Newsletter 13 July

July 13, 2020
 Team

News in Box

 

Headlines of the Week

  1. LAC standoff | Xi Jinping’s mobilization order, months of planning preceded border moves
  2. India posting key diplomat to Taiwan amid China tension
  3. Two new Israeli assault rifles Arad and Carmel now set to be manufactured in India-The Print
  4. Google will invest Rs 75,000 crore in India over the next 5 to 7 years as part of ‘Digitization Fund’
  5. Padmanabha Swamy Temple to be managed by ex-royal family, rules Supreme Court

LAC standoff | Xi Jinping’s mobilization order, months of planning preceded border moves

China’s strikes into the Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake space and a number of other different spots alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC), beginning in early May, had been seemingly deliberate for months and adopted a brand new mobilization order issued by President Xi Jinping, in line with the assessments of Indian officers.-NewzRadar said [1]

  • Several Chinese incursions throughout the LAC occurred virtually concurrently in areas a number of hundred km aside — some even hours aside on the identical day — resulting in skirmishes in early and mid-May.
  • The timing of the incidents prompt an excessive degree of coordination and planning, the officers stated.
  • In Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) deployments appeared to have been geared toward pushing India again from the LAC and redrawing it to extra intently align with China’s official borders.
  • A buffer zone that either side have quickly agreed to in Galwan has, on China’s insistence, been structured round Beijing’s new LAC notion, shifting the road round 1 km Indian side.
  • In Pangong Lake, China has thinned its presence from its LAC notion at Finger 4 however moved solely to Finger 5, nonetheless a lot deeper inside from the Indian declare line at Finger Eight which is about Eight km from Finger 4.
  • Starting in late Jan and early Feb, the PLA started what was seen as routine mobilization for annual workouts in Xinjiang, which borders Ladakh.

In Jan 2020, President Xi signed a brand new Training Mobilization Order (TMO) for strengthening navy coaching in actual fight situations and “to keep up an excessive degree of readiness”. The new order up to date the 2019 TMO, which was the primary such order to be signed by Mr. Xi, and had referred to as for implementing new navy coaching tips introduced by him in 2018 to enhance fight readiness.

  • While the announcement was seen as routine on the time, Indian officers imagine it dramatically altered the sample of annual workouts and China’s ahead deployments, not simply with India but in addition in different theatres, the place tensions have flared this summer time with Japan, Taiwan and within the South China Sea. Government sources stated the TMO referred to as for “confrontational coaching” to evaluate the response of commanders in real-time fight conditions and take care of “a multi-front scenario”.
  • “They are placing these to check and are war-gaming in real-time,” stated one authority’s supply, who like others quoted on this article requested anonymity.
  • With the TMO more likely to be in place until at the least 2021, India is getting ready for a brand new regular alongside the border, and is contemplating the potential of positioning an extra division beneath its Leh-based 14 Corps, which sources stated was more likely to occur.

Two former Foreign Secretaries one during Vajpayee’s tenure and another during  MMS’ have written about what happened in Ladakh between India and China during the last few months. The Modi govt must also ask MEA to counter what they have written or publish a White Paper. Subramanian Swamy, (MP from Ruling Party) twitted today.

While leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi twitted on LAC standoff: hits out at govt saying ‘he’s ‘lying’ asleep. And India is paying for it’.

‘Government Misleading Media on Chinese Disengagement Along LAC’- The Wire

In an interview to Karan Thapar, Col Ajai Shukla says that at Galwan the disengagement is disadvantageous to India and that there’s been no disengagement at Hot Springs and Gogra. Asked if headlines carried on newspaper front pages or television news channel bulletins of the disengagement at Gogra and Hot Sprints were false and untrue, Col. Shukla said: “Absolutely. That’s precisely what I’m saying” [2].

However, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) (Director China in Military Operation Headquarters since 2000, a researchers in the Sino-Indian border dispute, ripped apart the claimed made by Ajai Shukla (Business Standard) and post a series of tweets.

From Nehru to Modi, India’s foreign policy towards China hasn’t changed, Sharad Pawar former Def Min said on Sun.

