Home ministry directs Uttarakhand to implement Tibetan rehab policy, to help thousands

The Indian state of Uttarakhand is set to implement a policy for the welfare of Tibetan refugees living in the state. The policy, called the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP), aims to provide guidelines for the facilities to be extended to Tibetan refugees in various states. Once implemented, Tibetan citizens in Uttarakhand will be able to avail benefits from welfare schemes of both the central and state governments. The policy was drafted in consultation with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala. The Tibetan community in Uttarakhand has faced difficulties relating to documentation, land ownership disputes, housing, road repair, and drinking water. There are around 10,000 Tibetans in Uttarakhand, with the majority residing in Dehradun, Mussoorie, and Nainital.