Yangchen Gatselling, Shimla

Introduction:

Initially a group of Tibetans in Shimla representing the three provinces of Tibet (U-Tsang, Dotoe & Domey) called as Chikdril-Tsokpa (United Organization) started the Tibetan Handicraft Center in Shimla on 1^st October, 1965 at a place called Summer Hill. Later the center was shifted to the present location at Saraswati Garden Estate, lower Panthagati by purchasing a land of area 48.12 Bhigas. The center was then registered on 7^th March, 1973 under the Indian Registration Society Act XXI of 1860 and hence renamed as Tibetan Refugees Self Help Handicraft Society (TRSHHS) with the help of Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala.  It was later officially handed over to the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration on 13^th February, 1981.

Until the handling of the TRSHHS under the Department of Home, all the administrative function was run by the Managing Director of the society. After the handling, the title was changed to Tibetan Welfare Officer cum Managing Director. Later due to the need of time the title was hence changed to Tibetan Settlement Officer cum Managing Director till 2017. Realizing the importance of its responsibilities at the state level and Shimla being the Capital of Himachal Pradesh state, the title of the office is upgraded to Chief Representative cum Managing Director since 26^th December, 2017.

Location:

Tibetan settlement under the Chief Representative Office, Shimla is located at 31.1⁰ North latitude, 77.17⁰ East longitude and 1959 meters elevation above the sea level. The average temperature over the course of year ranges from -4° C in winter to 31° C in summer with 1480mm/58.3 Inches as the average annual rainfall.

Livelihood:

The main source of income of the settlement residents is through sweater selling business during winter while engaging in other petty businesses during summer. On the other hand, weavers and other staffs of the handicraft society also engage in sweater selling business during winter while contributing at the handicraft society in summer by weaving carpets and making product sales such as carpets, prayer flags and noodles.

Facilities in the settlement:

• One Boarding cum day school upto +2 standard with 35 staff
• Two pre-primary schools (STSS Kasumpti & STSS Sanjauli)
• One primary health care center
• Two Monasteries
• One old people’s home managed by Namgyal Monastery Dharamsala

Administrative setup:

CTA Representative:
Tibetan Welfare officer Cum Managing Director of the Handicraft Center is sole representative deputed by the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamsala at the area. He is the overall incharge of the maintaining law and order to socio-economic development at the region in all aspects under policy and guidance of CTA. This office also acts as a liaison between CTA, settlers and other outside authority.

Local Assembly:
The Tibetans at the area possess an elected Local Assembly members and these members represents the tibetan settlers. The local Assembly members hold session with CTA Representative twice in year and during the session they can raise questions and discuss on important issue in the assembly. CTA Representative takes all major decisions in consultation with the local Assembly members.

Number of settlement under CRO:

1. Tibetan Self-Help Handicraft Society Settlement
2. Tibetan Settlement
3. Kharapathar Settlement
4. Sangey Choeling Settlement
5. Rangzen Camp Settlement
6. Ladaki Mohalla Settlement
7. Nabha House Settlement
8. Bus stand Settlement
9. Solan Settlement
10. Roll of Honor
    

    Managing Directors (Tibetan Refugee Self Help Handicraft Society)

    S. No.	Name	Period
    		From	To
    1	Sh. Amdo Rinchen	01-10-1965	20-03-1973
    2	Phuntsok Tashi	20-03-1973	30-07-1979
    3	Sh. Passang Dhondup	30-07-1979	15-09-1981
    4	Sh. N.D. Gyalpo	1609-1981	01-07-1983
    5	Sh. T.T. Karma Choephel	01-04-1981	01-07-1983

     Tibetan Welfare Officers cum Managing Directors 

    6	Sh. Sonam Topgyal	01-07-1983	08-07-1986
    7	Sh. Passang Tsering	08-07-1986	05-09-1988
    8	Sh. K.K. Wangchuk	06-09-1988	30-09-1991
    9	Dapon (Retd) Jamyang Tsering	30-09-1991	30-06-1993
    10	Sh. L.D. Cheme Dorjee	01-07-1993	14-10-1994
    11	Sh. Tashi Norbu	15-10-1994	05-08-1997
    12	Sh. Dawa Dorjee	06-08-1997	31-07-2001
    13	Dapon (Retd) Kunga Dorjee	01-08-2001	15-07-2005
    14	Ms. Tenzin Kunsang (Act.)	16-07-2005	06-12-2005
    15	Sh. Ngawang Yonten	07-12-2005	17-07-2009
    16	Sh. Tenzin Namgyal (Act.)	18-07-2009	09-08-2009
    17	Sh. Tenzin Ngodup	10-08-2009	12-09-2009
    18	Sh. Dhondup Gyalpo	01-10-2009	13-12-2010
    19	Ms.Tenzin Kunsang	14-12-2009	14-11-2010

    Tibetan Settlement Officers cum Managing Directors

    20	Sh. Tenzin Choejay	15-11-2010	31-01-2012
    21	Sh. Tsering Tashi	01-02-2012	16-05-2016
    22	Sh. Tenzin Tsultem (Act.)	17-05-2016	26-06-2016
    23	Dapon (Retd) Tsewang Dorjee	27-06-2016	19-03-2017
    24	Sh. Tenzin Norbu	20-03-2017	25-12-2017

    25

    Sh. Tenzin Norbu

    26-12-2017