Introduction

Tenzingang Tibetan settlement was established in 1972. The land was donated by the Domkho village People with the name of H.H the 14th Dalai Lama to solve the problems of Tibetan people for rehabilitation. The land has total area of 2123.36 of which 400 acres for agriculture land and 300 acres for housing, kitchen garden, roads, office, school etc. Rest 1423.36 acres are forest. The settlement is situated above the sea level of 6000 to 6500 feet. Average temperature is 0 degree Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius and the average rainfall is 1545 mm. Total population of the settlement is 908.

 

Settlement Location:

Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement is located in Shergaon Gram Panchayat under Rupa Sub-Division in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India.  It takes about half an hour to reach Shergaon which is 18 Kilometers away from the Settlement. Kalaktang is the nearest town which is 19 kilometers away from the Settlement and Rupa town is 42 kilometers away from the Settlement.

13

Initial Population

909

Present Population

Livelihood:

The main livelihood of people of Tenzingang are mostly based on agriculture farming which includes an apple and kiwi farming, different types of vegetables are grown like potato, onion, garlic, tomato, and other vegetables. There are over 100 Men & women who is serving in Special Frontier Force (SFF) and settlers are doing small business in the Settlement as well as Town and Cities of India.

Facilities in the Settlement:

Tenzingang multipurpose cooperative societies is Registered under the Arunachal Pradesh cooperative societies Act, 1978 (Act no.3 of 1979) Registered no. Coop(ORG) 25/86 on 9th January 1987. The main purpose of the cooperative society was to carry out the trading activities of the settlement and to look after the welfare of the Shareholders. The main market is very far from the settlement. The society runs Trading activities like General store, Flour mill section, Guest room, Fair Price Shop, Construction section, Horticulture section mostly kiwi and apple farming. Every year Co-Operative Society conducts annual general body meeting with the shareholders and distribute the share to the shareholders. The society activities are managed by the Board of Directors and the secretary. There are seven board members which are being voted by the shareholders.

School & Education:

Sambhota Tibetan School, Tenzingang, is situated in one of the remotest regions of the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The land on which the school stands was generously provided by the local Monpa community, known as “Domkho,” as a gift to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to support Tibetan education.
Recognizing the importance of education, the Tibetan community established the school in 1972 with an initial enrolment of 50 students. Subsequently, the institution came under the administration of the Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA). As the number of students increased, the Tibetan settlement office decided to expand and relocate the school to a presently location.

Infrastructure Development and Expansion
In 1987-88, Ven Kunchok Paksam, the Head Abbot of Drepung Monastery, initiated a project alongside Mr. Sonam Dhondup and other colleagues constructed a hostel block for students coming from distant regions such as Tawang and Dirang. Funding for this initiative was secured through public donations. As student enrolment continued to rise, the Department of Education later provided additional financial support to construct a second hostel block.
Between 2004 and 2005, significant infrastructure improvements were undertaken to enhance educational facilities. This included the establishment of a library, computer room, science laboratory, and drawing room, as well as the development of a school ground to enrich students’ learning environment. Additional classrooms were also constructed to accommodate the increasing student population.
To further support students arriving from distant regions, the settlement office, with assistance from the Department of Education, CTA, facilitated the construction of an additional hostel with a kitchen and a crèche.

Administrative Transition and Current Status
In July 2016, the administration of the school was transferred from the Central Tibetan School Administration (CTSA) to the Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS). Under the management of STSS, the school has placed a strong emphasis on students’ education, health, and overall well-being, ensuring comprehensive academic and personal development.
At present, the school serves a total of 198 students, comprising individuals from both local villages and the Tibetan community. The faculty and staff include 26 members, with 19 teaching staff and 7 non-teaching staff, all dedicated to providing a high standard of education and support. The primary mission of Sambhota Tibetan School, Tenzingang is to provide holistic education guided by four fundamental principles:
Freedom, Altruism, Heritage and Innovation.
These core values are embedded in the school’s educational approach, fostering intellectual growth, cultural preservation, and personal empowerment among students. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh had constructed 50 boarders boys and girls hostel with Kitchen & dinning hall for STS Tenzingang. The hostel was handed by PWD Shergaon to Tibetan Settlement Office on 30th October 2024. The hostel is being run and look after by the Tibetan Settlement Office, Tenzingang.

Health & Hospital:

Kunga Samten (K.S) Memorial Clinic is rendering health related services to the general public and once in every month Bomdila Men-Tsee-Khang organize 2 days of traditional Tibetan medical Camp in Tenzingang Settlement.

Monastery:

Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement has only Gyuto Monastery which was established in 1974 with 226 monks. Gyuto Monastery was shifted to Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh in the month of January and February 2004. Presently there are 15 Monks in the Monastery. Settlement has one Guru Lhakhang and Nyugney Lhakhang. In Every Wednesday and auspicious days settlers use to gather in Nyugney Lhakhang for Smoke prayers (Sang-sol) and other ritual activities under Camp Leaders supervision.

Representative:

The Tibetan Settlement Officer is appointed by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Dharamshala or in some cases Tibetan Settlement Officer (TSO) is directly elected by the people for three years term. The Tibetan Settlement Officer (TSO) is the overall in-charge of the Settlement in all spheres ranging from maintaining law and order to development and poverty alleviation works. He acts as a Liaisons between CTA and State government agencies and any others concerns. Under him each camp has an elected Camp Leaders who is assisted to Tibetan Settlement Office. All development works are implemented through the camp Leaders. Tibetan Settlement Officer takes all major decisions in consultation with the Camp Leaders and is the most important link between the Settlement Office and Community.

Camp Leaders:

Tenzingang Tibetan Settlement has four Camps namely Camp number 1, 2, 3 & 4. Each Camp has two Camp Leaders except Camp number 4. In total there are Seven Camp Leaders. They are elected by the settlers of respective Camp and their job is to act as an intermediary with Tibetan Settlement Office and relevant authorities, pass on information, settle disputes. Camp Leaders are playing important role for the development of Community.

 Travel Mode:

Nearest Railway Station:        Rangapara, Assam at a distance of 168 kms from Settlement.