Mundgod: A five-day long workshop organized by Tibetan parliament-in-Exile from 14th to 18th June 2019 on ‘Strengthening of Democracy at grass root level to the members of Local Tibetan Assembly’ at Mundgod Tibetan Settlement initiated with registration of participants on 13thJune 2019.
In the presence of more than 50 registered participants, the workshop commenced on 14 June 2019 with Settlement Officer Lhakpa Tsering welcoming the resource persons and TPiE staff to the settlement. He also briefed the participants on the settlement’s annual report. Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phunstok briefed the participants on the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat and its functioning, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s visitation and assessment program to Tibetan settlements and communities, visitations of Tibetan Parliamentarians in India and across the world to garner support for the cause of Tibet, and working of the standing committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile among others. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel spoke on the evolution of Tibetan democratic polity and the workshop’s program and its significance.
Chairman of the Local Tibetan Assembly, Geshe Namgyal Gyaltsen thanked the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat for organizing the workshop. He noted that the previous workshop for the Local Tibetan Assembly was organized many years ago. Following the inaugural function participants introduced themselves and expressed their hopes of expanding their knowledge on the Tibetan Charter and the CTA’s rules and regulations and improving the proceedings of their Local Tibetan Assembly.
The first day of the workshop proceeded with Khenpo Sonam Tenphel elucidating on the Parliamentary Procedures, the Tibetan Charter, mandates and structures to be followed in the assembly while raising starred questions, passing resolutions, legislative amendment proposal and the convention of calling attention motion. He then along with Deputy Speaker engaged in question-answer session with the participants, providing detailed answers and clarifications.
On the second day of the workshop, Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phunstok gave detailed explanations on the rules and regulations pertaining to various account heads and budgets as enshrined in the Charter of exiled Tibetan, viz., Recurring Budget, Special Recurring Budget and the Surkyol Budget. The rest of the day was then left open for an interactive question-answer session between the participants and the resource persons.
Participants clarified their doubts during the interactive sessions and paid rapt attention during the workshop. The workshop will conclude with a mock parliamentary session on the last two days.
This workshop aims at strengthening Tibetan democracy at the grass root level by imparting the participants with detailed information on Central Tibetan Administrative Charter, Budget Policy, proceeding of Parliamentary session etc. with an effort to imbibe them with the capabilities to understand and raise issues concerning the general public, to make informed decisions and to hold public offices accountable.
