Rinchen Lhamo, Member of the National Commission of Minority convened a meeting with Sowa-Rigpa practitioners of Ladakh regarding the preservation and promotion of Sowa-Rigpa at the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa (NISR), Leh on November 5.

Dr. Padma Gurmet, Director, NISR Leh; staff members and students of NISR, Leh; Executive members of Ladakh Amchi Sabha and Amchi representatives from all-over Ladakh and Sowa-Rigpa Institutions participated in the meeting.

Dr. Padma Gurmet, Amchi Smanla Norboo, Dr. Tashi Stobgais, and Dr. Rigzin Smanla, and students’ representatives briefed about the status of Sowa-Rigpa in Ladakh and the challenges faced by the Amchis. Several demands regarding the development of the Sowa-Rigpa system, hot spring therapy, and medicinal plants sector in Ladakh were raised by the Amchis.

Rinchen Lhamo thanked the Amchis for their selfless services to the ailing population of Ladakh for centuries and highlighted the importance of the preservation and promotion of Sowa-Rigpa. She said that Sowa-Rigpa is one of the major components of Himalayan Buddhist culture and the National Commission for Minority will extend its full support for the development of Sowa-Rigpa in India.

She assured to take up all the demands of Sowa-Rigpa practitioners with the UT Administration of Ladakh and Central Government.

Later, Rinchen Lhamo visited the new construction site of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa at Sabu Thang and appreciated the progress of infrastructure development and establishment of the institute.