Introduction

In 1962, a temporary Settlement was set up in Changlang for about 1500 refugees. Government of India perceiving the difficulties faced by the settlers, later shifted this settlement to Miao in 1975. The settlement falls under protected area and free movement of foreigners is not permitted in this settlement.

Location

It is situated at a distance of 120 Kms from Tinsukia town and is located at Maio in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Total area of the settlement is 2000 acres.

Settler’s Livelihood:

Majority of the settlers are engaged in farming. Total area under cultivation is 1371 acres. They cultivate maize, millet, barley, potatoes and chili. Due to low per capita land holding, lack of irrigation facilities and poor technical know- how, yield are very low and do not fetch enough income. Some of the settlers also do carpet weaving in the settlement carpet center to supplement their living.

CHOEPHELING TIBETAN SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD (CHOEPHELING, MIAO)

Choephelling Tibetan Service Cooperative Society Ltd. was established in the year 1968 at Changlang without registration as to provide the basic needs to the settlers. In the year 1975 the settlement was shifted from Changlang to Miao within same state of Arunachal Pradesh with the generous help from Ministry of Rehabilitation, Govt. of India as per request from Council of Home Affairs, Dharamsala now Department of Home. The settlement was shifted due to unsuitable condition to practice agriculture farming which is the primary occupation of this settler. Gradually, the cooperative was also registered as per rules of the state cooperatives societies Act, vide registration no: Coop (G) 45/79 on 11th January, 1980.

As on date, the society has 14 no. of units, out of that, 3 are welfare units and 11 are business unit.

Welfare sections:

1. Mill
2. Tibet Gym
3. Cooperative’s Library

Business Sections:

1. Nyamdel Finance
2. Handicraft Center cum Showroom
3. Tibet Store (The departmental Store)
4. Nyamdel Hardware
5. Nyamdel Construction Co.
6. Electronics Store
7. Tea Plantation
8. Nyamdel Bricks
9. Hotel Choephelling
10. Tractor cum workshop section
11. Cyber café cum travels.

 

Sambhota Tibetan School, Miao

This school was first established in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh in the year 1963, under the guidance and financial support of MHRD, Government of India. In 1979, the Chophelling Tibetan Settlement as well as the school, was moved to Miao, where it stands today.

On 28th July 2016 the school was taken over by the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS) with the objective of implementing the Basic Education Policy – 2006, and to raise the academic standard. This school caters to the educational needs of the settlement children. The curriculum followed is the same as in any other Tibetan schools in India. The children are taught Tibetan and English, along with mathematics, science, social studies and other co-scholastic activities. The medium of instruction is Tibetan at primary level, and then changes to English medium from class 6 onwards.

Since the takeover of the school, the DoE, CTA and STSS have put great efforts into raising the standard of education. The infrastructure, which had greatly deteriorated over the years, has also been improved to meet current needs. There has been a noticeable improvement in infrastructure. The academic improvement is a longer-term process, in which the attitude of the parents to education also plays a big role. There has been an improvement in the academic levels, but there is still a long way to go. An important issue here is that ‘it is difficult to unlearn what has been wrongly learned’, so we need time and the dedication of the teachers and parents to further improve the academic standards and to enable us to keep pace with A1 schools in India. Here I want to stress that it is not impossible and that we, the team at STS Miao, are dedicated to achieving it.

About the place – the school is part of the Chophelling Tibetan Settlement in Miao – one of the remotest places in the far east of India. It is a beautiful place, but the roads are underdeveloped and the supply of electricity is poor and unreliable. This affects many technological aspects and the people here struggle to keep up with other states in India. Arunachal Pradesh is a restricted area where the visitors require a Protected Areas Permit to be able to visit the settlement and the school. This creates the sponsors, especially foreigners; great difficulty visiting the school and settlement. This has led to a deprivation of funding by various aid organisations and individual sponsors.

 

Health & Hospital	One modern allopathic dispensary one traditional Tibetan medical clinic
Monastery	The settlement has 5 monasteries. 1.     Pema Choelling Monastery 2.     Dechen Gatselling Monastery

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

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	New Jalpaiguri Railway, Siliguri station at a distance of 128 Kms from settlement, Ravangla.
Nearest Airport	Bagdogra Airport, Siliguri at a distance of 133 Kms from settlement