BEIJING, March 7 -- Monks and nuns are enjoying the services of bathhouses and clinics in their monasteries in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, as the government is improving their welfare, an eminent monk said Saturday.

Garbage pools and greenhouse huts have also been installed in Lhasa's monasteries, said Pubu Cering, deputy director of the management committee of the Sera Monastery, who is also a lawmaker attending the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The welfare measures are part of government's package to improve monks' living environment, which also includes supplying water and electricity as well as books, television, radio and telecommunication networks for monasteries all cross Tibet.

The government has expanded pension and health insurance systems to cover all monks and nuns in Tibetan monasteries. Free medical checkup is offered every year.

"The favorable policies have ensured that we have full access to medical care and brought real benefits to the elderly, which has never been realized in history," Pubu Cering said.

"These measures have also ensured that Buddhist activities can be conducted in an orderly manner and promoted religious harmony," he said.

There are more than 46,000 monks and nuns in over 1,700 temples in Tibet.

He called on people from the religious circle in Tibet not to participate in any activities that split the country or disrupt social order.