7.
6,
c) Pakistan
- 6
Col. Denham reported on a meeting at ODM at which he had explained the Sal tion Army programme for low cost housing in Pakistan particularly for the Biharıs. Although ODM could probably not help with this as it was not developmental, they had been interested in other Salvation Army schemes for local industries and and were to consult other Departments. Meanwhile it was hoped to get some funds from the Pakistani Government and from other agencies. A Salvation Army team was standing by ready to go ahead with plans if an ODM grant were forthcoming.
a) India
i) Mrs. Martin reported on the Find Your Feet scheme for leaf protein. The first six months had been successful. A pilot scheme had shown that children increased in height and weight on this diet. The cost was much less than for skimmed milk. It would be necessary to wait another six months before complete results would be known.
Christian Aid was also involved in protein schemes and would start up a programme in Nigeria.
ii) Save the Children Fund was continuing a feeding programme in Madras. It was
difficult to get cupplies of cereals but it was hoped that Australia could help.
TIBETAN REFUGEES
a) In Nepal
Mr. Cumber (Save the Children Fund) on a recent visit to Nepal had seen little of the work for Tibetans as he had been mainly to visit a SCF medical team in a valley west of Katmandu, but he had discussed the situation of the 5,000 refugees with the Secretary of the Nepalese Childrens Society which ran a Day Centre for Tibetan refugee children.
After general discussion it seemed that there was no urgent need for food and shelter but the situation, particularly of the old people, needed watching.
There were reports that some refugees who were still coming in to Nepal from Tibet were getting trained and then returning over the border,
The situation seemed confused and accurate information was needed.
Miss Joyce Pearce referred to a report from one of the Tibetan boys formerly at Ockenden who was now a spokesman for the Tibetan Council for Holy Affairs at Dharamsala. In his last report he had described the refugees in Nepal as in need of help and rehabilitation. Some had evidently been arrested and the Government was using strict measures, was not allowing them to settle near the border and not issuing rations until settlement was complete.
Miss Pearce agreed to send a copy of the Report to the Secretary who would extract the relevant points.
b) In India
The Chairman quoted from a letter from the Tibetan Industrial Rehabilitation Society dated March 5th in which they appealed for help from the voluntary agencies for
running expenses of nursery school
renovation of 30 houses in the Nanchen Division, where 30 families had been living in temporary sheds or tents.
Rs. 12,000
Rs. 30,000
Copies of the letter had been circulated to those agencies on the Committee forested in Tibetan refugees.
In spite of several reminders, no further information had been received about the groups of elderly Tibetan refugees in India.
Dale of Next Meeting to be left to the call of the officers.
23 April 1976
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