Tibetan Cooperative’s conference begins in Dharamshala, Sikyong graces Inauguration of the 3-day event

The Department of Home (DoH), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), commenced a three-day Tibetan Cooperative Conference earlier this morning at the CTA Training Centre located inside the premises of the Tibetan Reception Centre to discuss insight and prospects of the Tibetan Cooperative Societies.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering graced the conference’s inaugural ceremony as chief guest, along with Cabinet Secretary Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi; Secretary Palden Dhondup, DoH; Secretary Tsering Dhondup, Department of Finance; Secretary Dawa Tsultrim, Department of Health; and Pema Delek, Chairman of the Federation of Tibetan Cooperatives in India (FTCI). It was also attended by chairmen and secretaries of the 15 Tibetan Cooperative Societies and Tibetan Settlement Officers of their respective settlements, together with Chief Representative Officers of Ladakh and South Zone, Additional Secretaries representing the concerned departments of CTA, and the head of the Organic Research and Training Center, Tsering Dorjee.

“Since the establishment of the first Tibetan Cooperative Society in Lugsam Settlement, Bylakuppe, in 1964, the DoH has assumed direct administration of Tibetan Cooperative Societies until 2005, including staffing and supervising. However, as the first federal body of Tibetan cooperatives was legally registered in 2005 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, Tibetan cooperatives societies thereafter functioned independently without any direct intervention from the DoH,” said Secretary of the organising department, Palden Dhondup, in his opening remarks. Over the course of the last 19 years, the Secretary added, the department witnessed inconsistencies among the member cooperative societies and hence elucidated that the purpose of the convened meeting is to scrutinise and realign the functions and responsibilities of Tibetan Cooperative Societies in accordance with the directives of Sikyong Penpa Tsering.

The Home Secretary further informed us that this conference was formalised as part of the collaboration between DoH, FTCI, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

To inherit and endure the benevolent contributions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama-led elder Tibetan generations, the incumbent Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Home, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his keynote address, implored every participants of the conference to dedicate themselves in enhancing the efficiency of Tibetan Cooperative Societies and their outputs.

To ensure the continued sustenance of Tibetan settlements amid the surge in residents moving abroad, Sikyong urged the participants to pool their recommendations during the conference to bring timely and updated up-gradation to the settlements to appease younger generations to continue dwelling in the settlements. Sikyong opined increasing the plantation of cash crops in the settlements and promoting tourism by employing the rich tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

Before concluding address, the chief guest earnestly implored all conference participants to collaboratively devise apt solutions for the pressing challenges at hand followed by a vote of thanks from Additional Secretary Jampa Phuntsok.