India posting key diplomat to Taiwan amid China tension

The Sunday Express has learnt that Gourangalal Das, currently Joint Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs, will be the next envoy to Taiwan.

  • In what is being read as a strong impetus to its ties with Taiwan amid the border tensions with China, India has chosen a senior diplomat handling Indo-US relations as its new envoy to Taipei.
  • A formal announcement on the appointment is expected soon.
  • This comes at a time when there are calls within the strategic community for upgradation of New Delhi-Taipei ties. China and the US have also been sparring over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
  • India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan because of its One-China policy.
  • It has an office in Taipei to carry out diplomatic functions.
  • It operates under the name of India-Taipei Association, and Das will be its new Director General.
  • He will replace Sridharan Madhusudhanan, also a career diplomat.
  • Taiwan too has effected a change of guard. East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director-General Baushuan Ger has been named Taiwan’s representative to India, replacing Tien Chung-Kwang who was on the post for seven years at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India.
  • Incidentally, Sun Weidong, China’s ambassador to India, in a statement Friday, underlined: “We need to respect and accommodate mutual core interests and major concerns, adhere to the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.”
  • In Beijing’s book, any pro-active step by a foreign country with regard to Taiwan, Hong Kong, South China Sea, Tibet and Xinjiang are considered “sensitive” in nature.
  • And in 2014, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he invited Chung-Kwang Tien, Taiwan’s representative to India, along with Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government-in-exile) to his swearing-in ceremony.
  • In the MEA, a Joint Secretary who handles India’s ties with the US is considered a key official, together with those dealing with China and Pakistan.
  • The appointment of Das as envoy to Taiwan comes weeks after the BJP asked two of its MPs, Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan, to attend via virtual mode the swearing-in ceremony of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on May 20 – a fortnight after the start of the standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control.

Two new Israeli assault rifles Arad and Carmel now set to be manufactured in India-The Print

  • The assault rifles will be manufactured under Make in India initiative in Madhya Pradesh by joint venture PLR Systems, which is already producing arms like Tavor.
  • In MP, a plant had been set up in 2017 by Israel Weapons System (IWI) in a joint venture called PLR Systems.
  • While Punj Llyod originally held 51% shares in the joint venture, it was bought over by a company called Fouraces System India Private Limited with the Indian conglomerate facing debt issues.
  • The joint venture is aiming for contracts from the Special Forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force besides the central armed police forces and the state police, sources said.
  • The PLR systems, now run by Col Ajay Soni, already manufactures number of small arms like the Tavor series, the mainstay of the special forces, in India along with others like the Galil sniper rifle, Uzi Pro submachine gun, Masada pistol and the Negev Light Machine Gun (LMG) with indigenous content ranging from 40-60%.

Carmel and Arad

  • Carmel is a multi-purpose, modular, 5.56X45mm caliber assault rifle for modern warfare, which has been supplied to many customers around the world.
  • According to IWI, the rifle can be easily customized, depending on the operational needs, military or law enforcement tasks — vehicle patrol, CQB (close-quarters combat), undercover missions, short and medium combat engagement, diverse police operations, VIP protection, and more.
  • It is meant to be a fully ambidextrous platform, equipped with military standard 1913 Picatinny rails on all sides to allow compatibility with any available sights, devices or accessories.
  • Arad is an M4-type Assault Rifle, intended for all kinds of combat scenarios with its ability to change calibers. The rifle can be changed to shoot two different caliber bullets — 5.56 and 300 BLK.
  • The sources said the joint venture is also looking at export of the products it manufactures in India.

Google will invest Rs 75,000 crore in India over the next 5 to 7 years as part of ‘Digitization Fund’

  • Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai at the Google for India 2020 event announced that Google will invest around Rs 75,000 crore or $10 billion in India over the next five to seven years.
  • Google will do this as a mix of equity investments, partnerships and operational, infrastructure and ecosystem investments.
  • Investments will focus on four areas important to India’s digitization:
    • Enabling affordable access and information for every Indian in their own language, whether it’s Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi or any other
    • Building new products and services that are deeply relevant to India’s unique needs
    • Empowering businesses as they continue or embark on their digital transformation
    • Leveraging technology and AI for social good, in areas like health, education, and agriculture
    • “As we make these investments, we look forward to working alongside Prime Minister Modi and the Indian government, as well as Indian businesses of all sizes to realize our shared vision for a Digital India,” said CEO Sundar Pichai.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple to be managed by ex-royal family, rules Supreme Court

