Kollegal: After the successful visit to Ladakh, Home Kalon Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang arrived at Kollegal Dhondenling Tibetan settlement on 8 April and was accorded a warm welcome reception by the settlement officer Gelek Jungney, community leaders, NGO heads and students all lined with Khatak in their hands. Kalon was accompanied by south zone Chief Representative officer Thupten Tsering from Bangalore.

Following the necessary protocols in the prevention of the spread of covid 19, Kalon though having a negative report of RTPCR visited the settlement DVTCT hospital to do a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and tested negative.

Kalon later visited the Sambhota Tibetan School and inaugurated the renovated library room and multipurpose hall, funded by Centre Sakya Kunga Choling Trieste, Italy, Aide an ‘Enface Tibetaine, France, Danida, Denmark and Sera Jey Monastery. The settlement officer and school principal took Kalon for a brief tour around the school premises and explained the various infrastructure development accomplished.

As part of the inaugural ceremony, a brief function was organised in the school multipurpose hall to felicitate Kalon for his long service in CTA and as Home Kalon contributing to the development of the settlement.

The settlement officer Gelek Jungney in his introductory remarks presented his report highlighting the achievements in settlement’s road and infrastructure development projects, securing funding as to tune of INR 120 million in his 2 years of tenure as settlement officer. He attributed that the success and achievements have been possible due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s blessings and support from his staff, community heads, CTA, and especially from the Home department.

Home Kalon in his address informed the gathering on his purpose of visit, which is to bid farewell and thank the settlers for entrusting him with the responsibility of Home Kalon and to be of service. Also, during this official visit, he came to inaugurate some of the important projects and inspect ongoing projects.

Kalon in his final address to the public mentioned that he hails from the same settlement and has a special connection. Kalon applauded the development of the settlement and taking it to a next level with settlement office initiatives and support from the community heads and public, he urged to maintain similar cooperation and coordination for the betterment of settlement.

Stressing on imparting quality professional education and investing in children’s education is of utmost importance towards nation-building and through that one can contribute to our struggle for the just cause of Tibet, said Kalon.

Lamenting on the present hardship faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the world over is in anguish and are coming together to blame China for this pandemic, and confronting China’s expansionist strategy, we Tibetans must be more than ever before be united in our struggle for freedom.

Later Kalon was honoured with a Tara statue by the Dhondenling Tibetan community and a Buddha thangka by the Cooperative society towards his long service in CTA and extending support to the settlement.

The next day morning, Kalon visited the 113 feet Buddha statue construction project site and performed a traditional consecration ceremony by lighting a butter lamp and laying precious substance in the foundation. The project is initiated by the Taksham monastery. Kalon discussed with Taksham Khenpo the progress and landscape development of hard and soft scape, with the completion of this project, it has the potential for tourist attraction.

Kalon then visited a farm where Vetiver plantation was undertaken, the pilot project covers 36 farmers with 108.80 acres and a legal agreement signed between the company and the respective farmers on 26 September 2020 in presence of a settlement officer. It is the first of kind and innovation in the settlement where contract farming on vetiver plantation has been established. Kalon met the agronomist Dr Maria Francis and Mr Prabhu, MD East Valley Agro Farm, Erode and discussed the project.

The vetiver roots are very popular and it is used in the production of essential oil and can be used as an anti-inflammatory application, scarring and other skin blemishes, antiseptic, nervous disorders, tonic, insect repellent and room freshener.

The company offers a good buyback package with extra income to the farmers and the plantation has a lot of benefits to the environment and replenishes soil nutrients.

The company presented a hat made from the by-product after the oil has been extracted from the vetiver grass, and informed that the hat provides a good aroma and soothing to the head. Also harvested one of the grass and demonstrate it to the onlookers.

Kalon will leave for Bylakuppe next.

– Filed by Department of Home