Dharamshala, 25th March 2025: Chaired by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the eighth day of the ninth session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile commenced with the deliberation and clarification of the budget for the Department of Finance (DoF) at 9:30 am.

Budgets for the Department of Finance, the Tibetan Administration’s Welfare Society (TAWS), His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Charitable Trust, the Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD), and the staff mess were all approved. The surkyol budget of the SARD was approved following a motion for reduction tabled by the Kashag.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Kalon of the Department of Finance (DoF), provided clarifications in response to questions raised. These included discussions on efforts to achieve financial independence, the funds required for transferring land ownership, the CTA’s set-apart fund, the Green Book (Tibetan voluntary contributions), and the civil servant pension, among other topics.

The session continued with the deliberation and approval of the Department of Religion and Culture (DoR&C) budget. Motions for reductions were tabled on both the special recurring budget and the surkyol  budget of the DoR&C, while a motion for an increment was tabled for the budget of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) under the DoR&C.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Kalon of the DoR&C, addressed queries regarding the return of the Karmapa to India, the importance of monasteries and nunneries, the participation of Tibetans in Buddha Jayanti, the stipend provided by the department to monks and nuns from the Himalayan region in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and other budget-related matters.

The session continued with the deliberation and approval of the proposed budgets for the Department of Health (DoHe). Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Kalon of the DoHe, addressed the questions raised regarding the organization of healthcare awareness talks, the establishment of medical camps in schools and settlements, immunization efforts for Tibetan children, the status of Tuberculosis (TB) cases within the community, and other budget-related matters.

The surkyol budget of the Department of Health with a motion of reduction was approved by the house. Followed by approval of budgets of the heath care centers under the Department of Health (DoHe) including the Tso-Jhe hospital (hospital under DoHe); Delhi Health Clinic (under DoHe); Sonada Health Clinic (Under DoHe); and Ngeonga Schoola (a school for Tibetan Children with Special Need under DoHe).

The session adjourned at 5:30 pm.