Today, Mr. Tashi Phuntsok, Chief Representative, Bangalore called on Dr. Amita Prasad, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Karnataka, to thank her for her department's sanction of Rs 170 lakhs for water & road repair for Tibetan settlements in Karnataka.
She has sanctioned Rs. 110 lakhs on February 21 for water relief with Rs 55 lakhs for Mysore district, 33 lakhs for Kollegal and 22 lakhs for Mundgod. The Department has also sanctioned Rs 60 lakhs for road repair of Dhondenling in Kollegal vide her order dated February 3. The projects have been sanctioned as special grants for the fiscal year of 2011-2012 and as a result of repeated and series of meeting with her by the Chief Representative over the past months.
She has done a special gesture for Tibetans as promised to Mr. Phuntsok earlier. According to Dr. Amita Prasad, "This is the first time that that her department has sanctioned special projects for Tibetans". It may be recalled that the Office of Chief Representative (CRO) has been liaising with various departments in the State capital to address serious infrastruture and basic amenity needs of the Tibetans in Karnataka. In this there has been much contribution by the Settlements Officers at the district level.
Dr. Amita Prasad was even more enthusiastic and eager to be more helpful in the coming fiscal year now that a path has been broken. She has stated that she would be able to help more in areas of sanitation, school toilets and water supply, water supply for public, rain water harvesting and solar energy. She expressed her inability to assist in
cases of drainage and roads, especially for internal roads. As advised by her instructions have been issued to settlement officers to prepare afresh better proposals for next year.
Dr. Amita Prasad was of the opinion that CTA should approach the Union Government of India for a special aid package to address the more serious, large scale and fundamental basic needs of the Tibetan settlements in India.
