Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 26: During the ongoing budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on Tuesday, Lawmakers held in-depth discussions about ways to improve the financial self-sufficiency of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). With recent reductions in U.S. funding, lawmakers focused on strategies to generate revenue and ensure long-term economic stability for the Tibetan government-in-exile.
A focal point of the debate was the proposal to increase the Tibetan voluntary contribution, commonly known as the Greenbook tax or Chatrel Lakdep (Tibetan), to address a widening financial gap caused by reduced U.S. funding.
MP Dhondup Tashi emphasised the necessity of increasing voluntary tax contributions as the primary source of administrative funding. He proposed a tenfold increase in contributions, arguing that such a measure could cover a significant portion of the Central Tibetan Administration’s annual expenditure and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Representative Aukatsang Youdon advocated for a multi-pronged approach to achieving financial independence. She suggested a revised tax collection system and alternative funding mechanisms, such as student loan models inspired by systems in other countries, to reduce reliance on external aid.
While some MPs pushed for an increase in contributions, Representative Dawa Phunkyi cautioned that complete financial self-sufficiency would be an immense challenge. He stressed the importance of stringent expenditure control and suggested the government cut administrative costs to ease financial strain.
Adding to the discussion, Representative Chodak Gyatso proposed revenue-generating business ventures as a potential funding source. He also suggested the establishment of a new voluntary contribution system, managed by the Finance Department, allowing Tibetans to donate beyond their mandatory Greenbook contributions.
The Finance Minister, who is also the President of the CTA, Penpa Tsering, acknowledged that financial self-sufficiency has long been a priority for the current Cabinet but stressed the importance of conducting realistic feasibility assessments before implementing a drastic increase in voluntary tax contributions. He reiterated that while Parliament has the authority to pass a resolution on tax adjustments, the actual collection potential remains a critical concern.
The finance minister clarified that Tibetans willing to contribute beyond their standard Chatrel (voluntary tax) payments are welcome to do so. He added that if deemed necessary, Parliament could formalise an increase in contributions to strengthen the Central Tibetan Administration’s financial stability.
Currently, the Tibetan government receives approximately $3 million annually from voluntary tax contributions by Tibetans residing in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and abroad. However, its administrative expenditures amount to nearly $40 million per year, meaning that the voluntary contributions account for only 9% of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) total budget.
Beyond the voluntary tax discussions, the session also addressed the Finance Department’s fund status, business loan programmes for Tibetan entrepreneurs, and the need for higher loan amounts to support economic initiatives within the community, against the backdrop of US funding slash for exile Tibetans and the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration.
