By Tenzin Dharpo
IMAGEIMAGE DHARAMSHALA, May 2016: The Tibetans in Dharamshala today voted in the preliminary elections for the post of new TSO (Tibetan Settlement officer) also known as the ‘Dedhoen’ in ten different polling stations in and around the hilltown of Dharamshala.
The result of today’s poll will be announced three days later on May 28 which will effectively promote the top two or three candidates into the final elections scheduled for June 6, 2016. There are currently four candidates vying for the seat of TSO in Dharamshala. The new elected Dedhoen of Dharamshala will hold the office for a standard tenure of three years.
Speaking to Phayul, the acting TSO Tsering Lhamo said, “Dharamshala being the abode of Kundun (Dalai Lama) is naturally an important seat and a sensitive location. I hope that the new settlement officer should be someone who can address the pressing issues such as relations with the local Indian community as well as to be an accessible leader committed to the needs and welfare of the poor and the under privileged.”
Dharamshala constituency begins from the TCV upper Dharamshala to Gopalpur area where the other TCV School is the prime Tibetan inhibited location. The points between the two TCV schools hold 10,470 Tibetans eligible to vote. Technically any Tibetan who has paid the voluntary deposit of the ‘Green Book’ or the ‘Chatrel Lakdhep’ in Tibetan to the CTA, here in Dharamshala can vote in the current election.
The Tibetan welfare office in McLeod Ganj was established in 1967 to look after the socio-economic welfare of the Tibetan refugees in and around Dharamshala, which is the seat of the exile government and where His Holiness the Dalai Lama resides. Although there are no Tibetan settlements in Dharamshala, Tibetans have been living in the area ever since the Tibetan leader shifted here from Mussoorie in April 1960.
