About

Nyingtob Ling Tibetan Handicapped Children’s Craft Home

(Registered under the Societies ACT XXI of 1860)

The Tibetan Society being a family oriented one, the concept of old people’s home and home for the handicapped are relatively unknown. Family taking care of its disabled members and respect for the elders form an inherent part of the Tibetan Traditional norms.

Invaded by China, Tibet lost 1.2 million of it’s population, i.e. 20% of its total population in years of brutal political persecutions that followed. The vent forced His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama to flee into exile in 1959. Around 80,000 of his people followed him over the icy Himalayan passes and into Indian plain. Subsequently a temporary exile Tibetan Government was set up at Dharamsala (H.P.) with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as its head. Unending Stream of refugees continue to arrive from Tibet even to this day.

In the past, the Tibetan families had been able to support themselves and their less productive members by drawing income from their livestock, agriculture products or business ventures. Earning a livelihood today however, both in Tibet and in exile has become much more difficult as:1) Inside Tibet, the heavy concentration of Chinese immigrant population has not only displaced the Tibetans from traditional economy but also has marginalized then into urban areas where each has to fend for his/her living.

2) The harshness of exile lives as refugees with no social security throws up many difficulties in earning one’s livelihood.

3) The burden of supporting nonproductive members in the face of such daunting challenges places serious financial strains on families, making it extremely difficult to look after its handicapped member.

In response to this need, the Tibetan Government in exile, as well as some NGO’s has opened a few old age homes and give small amounts of stipends to the handicapped people. Viewing from along time objective to relieve their hardships this home was initiated.