Introduction:

Dalhousie Tibetan Refugee Handicraft Centre was established in the year 1959 and got registered under Society Registration Act in 1973. The Handicraft centre has an owned land of 8.4608 acres where Settlement & Handicraft offices, Tibetan Local assembly, Tibetan Freedom movement office, Handicraft sections, various NGO’s offices and quarters located. There are almost 70 families living in the handicraft centre area.  In the year 2008, CTRC has leased 0.35 acres of land from the State Government of Himachal Pradesh and constructed 2 buildings under rehabilitation project. This project benefitted & accommodated 49 families of the scattered Tibetans of Chamba district.  The Total numbers of population under Dalhousie Tibetan settlement is 341.

341

Present Population

Facilities in the settlement

Monastery:        There is one small monastery called Dolma-Lhakhang administered by Drepung Loselling Monastery consisting 7 monks.

School:     There is one Pre-Primary school with one teacher.

Health & Hospital:     One Allopathic Health centre & One Traditional Tibetan Medical clinic.

Handicraft:         There is one Handicraft Centre where handloom carpet and Tibetan traditional flag are being manufactured.

Administrative setup

Representative:
The settlement officer who is appointed by the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala is the over all in charge of the settlement in all spheres ranging from maintaining law and order to development and poverty alleviation works. He acts as liaisons between CTA, state and central government agencies and any other concerns. Under him, each camp has an elected camp leader who is assisted by group leaders. All development works are implemented through the camp leaders. Settlement officer takes all major decisions in consultation with the camp leaders and is the most important link between the settlement office and the community.

Group Leaders:
Each of the 7 villages possess an elected group leaders whose job is to act as an intermediary with relevant authorities, pass on information, settle disputes and collect money. Group leaders are not elected for their policy-making idea, nor do they campaign on certain issue. These group leaders are chosen on the basis of their strength of personality and once ability to stand before the interest of their village. The duty of the leader is more or less like the representative, but on smaller and more personal scale.

Traveling Mode

Nearest Railway Station: Pathankot Railway station at a distance of 81 Kms from settlement
Nearest Airport: Dharamsala Airport at a distance of 107 Kms