The Department of Home is part of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. Established in 1960, it is responsible far the rehabilitation and socio-economic welfare of all the Tibetan refugees.
Broadly speaking, our work may be divided into two areas: rehabilitation and economic welfare. Our rehabilitation programme is designed to provide all the Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal with housing and adequate living conditions. Once they have been rehabilitated, our economic welfare programme aims to develop the most efficient ways far the refugees to earn a living and help their communities become self-sufficient.
AH the settlement officers, the welfare officers - who work in areas where there are no settlements - and the managers of the handicraft centres are responsible to the Department of Home, and through them we keep closely in touch with the progress of all the rehabilitation and economic development schemes.
The majority of refugees live in India, Nepal and Bhutan, hut there are Tibetans in 31 countries all over the world, including in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK, Switzerland and France. We maintain dose links with these Tibetans through. the various overseas Offices of Tibet.
The Department of Home works in dose consultation with the Rehabilitation Division of the Government of India's Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as with a number of voluntary organizations and individual donors.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC) is the relief wing of the
Department of Home and is a recognized charity.
It was registered as a charitable society in 198111nder the Indian Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. In 1985 it was registered under the terms of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and assigned 1111mber 182450005/85.
The main objective of the CTRC is to help the poor, needy, backward and under-privileged within the Tibetan community in exile.

Tibet was an independent country with its own government, economy, language, distinct culture and religion unti1 its invasion by the Chinese.
Since the beginning China's aggression towards Tibet in 1949, approximately 1.2 million Tibetans (around one sixth of the total population) have died through political persecution, execution, torture and starvation. over 6,000 monasteries, nunneries and other ancient religious and cultural centres have been destroyed. Tibet has been flooded by Chinese people and there are now 7.5 mil1ion Chinese to the 6 million Tibetans living in Tibet.
Tibetans are still being persecuted, imprisoned and killed far their political and religious beliefs, and far holding non-violent demonstrations declaring their right to self-determination in their own country .
In 1959, following the Lhasa Uprising and subsequent suppression by the Chinese, His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet to seek political asylum in India. Shortly after, a massive flood of around 85,000 Tibetans poured into India, Nepal and Bhutan. They made the gruelling journey over the
16,000 foot Himalayan passes and many, especially women and children, died on the way.
Departure from a known environment often causes a population to lose its culture and transform its traditional lifestyle, but the unshakable determination of the Tibetan refugees has preserved their religion and culture in exile. It is as important now as it was in 1959 to maintain the Tibetan way of lire in the refugee settlements and communities.

The Department of Home first started its rehabilitation programme in 1960 and its aim has always been to bring all Tibetan refugees into communities large enough to preserve their language, traditions and culture, and to enable them to become self-sufficient.
The total number of Tibetan refugees stands at aver 109,500*. Of these 106,438 are living in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Following the exodus of refugees from Tibet, the need far organized rehabilitation became a matter of urgency. In the early 1960s, many as 1,500 refugees were arriving from Tibet each week. They
were exhausted after their hazardous journey and suffering psychological distress as a result of homelessness and separation from their families. Due to the warmer climate and unhygienic conditions in the transit camps, the refugees fell in with diseases that were unknown in the high altitudes of Tibet and many of them died. Gradually, the refugees were sent to camps in the North West of India where they could earn their living working on road construction.
The provision of food, shelter, medical aid, education and the means of earning a living was the immediate aim. However, in the long run the Tibetan language, traditions and religion - all of which were being annihilated in their homeland - had to be preserved.
At this critical stage, His Holiness the Dalai Lama personally requested the Government of India to make some land available and the Tibetans were leased various agricultural settlement areas, largely in South India. The majority of refugees had been farmers or nomads in Tibet, but this hot, unclaimed forest land was very different from conditions to which they were used. An average of one acre was provided far each adult arid the Tibetans learnt how to farm the Indian land and mastered the use of modern farming machines, chemical fertilizers and high yielding varieties of seeds.
There were more refugees than available agricultural land, so where the amount of land was too small to achieve self-sufficiency, agro-industrial settlements were created. These settlements, which were mostly established in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, relied partly on agriculture and partly on industrial activities.
In 1965 the Tibetan Industrial Rehabilitation Society was founded by various voluntary agencies to look into the development of industry in the settlements. This was a registered charity and relied entirely on foreign donations. It set up projects such as lime quarrying and the production of fibre glass, and aver 4,000 refugees were rehabilitated in eight agro-industrial settlements. Unfortunately, some of the industries failed, largely due to lack of technical knowledge, poor management and limited funding. However, the situation has changed and the refugees are now adapted to industrial and business management environments.
The century-old tradition of carpet-weaving proved to be the most successful industrial enterprise and many of the so-called agro-industrial settlements still concentrate on the production of carpets and other handicrafts.

