Additional Secretary of the Department of Home Concludes Official Visit to Odisha

Mr. Tenzin Norbu, Additional Secretary of the Department of Home of the Central Tibetan Administration, concluded a three-day official visit to the Tibetan settlements in Odisha of Central India, from August 9 to 11, 2024. The visit embarked on August 7, 2024, from Dharamshala.

This official visit was in accordance with the policy outlined in the 16th Kashag’s Vision paper, aimed at promptly initiating construction projects as part of the relocation program in Odisha. A total of XX families are set to relocate to Odisha, out of which 11 families are scheduled for housing construction in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The visit focused on the process of competitive bidding for qualified contractors and expediting the commencement of construction work.

During his visit, the Additional Secretary, Mr. Norbu also inspected various institutions under the jurisdiction of the Odisha Settlement Officer. This included visiting monasteries, touring welfare organizations such as old age homes, the Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute) branch, Menlha Hospital, as well as educational institutions like Chandragiri Middle School and Lobersingh Primary School. He also visited cooperative society industries and the home hostel for students administered by Ngari Korsum, Swiss. This visit aimed to assess the living conditions and hear the concerns of the Tibetan community in various sectors of the settlement, while also advancing the relocation project.

Mr. Tenzin Norbu was accompanied by Mr. Tenzin Tenpa, the Structural Engineer from the Department of Home.