Drolma works on a cattle farm near her new home in Sumdan village. [Photo by HOU LIQIANG/CHINA DAILY]

'A key period'

Most of the people being resettled live in high, cold areas with limited resources, a fragile ecology and a severe prevalence of Kaschin-Beck disease, a chronic bone condition. Relocation is usually the only way to escape poverty.

"The regional government has invested 4 billion yuan to promote industries with local features in poor areas, as well as relocating 77,000 people last year," Lu said.

Tibet had about 590,000 people classified as rural poor by the end of 2015, and about 150,000 were lifted out of poverty last year, according to official data. "It's a key period for the war against poverty this year," Lu said. "We will continue mapping out policies in line with the varying local situations as well as increase funding."

Moving to a new settlement is voluntary, he said, although the major changes seen in the lives of those already in new homes has helped in the government's work to motivate people to relocate.

Drolma, 53, who used to live in the same remote village as Pasang Drolma, chose to move with her family to the newly built Sumdan village in July last year.

She and her daughter had been unemployed, but almost instantly after relocating they found jobs. Drolma now works at a cattle farm, while her daughter is a child care worker at a kindergarten. Together, they earn more than 5,000 yuan a month.

The family's new home has had a steady stream of visitors, with friends and relatives keen to see the place, Drolma said.

"Some of them stay for days and don't want to leave," she said. "They say they admire me very much and that I made the right decision to move."