  • The temple shot into limelight after the top court in May 2011 ordered a detailed inventory of the articles in the temple vaults which had long rumored to be holding immense riches.
  • The SC on Mon sided with the erstwhile Travancore Royal family for the administration and control of the Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala.
  • Settling the nine-year-long dispute, the top court overturned the Jan 2011 judgment of the Kerala high court which had ruled that the state government should take over the control of the temple from a trust headed by the former royal family.
  • “Great God’s will prevailed. Will say more about it after going through the whole verdict, said Princess Gowri Lakshmibai of the erstwhile Travancore royal family soon after the judgment.
  • Devotees came out in large numbers and distributed sweets before the sixth century temple, situated in the heart of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Some devotees were even seen crying before the temple. The Kerala state government welcomed the verdict.
  • “We are bound to go by the verdict. We have always followed the apex court order in letter and spirit,” said state Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran.

China is buying good press across the world, one paid journalist at a time- The Print

  • It coincides with launch of Belt and Road initiative and president Xi Jinping’s call to “tell China’s story better” to the world.
  • “Visiting journalists give glowing report”, read a headline in the Beijing edition of the China Daily, an English-language newspaper that’s run by the Chinese government.
  • Not unusual in China, no doubt, where the state controls the media with a firm hand.
  • But what was unusual about this particular news report last year was where the journalists were from: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more than a dozen countries from Southeast Asia and Africa.
  • They were all part of a unique Chinese experiment that may yet be Beijing’s most successful – and least known – attempt to better shape the world media’s reporting on China.
  • For 10 months every year, starting 2016, China’s foreign ministry has hosted around 100 foreign journalists from leading media houses in Asia and Africa.
  • Perhaps above all, they are given what other foreign correspondents in China are usually denied — access to Chinese government officials and ministries.
  • This initiative coincides with two major Chinese government objectives: the launch of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, and Xi’s call in 2016 to “tell China’s story better” to the world.
  • China needs to know better about the world and the world needs to know better about China,” Xi said, when his government re-launched state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) as China Global Television Network (CGTN) with six channels, including an expanded United States bureau and Africa bureau.
  • In Xi’s words, the mission for CGTN was to “tell stories about China well and spread China’s voice well; enable the world to see a multidimensional and colorful China; present China as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of international order; and make efforts to build a community of common destiny”.
  • But Beijing is aware that having Chinese journalists tell the story can only go so far. Hence, its effort to rope in the world’s media.
  • After a successful test run, China South Asia Press Centers (CSAPC) and China Southeast Asia Press Centers (CSEAPC) were launched. These are operated by the Chinese foreign ministry and the China Public Diplomacy Association.
  • The participating journalists are accredited with these press centers — and not their own media outlets — which limits the scope of their coverage and travel in China.
  • During the 10-month stay, they cannot undertake individual reporting trips unaccompanied by government minders — as they are not independently accredited — and are hence hamstrung from reporting on issues seen as “sensitive”, from human rights to Tibet and Xinjiang.
  • During the past three years, participating media outlets from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and many other countries have carried dispatches from the program. Among the Indian media organizations that have participated in the program are the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), Jansatta, and The Indian Express.
  • Most — if not all of these organizations — including the participating Indian media, have published reports from their correspondents on the program from Beijing, but without mentioning that their reports were on a Chinese government-hosted fellowship.
  • When the program was launched in 2016, none of these organizations had bureaus in China.
  • The only Indian organizations present in China were the Press Trust of India, The Hindu, India Today, Hindustan Times and The Times of India. (IANS subsequently opened a bureau).
  • The Indian Express, which has participated in two out of the three batches, said it did not see any conflict of interest, and ensured that it also paid its participating journalists full salaries and was satisfied with their coverage.
  • The paper said in a statement to ThePrint: “The Chinese Embassy fellowship does provide a stipend but the journalists in the program are paid their full salaries by The Indian Express for the entire duration of the program.
  • Just like all programs, The Indian Express reporters participate in, there are no terms or conditions, no “caution” or advisory imposed on what they report from there. The work the fellows have done from Beijing speaks for itself.”
  • One diplomat remarked on the remote likelihood of China permitting a similar arrangement for its leaders visiting India.
  • China, for its part, is clear on what issues it would like to see reported. Hu Zhenyue, vice-president of the China Public Diplomacy Association, outlined what China’s expectations were from the journalists.
  • “African and Asian journalists should pay close attention to cooperation between China and their respective countries, with a particular focus on the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said.

