ACHABAL, Sep 17: The Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch (BTSM) organised a workers’ meeting at Achabal in Anantnag district, bringing together members and workers to discuss organisational strengthening, grassroots outreach and matters concerning the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh region.
Mushtaq Ahmad Khanday, State Secretary, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch, chaired the meeting. The programme was organised by Tariq Ahmad Bhat, District Youth President, Anantnag, with the participation of local workers and office-bearers.
Addressing the gathering, Khanday emphasised the need to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and increase coordination among workers. He said that greater public outreach and regular interaction with people are important for understanding local concerns and ensuring that the organisation remains connected with communities at the district and village levels.
During his address, Khanday also raised concerns regarding the performance of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference-led government, alleging that several public demands and issues affecting the local population had not been adequately addressed. He called upon the workers to remain connected with the people and to highlight issues concerning development, public services and the welfare of the region.
The meeting also discussed the activities and upcoming programmes of the Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch, particularly the Tawang Tirth Yatra, an annual programme associated with the organisation. The Tawang Yatra has included visits to Tawang Monastery and the Bumla area near the India-Tibet border and has sought to promote awareness about India-Tibet relations and the cultural and historical connections between the two regions.
Dr. Vivek Sharma, President of BTSM Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh UT, highlighted the importance of the Tawang Yatra in connecting people from different parts of the country with the Himalayan border region. He said that the yatra provides an opportunity for participants to learn about the region’s history, Buddhist heritage, border communities and the strategic importance of the eastern Himalayas.
Dr. Sharma further emphasised that the Tawang Yatra should be viewed not merely as a journey but also as an opportunity to strengthen awareness about the cultural relationship between India and Tibet and the importance of the Himalayan region. He called upon young people to participate in such programmes and develop a deeper understanding of the region’s history, culture and contemporary challenges.
The BTSM has organised Tawang-related yatras for several years, with previous programmes involving participants from different parts of India and visits to important places including Tawang Monastery and Bumla.
The Achabal meeting concluded with a call for greater coordination among workers, increased youth participation and stronger grassroots engagement. The organisers said that such meetings would continue to be held in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the organisational network and increase public awareness of issues relating to Tibet, the Himalayas and India’s border regions.