		The Tibetan resettlement programme so far has been a great success. This success has been achieved by the determination of the Tibetan refugees and the generosity of the donors who have assisted us aver the past 30 years. Since 1959,53 refugee settlements have been established in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Of these 26 are agricultural settlements, 16 are agro-industrial settlements and 11 are settlements based around handicraft centres. The settlements differ considerably according to where they are. Some remote settlements in Ladakh and Northern Nepal are fairly similar to Tibet in terms of climate and lifestyle. However, less than 5 % of the Tibetan refugees live in these areas.

Co-operatives or Societies were established in the early years as an integral part of the settlements.
Although they are under the aegis of the Department of Home, almost all the Co-operatives and Societies are legally recognized as independent entities.
In the agricultural settlements they procure and advance seeds, fertilizers and pesticides; market agricultural produce collectively; and provide common services such as tractors, trucks and warehousing. Co-operatives and Societies were also established in the handicraft-based settlements to run the carpet-weaving and handicraft centres.
Their other responsibilities include such ventures as organizing transportation, running settlement shops and, particularly in the remoter settlements, supplying essential provisions far the residents.
In India and Nepal 171 monasteries, nunneries and temples have been constructed since the Tibetans carne into exile. As well as being religious institutes, these are important as educational and cultural centres - and are strong symbols of Tibetan identity.
Around 13,500 refugees (roughly 10% of the population) are monks or nuns. All the settlements and most of the scattered communities have educational facilities, starting from pre-primary and going up to Class XII in some settlements and up to Class X in most settlements.
There are several Tibetan boarding schools in different parts of India. Almost 25,000 children attend the 84 Tibetan schools in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Approximately 92 % of all Tibetan children in exile between the ages of six and seventeen go to school, and 84 % attend Tibetan schools.
Housing unit standards in the settlements have varied aver the years, according to available funds. Houses in the settlements are now made of bricks with tiles roofs. A housing unit far a family of five consists of 500 sq. ft. divided into three rooms, and a plot of land which can be used as a kitchen garden. In recent projects every eight units have been allotted three toilets and showers, and if possible each unit has been provided with water.
It is also ensured that the structure of the houses will support a second storey, if necessary.

One of the greatest problems in the settlements is that the population is rapidly growing, due to the number of births in the community and the steady stream of new refugees, which has increased since when travel restrictions from Tibet became more relaxed.
Since 1980 aver 10,000 Tibetans have sought asylum in India, and the majority of these are children and young people under 25.
This has put a severe strain on the already fragile economy and infrastructure of the settlements and the housing, sanitation, health clinics, schools and other facilities are no longer equipped to deal with the number of people in the settlements.
To add to the problem, the land allotted to the settlements, which has not increased in proportion to the population growth, is growing less fertile.
Furthermore, the lack of employment opportunities, especial1y for the educated young, means that more and more people have to leave the settlements to search for work outside - and this threatens to undermine the whole reason for establishing the settlements in the first place.

New Refugees
After the change in travel restrictions in 1980, the number of refugees escaping from Tibet increased dramatically: in 19902,066 refugees arrived in India and Nepal, and in 1991 the figure rose to 2,725.
Broadly speaking, Tibetans leave their country for the following reasons:
They have been active in peaceful demonstrations or have spoken out against Chinese oppression and fare political persecution. These people have often suffered long prison sentences or torture;
They wish to practise their religion freely without persecution;
They firmly believe that they can do more to help free their country if they are living outside Tibet;
Children are either sent or brought out of Tibet by their parents in order to receive an education, since there is little schooling for Tibetans in Tibet;
Young people between the ages of 14 and 25 come in search of education and employment.
The most usual escape route for (he refugees is to walk aver the high mountain passes, carrying very few personal possessions with tl1em. Many refugees have undergone torture and imprisonment, and this arduous journey, together with the effects of a poor diet in Tibet and a change in climate and food.
Often causes health problems on the refugees' arrival in exile. The Department of Home has constructed accommodation to care with this continuous stream of new arrivals, but limited funds mean this can only be a temporary shelter.
As well as health problems, the new arrivals seldom have the education or skills to support themselves and the already overcrowded settlements cannot contain them.