    A couple months back, (Apr 14th), The Guardian published the headline “Daily Telegraph stops publishing section paid for by China”

    • The Daily Telegraph has stopped publishing paid-for propaganda on behalf of Chinese state media, amid growing scrutiny of how Beijing is using the pandemic to grow its influence in English-language media aimed at western audiences.
    • The long-running China Watch section, funded by the government-controlled China Daily news outlet, has appeared in the Telegraph for more than a decade.
    • The content, written by Chinese state journalists, presents relentlessly upbeat views on China’s standing in the world in both print supplements and on a branded section of the Telegraph’s website.
    • However, in recent days the dedicated content has been wiped from the Telegraph’s website along with another section that reproduced material from China’s People’s Daily Online – the official outlet of the country’s ruling communist party.
    • Articles deleted by the Telegraph as part of the removal had headlines such as: “Why are some framing China’s heroic efforts to stop coronavirus as inhumane?”; “Traditional Chinese medicine ‘helps fight coronavirus’; and “Coronavirus outbreak is not an opportunity to score points against China”.
    • The removal of the paid-for sections comes as China aims to improve its standing with western audiences amid the pandemic, with substantial investment in its CGTN rolling news channel and the growing role of vocal English-language diplomats who use Twitter to forcibly make their arguments.
    • Another comment piece entitled “The Left have become China’s useful covidiots” suggested the “Chinese Communist party’s cover ups and lies” helped play a role in spreading the virus around the world.
    • The Telegraph has also reported on how Chinese state media is buying positive coverage through Facebook adverts.
    • Other major global news outlets also run similarly branded China Watch sections, including the Wall Street Journal, who did not respond to a request for comment on whether they were continuing to run the section, which has not been updated for weeks.
    • Until recently, the New York Times carried a similar section but a spokesperson said earlier this year the outlet had made the decision “to stop accepting branded content ads from state-run media, which includes China Daily”. The Washington Post has also run China Watch in the past, although the outlet confirmed they have not run the supplement since last year.

BSF jawan arrested by Punjab Police in J&K’s Samba district

While details are awaited, sources identified the arrested jawan as Sumit Kumar of Gurdaspur and said he was wanted by the Punjab Police in connection with a drug smuggling case on Sun, from JnK Samba district.

  • He was deployed in Samba district’s Mangu Chak area.
  • A pistol, 80 bullets of 9mm caliber gun, 2 rounds of 12 bore rifle, 2 magazines and 3 mobile phones have been recovered from the jawan, they said.

Militancy in JnK eliminating by Security Forces

Army Chief Genl MM Naravane in Jammu today reviewed the operational preparedness of troops deployed along the border with Pakistan. He will be briefed by senior commanders on the security situation there: Indian Army officials

  • 3 terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba have been killed in intervening night of July 11-12 in an encounter in Sopore. Arms and ammunition which have been seized from them shows that they were planning a big attack. Further investigation underway said M Suleman, DIG Baramulla
  • One more unidentified terrorist killed (total two) in Anantnag encounter; search underway Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition recovered: Kashmir Zone Police
  • Both terrorists neutralized in the ongoing encounter at Anantnag. They belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed. As per preliminary identification, one was local terrorists and one was Pakistani. Arms and Ammunition also recovered Operation over: Dilbag Singh, J&K DGP
  • Two suspects, who threw grenades on a CAPF piquet in Chersoo, Awantipora today evening, have been apprehended. The white colored Apache bike used for the act has been recovered in a joint operation by the Army and JnK Police: Chinar Corps, Indian Army

