Social Media Executive (SME): Could you briefly tell us about yourself?
Lobsang Tenzin (LT): I am Lobsang Tenzin, I was admitted to TCV in 1977, as an orphan. TCV in particular and CTA by extension thereof provided me all the care and support. Not only did it provided me the basics, but also the luxury of university education.
I joined CTA in 2004 at Under Secretary post, and have been serving CTA since. Currently, I’m a Joint Secretary, at the Department of finance.
SME: Please explain your job description and how best does your work represent you or vice versa?
LT: I was hired to work as an Assistant Planning Officer for Planning Commission due to my education background. It involved project appraisals, strategizing, proposal writing, reporting, collation and integration of CTA projects.
I worked at that capacity till April 2016, when I was transferred to the Department of Home, as a Project Officer, and in September 2016, I was charged to work as CTA’s Poverty Screening Committee’s Secretary.
In May 2018 I was transferred to SARD. My current work relates to Monitoring and Evaluation of projects funded through SARD. It’s somewhat similar to an audit, but with more focus on the achievement of project objectives. It demands critical eye with the capability to dig out like a detective, analyze like a scientist, and convey shortcomings like a prosecutor, and recommend like a salesman.
SME: What inspired you to serve the CTA?
LT: I serve CTA due to: a) CTA’s representation of righteous and peaceful Tibetan struggle, b) sense of indebtedness & gratitude.
SME: What does it mean for you to be a CTA civil servant?
LT: Being a CTA civil servant is like a small piece in a complex machine. Without it, things may function, but its existence is almost always preferred. The logo labels the vehicle, but it’s the wheels, shafts, nuts, and bolts that make the engine run.
SME: How best do you think you could make a difference to CTA?
LT: Sincerely serve at one’s utmost capability, at least up to the minimum service years, one committed to serving and CTA expected, at the time of induction.
SME: Who is your role model and why?
LT: I have no particular role model. I get inspirations to form numerous people for their acts of kindness, ingenuity, fidelity, etc.
SME: What is your piece of advice for young Tibetans serving or wishing to serve at CTA?
LT: If you want to be rich, forget being a civil servant in CTA, or anywhere else for that matter. If you want prestige, name and recognition, and wish to serve in CTA, try being a politician. If you don’t mind being used and abused, burnout without credit, and at the core of your mind, know that your contribution is required for the larger community, be a civil servant. Provided the orders be legal and in public interest, like an army, you must be ready and willing to strive to ensure fruiting of all orders at all times. After all, we are recruited and paid to serve the Exile Charter and its attendant rules as a manifestation of the public will. However, you need not be boot-licking, for when push comes to shove, we are not personal servants to be subjected to individual’s whims. Doings so show a lack of personal integrity.
Every first Saturday of the month, as a part of its shout-out campaign, DIIR’s Social Media Desk will be profiling a civil servant of Central Tibetan Administration. This week we are pleased to profile Mr. Lobsang Tenzin, Joint Secretary of Department of Finance of Central Tibetan Administration.