Tibetan Settlement Office
The Tibetan Settlement Office (TSO) (previously "Tibetan Welfare Office") operates under the supervision of the Tibetan Ministry of the Interior and is part of the central Tibetan administration in Dharmshala , India . The TSO organizes projects in the social, cultural and economic area. Furthermore, education about environmental problems and sustainable development is in the foreground.
Garbage disposal
The "Clean Upper Dharmshala" project was started in 1994 by the TSO. The aim is to solve the garbage problem in Upper Dharmshala, which is worsening due to the increase in non-biodegradable products in the area.
In the beginning, the program consisted of three “Green Workers” who collected recyclable materials from businesses and households in McLeod Ganj . The program had a big impact by installing five trash cans and trucking the garbage away. These efforts have visibly contributed to a cleaner environment.
Public toilets have also been built. These are also being maintained, a drainage system has been laid in the area around McLeod Ganj and Dal Lake to prevent water pollution.
recycling
Recyclable material is either collected from door to door (Green Workers) or it is given away.
The following is currently being recycled:
- Soft plastic ( plastic bags )
- Hard plastic (buckets, cassettes, pens, packaging)
- Glass bottles and jars, broken glass
- carton
- old clothes and shoes
- Tin and other metals
The recycled material is sold either to a buyer in Dharmshala or to Pathankot (80 kilometers away). Transporting material to Pathankot is not cost effective.
To encourage participation in the program, all forms of plastic, metal, glass, clothing and paper are collected together. This material is then separated into different categories. About two thirds of the collected material can be reused.
Paper mill
The TSO has set up a small paper workshop in Upper Dharmshala, where handmade products are made. The scraps of paper are torn into small pieces and soaked for four to five hours. Soaking leads to an even distribution of the paper, creating a finer mass and therefore stronger paper. The mass, to which environmentally friendly chemicals are added for durability and tear resistance, is then pressed, dried, and smoothed. The smooth paper is taken to the nearest workshop, where products are made from it.
The Green Shop
"The Green Shop" opened in 1994 and is an environmentally friendly shop. You can buy goods there and hand in used batteries and expired medicine.
Among other things, we sell:
- clean water
- Paper products made in the paper workshop
- Bags made of fabric, these reduce the use of plastic bags
- chemical-free shampoo and conditioners
- Soaps and creams
- Tibetan tea
social commitment
The Tibetan Settlement Office is actively integrated into society. Its role is to assess the needs of the community and find solutions. For example, the situation of young people and the elderly is alarming. Funds must be created that enable young people to complete an education and ensure the survival of the older generation.
The TSO staff is also trained to provide legal advice and can mediate in the event of conflicts in the community. One of the main goals of the TSO is to maintain social, religious and political harmony in the community. This is ensured by working out even small conflicts and problems.
The TSO also founded the Gaddi Women's Self-Help Society. This is a project run by and for Indian women.
The TSO has been the deployment site of the Austrian international service since 2003 .