By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, August 10 – An intensive workshop on grassroot democracy to strengthen the Local Tibetan Assemblies started today at Boudha-Jorpati Tibetan Community Hall, Kathmandu. The workshop is organized by the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Center. It will be replecated at various locations in Kathmandu. Over 50 people attended the workshop, including people from Jawalakhel, Boudha-Jorpati and City-Swayambhu areas and the members of ATPD from Nepal, Local Tibetan Assemblies, officers of Tibetan government and NGOs observers.
Director of Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Center, Mr Penpa Tsering who is also a member of Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies said that the main objective of the workshop was to educate local bodies about proceedings of the Tibetan Parliament and to give grassroot education on the workings of the Parliament, which can then be applied at Local Assemblies to make them more effective.
He also stressed on the importance of the chairman or chairperson of an assembly in monitoring the proceedings of an assembly session and to discuss important issues. Other aspect of the workshop was to educate people about the finance and budget of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. According him, the current budget requirement of Tibetan Government for the year 2006-2007 is 175 million Indian Rupees and the revenue generated is 199 million which leaves a surplus of 15 million. This is the time in history of Tibetan Government-in-Exile that surplus budget was shown, he said. The revenue sources are 50 million INR from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s personal account, 50 million INR from the Kashag (Cabinet), 7.2 million from various Departments, 60 million INR from tax, 11.8 million INR from Finance Department and 20 million from interest. The main reason for this surplus budget is because many Government Departments have their own independent budget and bear their expenses. Various Tibetan Government Departments and institutions received an annual aid of 650-700 million INR from various donors and sources. The budget is divided into three sub categories of Regular Expenses, Special Expenses and Exclusive Expenses; the expenses for the former two is met from Government Treasury and the latter is met from outside aid.
The workshop will continue for another six days at various locations in Kathmandu Valley, during which students from differents Tibetan schools will also attend it.
Similar workshops have been held in most of the Tibetan Settlements across India and in Pokhara, Nepal, where there are several Tibetan settlements.
