United States Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero

Bijender Sharma
DHARAMSHALA: United States Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, Maria Otero, who also serves as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, is on a to South Asia in an effort to review the “specific challenges” faced by Tibetan exiles in the region. As part of the visit, Under Secretary Otero visited Bylakuppe in Karnatka this week.
"Under Secretary Otero expressed the continued strong support of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the U.S. Government for the welfare of Tibetans and the viability of their communities as they endeavor to preserve their distinct identity during the time of exile in India," Todd Stein was quoted as saying in Bylakuppe.
In Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, Otero reportedly met with local refugee officials and held interactive session with students, monks and nuns.
She was hosted at the Sera Monastic University and toured Tibetan commercial enterprises, a hospital, and an organic farming center to assess the needs of the settlement and its residents. She was able to hear directly from a broad spectrum of Tibetan community members, ICT said in its report.
As coordinator for Tibetan issues, Otero “oversees U.S. programs for Tibetans, including the U.S. humanitarian assistance grant that supports Tibetan refugees as they arrive from Tibet and helps address educational and health needs in the Tibetan refugee population”.
The U.S. State Department provides funding for a variety of programs that support refugees worldwide, including those living in India.
The Tibet office in the State Department also has oversight of $2 million approved by the U.S. Congress to help revitalize the Tibetan refugee settlements, ICT’s report said.“To this end, on February 1, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced it was seeking proposals for projects on organic agriculture and workforce development in the Tibetan settlements.
“This U.S. financial support comes as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) seeks to implement its plan to revitalize the Tibetan refugee settlements in India and Nepal, some of which are a half century old, with improved infrastructure and new economic opportunities,” the report said. Otero is currently on a four-day visit of India.