Bandipora police along with security forces arrested 4 terrorist associates in Chandargeer and Sadhunara areas of Hajin. 2 grenades, AK magazine, 25 AK rounds & other incriminating materials have been recovered from their possession. Case registered: Kashmir Zone Police

Kerala gold smuggling case:

  • In this case NIA alleges that gold was not used for jewelry but for funding in terror activities.
  • Special NIA court has sent accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair to 14-day remand.
  • Previously, Accused Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair have tested negative for COVID19. They have produced before Special NIA Court.
  • Customs officials in Kochi recorded statement of Fazil Fareed, the third accused in the case, over the phone. Fazil is in Dubai.
  • According to Customs officials, they called his friend to contact him and recorded his statement. He is a native of Thrissur.
  • Kochi Economic Offences Court sends KT Ramees, an accused in the case, to 14-day remand. He was arrested from Vettathur in Malappuram on Sun.
  • Customs have sent him to quarantine center at Karukutty & Court will consider his custody application on 15 July

International

Bank accounts of Hafiz Saeed and JuD leaders restored after formal approval from UN sanctions committee

Bank accounts of Hafiz Saeed and JuD leaders restored after formal approval from United Nations sanctions committee: Pakistan Media

  • Pakistan has restored the bank accounts of top five leaders of defunct Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) / Lashkar -e-Taiba (LeT) including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
  • The restoration of bank accounts has taken place following formal approval of the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), The News learnt here on Sat.
  • The other members of defunct JUD/LeT who got their bank accounts restored include Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, Haji M Ashraf, Yahya Mujahid and Zafar Iqbal.
  • All of them are UNSC’s enlisted terrorists though and currently facing sentences ranging 1 to 5 years in Lahore jail for terror financing cases filed against them by the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
  • The sources claimed that each one of the defunct JUD leader had appealed United Nations for restoring their bank accounts that they could run their family affairs.
  • “Initially we did not want to file an appeal but we were advised to file it as it was difficult for our leaders to run their affairs.
  • Not only this it would have also raise questions how our leaders are running their families so we approached the authorities as it was in our favor whatever facility we have got in terms of restoration of our bank accounts is legal and with the approval of United Nations” said a key leader of defunct organization while requesting anonymity.
  • These leaders in their request to government of Pakistan had also mentioned about their financial income and sources of earning.
  • The same was forwarded to the UNSC along their bank account numbers and other related details.

Defying U.S., China and Iran Near Trade and Military Partnership

China bans U.S. Senators Rubio and Cruz over criticism

  • China on Mon said it will ban entry to US Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, Representative Chris Smith and Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback over their criticism of the ruling Communist Party’s policies toward minority groups and people of faith.
  • Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said actions by the US had “seriously damaged China-US relations” and that China was determined to uphold its national sovereignty against what it sees as interference in its internal affairs.
  • “China will respond further according to the development of the situation,” Hua said.
  • There was no indication that any of the four had plans to travel to China.
  • The travel bans appear to be direct retaliation for the US imposition of sanctions on four Chinese officials, including Chen Quanguo, who heads the northwestern region of Xinjiang, where more than 1 million members of Muslim minority groups have been incarcerated in what China terms de-radicalization and retraining centers.

The investment and security pact would vastly extend China’s influence in the Middle East, throwing Iran an economic lifeline and creating new flash points with the US.

