Dharamshala: A four-day workshop titled “Strengthening Democracy at the Grass-Root Level,” organized by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, to the members of the Local Tibetan Assembly successfully concluded on 1st August 2024 in Rabgyaling Tibetan settlement, Hunsur.

The workshop was conducted by parliamentarians Youdon Aukatsang and Khenpo Jamphal Tenzin. They, on the first two days of the workshop – 29th and 30th July, focused on teaching parliamentary procedures, budget rules, and various account heads to the participants. The third day of the workshop was dedicated to the preparation of a mock session to be held on the last day of the workshop.

Enacting like a real parliament session, the mock session was held as a general session commencing with the serving of traditional ceremonial butter tea and sweetened rice. It was followed by singing of the Tibetan national anthem, speaker’s opening speech, and presentation of solidarity resolution, annual report, calling attention motion, private member’s bill, and other documents. The resource persons intervened between the sessions to provide necessary suggestions to improve the assembly proceedings.

A closing ceremony was held thereafter at 4:00 PM, where parliamentarian Khenpo Jamphal Tenzin mentioned that this was the 10th LTA workshop organized by the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, arranged as requested by the concerned members of the LTA. He applauded all participants for their active participation in the two mock sessions, which resembled the actual Local Tibetan Assembly session.

Parliamentarian Youdon Aukatsang also applauded the participants for their attentiveness and for sharing ideas on future improvements. She emphasized the importance of leaders participating in as many leadership activities as possible.

In the evening of August 1st, a farewell dinner was organized for all participants. Current and former Tibetan Parliament members residing in Hunsur were invited, with MP Migyur Dorje and former MP Tsering Youdon attending. Key figures from various governmental and non-governmental organizations in Hunsur Rabgyaling were also invited.

This is the 10th LTA workshop organized by the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile since its constitution with previous LTA workshops held at Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh), Phuntsokling (Odisha), Sonamling (Ladakh UT), Gangtok (Sikkim), Salugara (West Bengal), Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Bir (Himachal Pradesh), and Guwahati (Assam) respectively.

The LTA workshops are aimed to strengthen democracy at the grass root level by imparting the participants with detailed information of the Central Tibetan Administrative, the Budget Policy, proceeding of the Parliamentary session, and others to make informed decisions and to hold public offices accountable.

This program is supported by USAID through National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD).