By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, July 10: As part of a major transfer and hiring process, 68 civil servants at the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration were recently promoted, with many of them being transferred.

“We have given promotions to 68 officials. All of them have been in service for the past more than four years,” Ven. Karma Gelek Youthok, secretary of the Kashag told Phayul.

“Nearly half of them will be transferred to different Tibetan settlement offices,” the Cabinet Secretary added.

The new Kashag under Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay had in May formulated a policy which made transfer mandatory for officials after every four to five years of service.

“The policy of transferring officials aims to provide more wholesome experience to the staff and help make them more independent, confident, and capable,” Ven. Youthok said.

When asked, the secretary said that vacancies still need to be filled in the CTA as a result of resignations of staff members, many of whom have left for abroad.

“As a result of resignations, plus enlargement of the departments, we need to hire new staff members, and the Public Service Commission has already begun the recruitment process,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

Under a new recruitment policy, the Public Commission Service yesterday began a personal development workshop to a selected group of 40 young Tibetans, preparing them for their general recruitment exams.

“Under the new leadership of Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay, staff members will be hired according to their profession and specialization,” Jamphel Choesang, the head of the Commission said in March while announcing the new recruitment system.

According to sources, there are more than 70 vacancies at the CTA.

In the first major restructuring at the highest administrative level of CTA since Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay took oath of office last year, nine secretaries were given new responsibilities in March.