Unsettled Refugees
Over 11,000 of the total number of Tibetans who arrived in India and Nepal between 1959 and 1979 have never been provided with housing and the means of earning a living. In addition to the unsettled refugees already in India and Nepal, l ,500 refugees have to leave Bhutan to be resettled in India. The CTRC plans to rehabilitate 5,000 unsettled refugees before 1995, including the Tibetans tram Bhutan.
The unsettled refugees live in scattered camps, in Manali and Kullu for example, or in the squatter communities that have developed around large cities, such as Majnu Ka Tila outside Delhi. Most of these camps have been provided with a dispensary, a school and a monastery or temple, and a welfare officer has been appointed to look after their social welfare.
However, the only source of employment in these camps is seasonal street trading, manual labour and smal1 shop keeping.

The Elderly
The elderly Tibetans in exile today were the pioneers, the. early refugees who first organized the settlements and the structure of the Central Tibetan Administration. It is they who remember Tibet before the invasion and brought with them the Tibetan culture, language and the spirit of independence. From the start His Holiness the Dalai Lama recQÌ11mended that the old and infirm should be given a home to live In where they could be cared for, allowing them to devote the Test of their lives to religion and prayer.
There are over 11,000 refugees who are over 60 years old, including 196 who arrived as new refugees between 1989 and 1992. As long as these old people can live at home with their families, we encourage them to do so. The CTRC runs a project to find sponsors far the needy old, providing them with a small allowance which helps them remain with their families. However, there are still aver 1,000 old people who cannot earn a livelihood far themselves and do not have sponsors.
The Department of Home already runs six homes far 460 elderly and infirm people and plans to build another at Chialsa Settlement in Nepal.

Housing
The ever-increasing population in the settlements has led to serious overcrowding. Houses (which are sometimes only one room) originally designed to accommodate five people now often hold up to ten. Many of the houses have not been renovated since they were first constructed in the 1960s. The greatest demand from the settlements is far improved housing conditions.
The CTRC needs to provide better housing and living conditions far more than 1,000 households and between 1992 and 1996 we plan to put into motion fifteen housing projects within the settlements.

Agriculture
Since the majority of the early refugees from Tibet were farmers and nomads, agriculture seemed the
Most suitable occupation far them to follow in exile.
Today agriculture is still the primary occupation far a little less than half of the working population in the settlements. In the scattered communities outside the settlements, where there is little
Land available far cultivation, only a small percentage of the work force is engaged in agriculture. However, far the total working population, agriculture is still the major source of livelihood.
The original settlement farmers were given one acre of land each, but as are result of the population increase, the average plot of land is now approximately half an acre per person. Maize, paddy, wheat and potatoes are all important crops but ragi, soya beans, mustard and barley are also grown. The majority of agricultural settlements are situated in South and Central India, although some crops, such as apples, are grown only in the North.
Animal husbandry is a possible growth area within the settlements, where cows, buffalo, goats, sheep, pigs, horses and chickens are all already kept. The main difficulties in raising animals are the shortage of pasture (under 1 % of the total land is grazing land), poor breeding stock and the lack of veterinary expertise.

Handicrafts
The Department of Home has particular responsibility far the handicraft centres in the settlements, as well as running a wool-spinning and dyeing concern and a handicraft export office.
The main objective of the handicraft centres is to generate employment in the settlements. This is especially important in the North of India where agricultural land is in short supply. However, the handicraft industry is also important in that it keeps traditional Tibetan crafts alive and creates greater awareness in the Test of the world about Tibet and its people.
The principal handicraft is that of carpet weaving and in the settlements where it is practised, this is an important source of income, particularly far women, new arrivals and far those who do not go on to higher education. In the settlements 10% of the work force is involved in carpet-weaving and other handicrafts.
The Tibetan carpet business has been particularly successful in Nepal where it provides massive employment and is currently the largest generator of Nepal's foreign exchange - even more than tourism.
As well as carpet weaving, Tibetans are trained in weaving textiles and producing clothes, incense making, woodcarving, painting and metal work.
The Department of Home has established a network of handicraft Co-operatives and Societies in almost every relevant settlement and each handicraft centre has a storeroom and an exhibition-cum-sales counter.

Case Study Handicraft Centre:
The Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Handicraft Society in Simla.
In 1965 the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Handicraft Society was started in Summer Hills just outside Simla. In the beginning eight people were employed here but the number gradually increased. They became ski'1ted in carpet weaving, apron-weaving, woodcarving, tailoring and knitting.
In 1972 the Society moved to the present site near Kasumpti, about 7 kilometres south of Simla.
A new carpet centre and quarters far the workers were built in 1975. By then there were 105 people in the Society.
Kasumpti was becoming a thriving centre and in 1982 the unsettled Tibetans around Simla were housed in one settlel11ent there. In 1985 the success of the handicraft centre called far another, larger building to be built which accommodates 100 workers. There is also a busy woodcraft workshop. The handicraft centre now employs 250 Tibetans.
Today the settlement at Kasumpti and the surrounding camps are well served by the settlement facilities. There are two monasteries, a dispensary and a Tibetan medical centre. A nursery and kindergarten were built in 1985 and the Central School for Tibetans covers the combined Tibetan population of the settlement and the camps surrounding Simla.

