Social and Demographics of Tibetan Refugees

Bhatia, Shushum; Dranyi, Tsegyal; Rowley, Derrick. “A Social and Demographic Study of Tibetan Refugees in India”. Social Science and Medicine. (2002). 42; 411-422.

This article discusses the social and demographic characteristics of approximately 65,000 Tibetan refugees in India from data collected between 1994 and 1996. Of the 65,000 Tibetans 55,000 of them were refugees living in 37 different settlements and the remaining 10,000 were monks in the monasteries associated with these settlements. Surveillance was established through trained community health workers in house to house visits to collect data. Community health workers also conducted monthly interviews with a designated liaison monk at each monastery. Through this research it was found that new refugee immigration was little in the past 10 years but there is a steady influx of new monks in the monasteries. Age distribution in the settlements showed a prominent mode of individuals ranging from 15 to 25 years old . There seems to be a declining birth rate (16.8/ 1000) and increase proportionality of elderly.  Those that were born in India were educated through secondary schools while those born in Tibet were often illiterate. Occupations ranged from students (27%), Farming (16%), sweater selling (6.5%), and others who were too young or old to work (6.5%). Unemployment is estimated to be about 2.4%. Child vaccinations cover less than 50%. Illnesses  in the Tibetan refugee societies were characterized as diarrhea, skin infections, respiratory infections, fevers, and among the elderly death was assumed to be caused by cancer, tuberculosis, accidents, cirrhosis, and heart disease.

From this article I begin to slightly understand the social dilemmas and demographic characteristics of the individuals I will be working, living, and interviewing with. I can understand possible illness of the family, the rareness of child birth, and the occupations of those around me. I am excited to be in these communities and learn the sensitivity or openness of subjects. I want to gain a personal and emotional connection to these kind of subjects.