Tibetan Settlement, Choephelling, Miao, A.P.

A brief story of Choephelling Tibetan Settlement:

Settlement Profile

Choephelling Tibetan Settlement, Miao. In 1962, a temporary Settlement was set up in Changlangfor about 1500 refugees. Government of India perceiving the difficulties faced by the settlers, later shifted this settlement to Miao in 1975. The settlement falls under protected area and free movement of foreigners is not permitted in this settlement.

Location:

Situated at a distance of 120 Kms from Tinsukia town. Located at Maio in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Total area of the settlement is 2000 acres.

Altitude, Temparature and Rainfall

Altitude is 500 ft. above sea level. Average temperature is 20.43° Celsius. Average rainfall in the area is 3713 mm.

Settlement's Livelihood

Majorities of the settlers are engaged in farming. Total of 1371acres of land are under cultivation. They cultivate maize, millet, barley, potatoes and chilli. Due to low per capita land holding, lack of irrigation facilities and poor technical know- how, yield are very low and do not fetch enough income. Some of the settlers also do carpet weaving in the settlement carpet center to supplement their living.

Settlement Setup

There are five villages with an average of 80 families in each villages.

Facilities available

The settlement has crèches, pre-primary school and a primary school. It also has a small health clinic center providing modern allopathic medical treatment to the settlers as well as a Tibetan traditional medical center. There is one monastery and one old People’s Home. A Multipurpose Co-operative Society is operational in the settlement which include tractor workshop, flour mill, carpet center and general store sections.

Problems:

The main problems are shortage of drinking water, need for housing renovation, poor sanitation, poor agricultural practices and lack of irrigation facilities. Alternative and sustainable source of income and employment within the settlement is also necessary.