Sweater-Selling
A great many Tibetans - just under a third of the total working population in the settlements - are involved in sweater selling. This started in the early 1960s when Tibetan women started selling homemade woollen sweaters at local bazaars. It proved to be lucrative and the Tibetans began purchasing machine-made sweaters wholesale from Indian factories in the Punjab.
Many Tibetans travel for three or four months every winter to sell their goods in the cities of India but for some this has become a round-the-year activity.
The income is unreliable, depending on luck and skill as a salesperson, but on average a sweater seller can make two or three times as much money as a carpet-weaver in a settlement.
The remainder of the population is divided between the service industry (such as running hotels and restaurants), trading (such as private carpet businesses or handicraft shops) and other occupations (such as government jobs).

The Central Tibetan Administration would like to see a more secure and self-sufficient economic base for the Tibetan refugee community. 11 would then be able to reduce its dependence on outside funding and grants.
The Tibetan refugee economy is concentrated in agriculture, handicrafts and sweater selling, and this narrow economic base makes the community vulnerable to fluctuations in the market. Diversification is necessary to make the economy more stable and young people need to develop skills in such areas as technology and commerce. The CTRC is also planning agro-industrial projects, such as the construction of miI1s and drying units.
Unemployment and the resulting migration from the settlements is a growing problem. The well-educated young find it extremely hard to find sufficiently stimulating employment in the settlements. As the young people are compelled to look far work elsewhere, the settlements run the risk of disintegrating in the next generation. It is often said that rehabilitation of the second generation is more difficult than the first - and in the case of the Tibetans this is proving true.

Agriculture

As the population grows, the settlements have to support more and more people. It is therefore vita! To develop the fun potential of the available agricultural land. Irrigation, mechanization through tractors, the establishment of orchards and animal husbandry are all means of improving agricultural systems.

Water is a problem for most of the settlements: only 7.5 % of the cultivable land is irrigated and 24 of the 34 agricultural settlements have no wells or ponds. Nineteen rely on rainfall or seasonal streams far their water supply. This causes serious problems. In 1987, for example, a drought destroyed all the crops of the three major agricultural settlements in South India. As a result these settlements, with a total population of more than 15,000 refugees, had no income from agriculture that year. In the period 1992 to 1997, six irrigation projects are planned to help alleviate this problem.

In some areas, where the land is too hil1y to use tractors, oxen are used successfully far ploughing, However, where possible the CTRC would like to introduce more tractors to help increase production and cut down on labour costs.

Several settlements already run successful dairy farming projects. The CTRC would like to introduce crossbreed dairy, cows to these and other settlements - particularly in remote areas where other employment opportunities are scarce.

The lack of employment in the settlements resu1ts in large numbers of people regularly migrating to find work, either to sell sweaters, work in hotels or shops, or to work as manual labourers.

Better employment prospects within the settlements would help to lessen this destructive migration away from the community.

The unemployment problem is made more serious by the increasing number of new arrivals. While any new refugee under 25 years is placed in a Tibetan school, the rehabilitation of those avers 25 is more difficult because of the lack of job opportunities.

Since coming into exile in 1959, the preservation of the Tibetan way of life has been the chief goal of the refugee community.
But even after more than thirty years in exile, there is prevailing optimism that we will able to return to Tibet in the not too distant future.

The preservation of the unique Tibetan culture, religion and national identity through the rehabilitation of refugees is still of enormous importance. As thousands of Tibetans continue to flee from our country; a generation grows up inside Tibet deprived of the opportunity to learn freely about its own culture, religion and language; and an increasing number of Chinese people settle in Tibet, this aim becomes more and more crucial.

It is also important for the refugee community to improve its economic structure. In spite of the initial lack of experience in modem technical, financial and economic areas, we have successfully organized and developed our settlements and become involved in business and financial enterprises. The long-term aim of this economic development is not only intended to raise the standard of living among the Tibetans in exile.
It also aims to build expertise within the community which can be taken back to a free Tibet to create a stable and sustainable economy there.

When Tibet becomes free once again, we can return to our own country with a full knowledge of our ancient culture, language, religion and traditions, as well as technical and managerial skills in different economic areas. We can then draw on our experience gained in exile and join those who remained in Tibet in re-establishing the Tibetan way of life after the long years of Chinese oppression.