By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 21: The United States lawmakers in their 2016 budget have made a provision of six million US Dollars for Tibetans in India and Nepal under the title ‘economic support fund’ on Friday.
The Congressional budget appropriation bill states, “Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading, “Economic Support Fund” not less than $6,000,000 shall be made available for programs to promote and preserve Tibetan culture, development, and the resilience of Tibetan communities in India and Nepal, and to assist in the education and development of the next generation of Tibetan leaders from such communities”.
Incumbent Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay has expressed his administration’s gratitude for the aid. “The Central Tibetan Administration would like to express its deep gratitude and thank the US government and Congress for their generous assistance towards the Tibetan community.”
The 2016 Congress budget managed an easy passage with the law makers voting 66-33 in favor of the bill which has key changes such as the US ban on oil export, reforms to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and tighter visa requirements among many others.
The US budget appropriation for Tibetans has a doubled for the current budget as compared to three million dollars the past year.
The official CTA website said, “The US government had earlier sanctioned funds for the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Education, Department of Health and for the Tibetan Computer Resource Centre (TCRC) for internet security. The sanction of the new fund reflects continued support of the US government for the activities and leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration.”
