to the pandemic.

 It is pleased to share that the majority of Tibetans living in Nepal have gotten vaccines. But the age below 18 years are still at high risk of getting infection as they are not vaccinated. Hoping for the best. 

I would like to request that kindly continue the support to elders sponsorship and emergency fund for us. The sponsorship for the elders will be really beneficial for them and some elders are inquiring about their sponsorship as they are in dire need of the support. 

Likewise the emergency fund can help the really needy and old age for their medical needs. There are lots of Tibetan who lost their jobs and paid them partially so that many are now facing more problems to bear the medication expenses by themselves due to low or no incomes.

In the current situation, the emergency fund is more in need.

Schools : Administration changes

Dharamshala: The Union Cabinet, GoI gave its approval to transfer schools run by the Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA) to the Department of Education (DoE), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) or any registered society run by it over a three-year period on 10 January 2013. In pursuance of the decision of the Union Cabinet, the CTSA has so far transferred 33 pre-primary, 9 primary, 5 middle, 5 secondary and 3 senior secondary schools to Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS), a registered society run by the DoE, CTA.

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, GoI through its letter dated 25 May 2021 to the Director of CTSA, has approved the transfer of the remaining 06 CTSA schools to STSS directing CTSA to take necessary action in this regard. 

The six schools are CST Mussoorie, CST Dalhousie, CST Shimla, CST Herbertpur, CST Kalimpong and CST Darjeeling. 

Sonada (near Darjeeling) April 30th

Despite the Covid crisis, progress keeps on.

As you know well that the second wave of Covid crisis in India is disheartening and many people are suffering due to lack of medical facilities. Lets' pray for the situation to calm down soon. Over here at Sonada settlement and Darjeeling areas the situation is better as compared to other states of India. However, we are taking full precautions more than ever in order to avoid this deadly virus.

I have been busy with working as  Settlement Gate work is still going on and will be completed by the end of May. And soon going to start another project of Settlement Clinic floor and wall renovation to be completed  by the end of May. Then hopefully we'll start working for the Settlement Sanitation project to build toilets, bathrooms, Urine pots and septic tanks which will be completed by the end of July. Currently, I am writing on Settlement office renovation project proposal and planning to redesign doors and windows into typical Tibetan traditional style. I always love Tibetan traditional  houses and monasteries. Even though we are in exile land away from our roots, still we can give a touch of our traditional style in our daily lives and where we live.

Tenzin Yangzom, T.S.O. 

Recent news... ...

Namgyal Middle School Kathmandu 26th April

I would like to inform you that our school has been shut down again as per the Nepal Government cabinet decision made earlier due to rapid spread of CORONA throughout the country.

Thus, our school had sent all the boarder students to their respective home along with their guardians and the Nepal Government has decided and announced Lockdown in the country again starting from tomorrow (Thursday) for the safety health of the public.

The classes have been already started like usual timetable by online through Zoom applications. The annual examination for the year 2020-2021 will be held on later once the Nepal Government made the announcement.

Lastly, the school administration, staffs and the students would like to extend and express our heartfelt gratitude to all the lovely sponsors from our bottom of our heart for the generous and longtime support towards our school.

Central School for Tibetans Kalimpong 23d April

« I had to close school again because of rapid rise in the number of Covid cases in Kalimpong. It’s a very scary situation in the whole country. I’m keeping safe, but I worry about others whom seem to have no fear for the virus.

The result of election ( in West Bengal) will be announced in May 2nd. We do not know who will win from the 3 hills constituencies. Unlike in the past, this election saw 8 different political parties fighting for the seats. People are so divided... »

tezu 22nd april

  « Thank you so much for your concern and appreciation for our work. Just for your kind information as of now, due to remoteness and less population in our area the second wave of covid19 pandemic yet to reach in our area as compared to mainland India.