  • Iran and China have quietly drafted a sweeping economic and security partnership that would clear the way for billions of dollars of Chinese investments in energy and other sectors, undercutting the Trump administration’s efforts to isolate the Iranian government because of its nuclear and military ambitions.
  • The partnership, detailed in an 18-page proposed agreement obtained by The New York Times, would vastly expand Chinese presence in banking, telecommunications, ports, railways and dozens of other projects.
  • In exchange, China would receive a regular — and, according to an Iranian official and an oil trader, heavily discounted — supply of Iranian oil over the next 25 years.
  • The document also describes deepening military cooperation, potentially giving China a foothold in a region that has been a strategic preoccupation of the United States for decades.
  • It calls for joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development and intelligence sharing — all to fight “the lopsided battle with terrorism, drug and human trafficking and cross-border crimes.”
  • The partnership — first proposed by China’s leader, Xi Jinping, during a visit to Iran in 2016 — was approved by President Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet in June, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said last week.
  • Iranian officials have publicly stated that there is a pending agreement with China, and one Iranian official, as well as several people who have discussed it with the Iranian government, confirmed that it is the document obtained by The Times, which is labeled “final version” and dated June 2020.
  • It has not yet been submitted to Iran’s Parliament for approval or made public, stoking suspicions in Iran about how much the government is preparing to give away to China.
  • It represents a major blow to the Trump administration’s aggressive policy toward Iran since abandoning the nuclear deal reached in 2015 by President Barack Obama and the leaders of six other nations after two years of grueling negotiations.

[for Detail read -6]

India’s loss has been China’s gain. While India’s compliance with US sanctions has undercut its Iran ties, China has bought with impunity heavily discounted Iranian oil. China is expanding its foothold in Iran with nearly 100 projects. US policy has pushed Iran into the arms of China and helped Beijing to bag lucrative contracts in Iran worth countless billions of dollars. China’s growing military ties with Iran hold implications for India’s role in Iran’s Chabahar port, which has been spared from US sanctions.- Brahma Chellaney

CTA Receives Almost USD 1 Million in Direct Funding from the U.S. Government

For the first ever, a U.S. government agency has directly provided funding to Tibet’s India-based government-in-exile. The nearly $1 million grant is to strengthen the Tibetan people’s identity, which remains alive despite China’s brutal Tibet occupation.

  • Dharamshala: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded a sum of $997,124 to SARD to “strengthen the financial and cultural resilience of the Tibetan people and contribute towards a sustained resilience of the Tibetan people’s economic and cultural identity.”
  • This award represents a historic milestone as it is the first time any funding agency affiliated with the US government has awarded development assistance directly to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
  • The Cooperative Agreement was signed on SARD/CTA’s behalf by Kaydor Aukatsang, Chief Resilience Officer/SARD Director, and the award was made on June 23, 2020.
  • “The awarding of direct funding to the CTA fulfils a long desired aspiration and represents the culmination of many years of effort since my first term. I want to thank the USAID and hope this award paves the way for a more substantial funding relationship between the USAID and the CTA,” said Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay.
    • The award from USAID will support the Tibetan Resilience Project (TRP) where funds will initially go towards Tibetan language revitalization and capacity building of Gangjong Development Finance (GDF).
    • The language program will be implemented by the Department of Education and the GDF component will be managed by SARD. The program will be implemented over a two-year period. Key activities under language revitalization includes production of Tibetan animation and audio books; publication of children’s literature for students in classes VI to XII; development of a language learning portal; and an annual summer language and cultural immersion program targeting Tibetan youth in the ages 18-30 and primarily residing outside South Asia. Key activities under GDF include development of a strategic business plan; purchase and customization of an appropriate MIS; technical assistance for implementation of action plan developed by Dalberg; and training.
    • “The awarding of direct funding is a momentous occasion for the CTA. I want to thank USAID for their generous support and extend my congratulations to the SARD leadership and team for their hard and excellent work,” said Mr. Karma Yeshi, Finance Kalon.
    • The formal process for the direct funding to the CTA began with a pre-award assessment of SARD in February 2019 where a team of senior staff from the USAID office in New Delhi visited Dharamsala and reviewed various aspects of SARD and its operation. The report was positive. This was followed up by the visit of a senior technical team from USAID in December 2019 to co-create the proposal which was submitted in March. In between, there were many rounds of email exchanges and phone calls between SARD and USAID.

“The direct funding sends a strong message of confidence in SARD and CTA’s ability to handle development assistance from foreign governments. The direct relationship with government funding agencies will have multiple benefits including saving funds and further strengthening SARD’s capacity. With the receipt of this award, SARD has taken a significant step forward in truly becoming the development agency to support the CTA and the Tibetan community,” said Kaydor Aukatsang, Chief Resilience Officer/SARD Director.

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