The 7th Session of the 15th Parliament-in-exile

By Demay Tsering / March 26, 2014;

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the parliament after the inauguration of the new parliament building
Photo: AP

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s budget session for the year 2014-2015 ran from March 11 to 22. Before the opening of the budget session, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was present for the inauguration of the new Central Tibetan Administration building. His Holiness spoke about the success of the exile administration and recalled past staff members who put in such great efforts. He also said that the new generation has to take responsibility and put their collective efforts into the preservation of Tibet’s culture and religion.

Parliament agreed a budget of 1,892,655,572 Indian Rupees (One hundred and eighty nine crore twenty six lakh fifty five thousand five hundred and seventy two).

The total budget is allocated between the five departments:

1. Administration and its related offices for the Speaker and Judiciary: Supreme Justice Commission: Rs.2,183,666
2. Legislature, including the MPs office, Tibetan courts and local Tibetan government administration: Rs.30,726,837.
3. Political Activities and other related offices including new political activities, the Secretariat, Security Department, International Relations and the Representative Offices which look after Tibetan activities worldwide: Rs.526,151,237.
4. Administration and other related offices including the Election Commission, Public Commission, Auditor General and Finance Department: Rs.120,989,840.
5. Social Activities relating to the Tibetan people in exile including the Public Affairs Office, Religion and Cultural Affairs Department, health, education, the reception centre, and the Home Department which looks after the exile settlements, Sambhota School Society: Rs.1,212,213,996.

Funding for the above activities will be allocated from the total budget as follows:
Regular expenditure funds Rs.677,153,681, Special fund Rs.89,930,149, Direct expenses fund Rs.1,125,181,746.

The budget for this year represents a budget increase of Rs.612,326,310 over that of last year (2012-2013).

The Tibetan Parliament in session
Photo: Phayul

In the closing ceremony, Speaker Penpa Tsering expressed his hope that the Tibetan cabinet and Sikyong Lobsang Sangay will be able to resume dialogue with China. The Tibetan Parliament also remembered Lobsang Palden, a Tibetan monk from Kirti monastery who died after setting himself on fire on March 16.
Interviewed by Voice of Tibet, Penpa Tsering said that in order to resolve Tibet’s issues, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has convened a special discussion on self-immolation and the Middle-Way Approach.