Tibetans to be included in census exercise

Tibetans residing in India for the past six months or more would be included in the National Census 2011, process for which is underway now, official sources said today.

The Director Public Relations office of Union external affairs ministry Manika Jain along with Kangra district administration today held a meeting with Administrative officers of Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamsala to issue the necessary instructions in this regard.

She asked the Tibetan officials to cooperate in the exercise so that none of the Tibetans living in Dharamsala for six months or more are left out.

Jain said those left out in the census drill would not be entertained for issuance of ration card, identity card, registration and driving license, an official release said.

She said any foreigner residing in Dharamsala for at least six months or plan to stay for next six months would be included in the census.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Kangra Sandeep Kumar, who attended the meeting, said the Tibetans would be included in the census under the category of usual resident.

After a failed uprising in their homeland in 1959, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and a large number of his countrymen have taken shelter at Dharamsala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.

The headquarters of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile is also located at Mcleodganj, about 15 km from Dharamsala.