Today I want to share a good news to you, out of 20 members in our senior citizen's home 14 got their final dose of Covi-19 vaccin  ( Covishield ) for free and also all of our office and OPH staff are vaccinated.. Remaining 6 members will be vaccinated after the due documentation process.  And we are doing our best to protect our people in the Tezu Dhargyeling Tibetan settlement from this pandemic. »

News from the Tibet Office in Katmandu,  June 15th

The Tibetan people were made aware about the nationwide lockdown declared by the government of Nepal as precautionary method to control the pandemic since 24-03-2020. The settlement offices in Nepal also decided to remain closed to follow the lockdown and staffs carried out works from respective home while lockdown is ordered. Since the partial relaxation of lockdown in recent days, staffs have begun working from respective office under the guidance from TRWO.

COVID -19 Nepal Tibetan Response Group was initially formed on 23rd March, 2020 to control the COVID-19 pandemic among the Tibetan population in Nepal. The committee members conduct virtual meeting once a week presided by kungo donchoe. Committee includes a representative of dept of home, all settlement officers, Administrator, Health Officer and Education Officer of SLF and SARD-Nepal co-ordinator, Director of TRC. During the meeting, all the settlements actively discuss the reports of their respective settlements measures made.

Weekly fever screening and sanitizing settlements are being carried out under the responsibility of Settlement offices in Pokhara (Tashiling, Tashi Palkhiel, Lodrik) and in Kathmandu (Samdupling, Choejor, Gyalsa Phaksing). General public have been notified to stay safe at their home and within the boundary of settlements except for emergency situation. Quarantine centers were also arranged in Pokhara Settlements. Similarly, relief works such as essential medical goods & mask, cash and rations are being distributed to the Tibetans of their respective settlements. The awareness campaign on the official guidelines of COVID-19 is also being made frequently to the residence timely.

Since, settlements located in remote area very far from the city area and being the nation in lockdown situation, essential things for the precautionary purposes could not be distributed to these settlements (Manang, Nubri, Tserok, Walung, Rasuwa, Solukhumbu). However, The rations were stocked for long time of almost a year usually in settlement like walung. So, People doesn’t face much shortage of rations though the lockdown was imposed. However, The Settlement officers of remote areas are giving their best to send medical supplies and funds to the concerned people to the settlements.

Fortunately, there are no symptoms of COVID-19 in Tibetan settlements in Nepal.

strict lockdown has been partially made relaxed, which allows the move of the people in and out of Nepal as well as inter districts. The government was compelled to open the lockdown due to political and economic pressure. Now it is very high risk to spread the pandemic. 

News from Kalimpong's Tibetan Settlement Officer, Ms Tenzing Dhadon on  June 11th

Tashi Delek!

We are glad to know that situation is getting better there and thank you so much for your mail concerning the situation during this pandemic crisis in our region.

As of today's data, the number of COVID-19 cases in India crossed 2.76 lakh and in West Bengal State the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is 9328. In Kalimpong 12 new corona positive cases have been reported just now. Situation is getting worse each day but all the Tibetan residents under our jurisdiction are fine and safe. They are taking all the precautionary measures and i hope they will remain safe from this deadliest virus till this pandemic ends. Amid the pandemic outbreak, prayers, encouragements and motivations are necessity for all the human beings and we are getting connected to our general public through the whatapp (Social Network) as the gathering is not possible since March, 2020.

Our staff are taking good care of OPH elders as elderly people are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infections due to their deceased immunity. As per the guidelines issued by Department of Health, CTA, Dharamsala, immunity booster Tibetan medicines being distributed especially to OPH elders and elders above 65 years under our jurisdiction.

With this mail, i wish to inform you that CTA has launched one webpage ( https://tibet.net/covid-19/ ) to make accessible to the public on CTA's COVID -19 response and relief measure in Tibetan community. The above link may help you to learn situations of Tibetan public at a large.

Lastly, kindly extend my sincere thanks to Annick la and all the board members of LTDM for unwavering supports & love. May this pandemic end soon and we could meet again in near future. Till then take care and wish you all a very successful life.