Tibetan govt-in-exile budget proposals reviewed

President (Sikyong) of the Tibetan government-in-exile Penpa Tsering on Wednesday presided over a Cabinet meeting at his secretariat in McLeodganj to review and finalise the annual budget proposals of various departments and offices for the coming financial year.

The meeting was attended by Kalon (minister) Tharlam Dolma Changra of the Department of Education, Kalon Dolma Gyari of the Department of Security and Kalon Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR). Finance Secretary Tsering Dhondup Gyangser, along with officials from the budget section and the Social and Resource Development (SARD) team, assisted in reviewing the estimates.

The proposed budget covers income and expenditure of all departments, offices and autonomous bodies of the Central Tibetan Administration. It includes allocations for preservation of Tibetan religion and culture, welfare and rehabilitation of the exile community, education and scholarships, promotion of democracy, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment and healthcare services.

After reviewing the financial proposals, Penpa Tsering directed the Department of Finance to submit the consolidated budget to the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The proposals will be examined by the Parliament’s Budget Estimate Committee.

The budget will be taken up for discussion and approval during the Parliament’s budget session scheduled for March this year.