Dharamshala, 27th August, 2024: The five-day workshop titled “Strengthening Democracy at Grass-Root Level,” organized by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, to the members Local Tibetan Assembly successfully concluded on 26th August, 2024 in Mundgod Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Karnataka.
The workshop was conducted by parliamentarians Geshe Monlam Tharchen and Kunga Sotop. On the second day of the workshop, participants were divided into small groups to prepare the necessary documents including solidarity resolution, annual reports, calling attention motion, private member’s bill and other related documents for mock sessions to be held on the last two days of the workshop.
On the last two days of workshop i.e. on 25th and 26th August, the mock session was held as a general session commencing with serving of Tibetan traditional ceremonial butter tea and sweetened rice. Followed by singing of Tibetan national anthem and speaker’s opening speech. The participants presented 2 legislative amendments, 2 individual resolutions, a report of the Budget Estimate committee, 2 proposals of reduction and increases and an Appropriation Act.
On 26th August, the last day of the workshop, a closing ceremony was held where participants shared their views and experiences from the workshop, followed by words of thanks by the Tibetan Settlement Officer, Mundgod Doeguling.
The parliamentarian Kunga Sotop applauded all the participants for their active participation in this five-day LTA workshop and said this would definitely help in future LTA sessions. Similarly, parliamentarian Geshe Monlam Tharchen appreciated participants and advised them to pay more attention and stay updated on the rules and regulations of the Central Tibetan Administration. In addition, he advised them to strive following standard parliamentary procedures that they learnt from the workshop for future LTA sessions .
The workshop concluded after Pema Dorjee, Speaker of Local Tibetan Assembly, Mundgod Doeguling, gave a thank you speech.
In the evening of 26th August, a farewell dinner was organized for all participants. Key figures from various governmental and non-governmental organizations in Mundgod Doeguling were also invited.
This is the 11th 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), Guwahati (Assam) and Hunsur Rabgyaling (Karnataka) 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).
