1. CURRENT SITUATION OF TIBETAN REFUGEES IN EXILE Tsering Paljor Geography Teacher, Tibetan Homes School Mussoorie, INDIA Geographical Association Annual Conference - University of Derby 12- 14 April 2007

2. Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 His Holiness the Dalai lama & 80,000 Tibetan refugees seek refuge in India, Nepal and Bhutan The problems faced by Tibetan refugees in India A refugee family in the early 1960s HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Tibetan refugees at Mesemari camp in 1960s

3. His Holiness Priorities a) Rehabilitation of refugees b) Education of children c) Preservation of Tibetan culture & identity The assistance given by the Government of India The establishment of first Tibetan settlement in 1960 The first school for Tibetan refugees comes into being on 3 march 1960 Setting up of cultural institutions, monasteries, nunneries, with the stress on Tibetan language as integral part of cultural heritage Tibetans doing road construction works in the early 1960s

4. TIBETAN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION The Tibetan Government in exile was established in April 1959 in Dharamsala. It is popularly Known as Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) The Tibetans both Inside and outside recognize the CTA as their sole and legitimate government His Holiness the Dalai Lama has democratized the Tibetan Government set up in India

5. CTA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

6. A Total number of 52 settlements in South Asia. 35 in India, 10 in Nepal & 7 in Bhutan There are 24 Agricultural Settlements, 16 Agro- industrial settlements, 10 Handicrafts based settlements and Individual settlers all over the country TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA A Tibetan settlement in West Bengal

7. The Location of different settlements The administrative set up in the settlements The life in the settlements TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA & NEPAL

8. Life in the Tibetan settlements in India Agriculture as the primary occupation in the settlements Small scale business during winter A Tibetan ploughing his land in the settlement SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS Tibetan Market at Mussoorie

9. Total of 122,078* Tibetans living in exile worldwide 85,000 in India, 13,000 in Nepal and 1,500 in Bhutan So far 12,153 number of Tibetans have moved to other parts of the world The largest concentration of Tibetans in the west is located in USA & Canada ( 7000 ) Source: Tibetan Demographic survey Dharamsala 1998 DEMOGRAPHY OF TIBETAN POPULATION IN EXILE CountriesPopulation India85,000 Nepal13,000 Bhutan1,500 Europe5,153 USA & Canada 7000

10. Approximately 2000 to 2500* new refugees come to Exile in India Every year Steps taken by the Government in exile to rehabilitate them * Tibetan Reception Centre, Dharamsala New Arrivals from Tibet at THF, Mussoorie. 2006 NEW REFUGEES New arrivals at Tibetan Reception Center, Dharamsala

11. Opening of Reception centers. Overcoming the problems posed by difference in age groups. Percentage of Different age groups of new refugees Educational facilities for Teenagers and young adults in TCV and THF schools Launching of basic education programme for adults Tibetan Reception centre at Dharamsala NEW REFUGEES Photo

12. AGE GROUP PERCENTAGE OF NEW REFUGEES Source : the book challenge in Exile

13. Growing Age of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Unemployment problems faced by educated Tibetan Youth Danger of losing Tibetan identity CHALLENGES IN EXILE

14. THANK YOU

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