Kollegal:Home Kalon Sonam Topgyal khorlatsang arrived in Kollegal Dhondenling Tibetan settlement on 8th April, after his successful visit to ladakh.He was accorded a warm welcome reception by the settlement officer Gelek Jungney, community leaders, NGO heads and students all lined up with khatak in their hands. Kalon was accompanied by south zone Chief Representative officer Thupten Tsering from Bangalore.
Kalon later visited the Sambhota Tibetan School and inaugurated the renovated library room and multipurpose hall, funded by Centre Sakya Kunga Choling Trieste, Italy, Aide an ‘Enface Tibetaine, France, Danida, Denmark and Sera Jey Monastery.
In inaugural ceremony, a brief function was organised in the school multipurpose hall.
The settlement officer Gelek Jungney in his introductory remarks presented his report highlighting the achievements in settlement’s road and infrastructure development projects, securing funding as to tune of INR 120 million in his 2 years of tenure as settlement officer. He attributed that the success and achievements have been possible due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s blessings and support from his staff, community heads, CTA, and especially from the Home department.
Home Kalon in his address informed the gathering on his purpose of visit, which is to bid farewell and thank the settlers for entrusting him with the responsibility of Home Kalon and to be of service.Kalon shared his view on how investing in children’s education is of utmost importance towards nation-building and through that one can contribute to our struggle for the just cause of Tibet.
He also mentioned that he hails from the same settlement and has a special connection. Kalon applauded the development of the settlement and taking it to a next level with settlement office initiatives and support from the community heads and public, he urged to maintain similar cooperation and coordination for the betterment of settlement.
For his long service in CTA and extending support to the settlement he was honoured a Tara statue by the Dhondenling Tibetan community and a Buddha thangka by the Cooperative society.
The next morning, Kalon visited the 113 feet Buddha statue construction project site which was initiated by the Taksham monastery and performed a traditional consecration ceremony by lighting a butter lamp and laying precious substance in the foundation.He later discussed with Taksham Khenpo the progress and landscape development of hard and soft scape, with the completion of this project, it has the potential for tourist attraction.
Kalon visited a farm where Vetiver plantation was undertaken, the pilot project covers 36 farmers with 108.80 acres and a legal agreement signed between the company and the respective farmers on 26 September 2020 in presence of a settlement officer. It is the first of its kind in the settlement where contract farming on vetiver plantation has been established.The company offers a good buyback package with extra income to the farmers and the plantation has a lot of benefits to the environment and replenishes soil nutrients.
With his successful second leg of visit to Kollegal,Kalon will leave for Bylakuppe next.
Picture courtesy: tibet.net