Decades of dwindling: Drop in Tibetan arrivals raise concerns

1 month ago

The current flow of Tibetan arrivals stands in stark contrast to the surge seen in the 1990s and early 2000s, when thousands would arrive annually from Tibet.

Due to this decline, the Tibetan Reception Centre at Khanyara in Dharamshala has significantly reduced its activities in recent years. Initially built as a transit point for the thousands of Tibetans who made the clandestine journey from Tibet to Nepal and then to Dharamshala—home to the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, since his escape—it now sees fewer arrivals.

While young Tibetans typically come to pursue education, elderly arrivals tend to settle in Dharamshala.

According to officials from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), only five Tibetans arrived in Dharamshala in 2020, and ten arrived in 2021. The situation showed little improvement, with just five arrivals in 2022. In contrast, the numbers ranged between 2,500 and 3,000 during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Original Article