Dharamshala — The 7th extraordinary budgetary session (budgetary session) of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) for the fiscal year 2024-2025 was convened, meticulously organised, and conducted from March 18 to 29, 2024.
The President and the Ministers of the CTA executive branch answered the questions raised by the MPs, after which the Parliament approved a total amount of Rs 3,331,022,234 (USD 44,743,684) for the annual budget or expenditure (2024-2025) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The Kashag (CTA executive) and MPs also debated the critical human rights situation in Tibet and expressed solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet; an official resolution on the critical situation in Tibet was adopted unanimously.
Parliamentarians also stated that the most effective means of expressing solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet is through the concerted efforts of all diasporic Tibetans, under the leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration, to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict. The official resolution on the critical situations inside Tibet was adopted unanimously after some rectifications.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Finance Kalon of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presented the 2024-25 Budget of the Central Tibetan Administration proposing an amount of Rs. 3331.55 million (USD 43.94 million). Followed by Parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende, the Chairman of the Budget Estimate Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, presented the Précis report of the Committee. The motion for debate on the Central Tibetan Administration’s 2024-25 Budget was tabled by Parliamentarian Tenzin Jigdal and supported by Parliamentarian Tsering Yangchen.
The session continued with a debate on the statement of Finance Kalon and précis 2024-2025 budget report by the Budget Estimate Committee, followed by discussion and approval on the proposed budget of the various departments, these including Financial Department, Health Department, Home Department, Education Department, Security Department, Department of Information and International Relation, Religion and Culture Department and offices under the Central Tibetan Administration for the year 2024-2025.
Then in the last few days, the session has continued with the reading and approval of the Legislative Procedure on the proposed amendment to the Charter of Tibetans in exile; Rules and Regulations on the Central Election Commission; Rules and Regulations on the Public Service Commission; Rules and Regulations on the Office of the Auditor General; Rules and Regulations for Honorarium, Daily Allowances, and Other Entitlements for Members of the Tibetan Parliament; Rules and Regulations for Salaries and Other Allowances for the Auditor General of the Office of the Auditor; Rules and Regulations on the Recognition of Official Programs for Parliamentarians; and Rules and Regulation for the Sowa Rigpa Association, etc.
During the session, Sikyong and the Kalons tried to clear up the doubts and questions raised about the various issues of Tibetan societies, the expenses of the offices, departments and other expenses, and then Parliament approved the expenses of each department and office of the CTA.
Then the Parliament approved a total amount of Rs 3,331,022,234 (USD 43.94 million) for the annual budget or expenditure (2024-2025) of the government. As per document no 42, the revised appropriation act of 2023-2024 authorized the issue and appropriation of a total of Rs. 3,451,393,998 for the expenditure (annual budget and interim budget) proposed to be made from the consolidated fund. And as per document no 43, the appropriation act of 2024-2025 authorized the issue and appropriation of a total amount of Rs. 3,331,022,234 for the expenditure (annual budget) proposed to be made from the consolidated fund.
The Speaker in his conclusion speech thanked the Sikyong, the Kalons, and parliamentarians for their participation and cooperation. He further informed the house of the obituary references, solidarity resolution, private member’s bill, Zero-Hour, legislature amendments, financial business, CTA’s financial status report, the appropriation act of 2024-2025, the revised appropriation act of 2023-2024, and other official resolutions and pertinent taken in this session.
He expressed gratitude to the Parliamentary Secretariat, the Department of Finance, the Department of Information and International Relations, the Department of Security, and the Electrician of the Department of Home for their invaluable contribution, unwavering support, and tireless assistance during the parliament session. Subsequently, the 7th session of TPiE concluded during the morning session on March 29, 2024.
