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Transformation
The community-in-exile has been transformed. The thousands of refugees who accompanied and followed the Dalai Lama into exile in India in 1959 travelled on foot over high mountain passes. They were virtually destitute and suffering from the trauma of leaving their homes and finding themselves in an environment totally different from their remote, sparsely populated land. Few were educated and they had no experience of democratic institutions. They were settled on land provided by the Indian government but had to earn their livelihood through hard manual labour.
Yet, as early as 1960, the Dalai Lama was able to instill the seeds of self-reliance, combining democratic functioning with Tibetan mores. The exiles are now self-confident, and eager to extend their rights and privileges to their homeland.
Unlike many other groups of exiles, the Tibetans continue to use international permits for identification and travel. They have not sought Indian or any other citizenship; nor will accept Chinese. The Dalai Lama's emphasis on providing good schools has borne fruit, so the exiles no longer depend on manual labour for their livelihood. Some of them are doing well but all of them suffer the strain of rootlessness, the price of holding on to their Tibetan identity without being able to return home.
The Standing Committee is vested with almost all the functions and powers of the ATPD except those concerning legislative and financial business.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the ATPD are elected by the members, and are authorised to represent the Parliament vis-a-vis its dealings with outside organisations and persons. They preside over the meeing of the Standing Committee and other parliamentary committees and are responsible for the administration of the House.
The main powers and responsibilities of the ATPD are:
- to elect the members of the Kashag (Cabinet) and to impeach any individual Kalon (Minister) or the entire Kashag;
- to examine the decision of the Kashag and its administration in the light of the policies and programmes adopted by the Parliament;
- to enact laws, frame rules and regulations and issue policy decisions;
- to control and oversee the finances including the expenditure of the Government-in-exile;
- to liaise with government, parliaments, NGOs and individuals throughout the world in order to gain support for the cause of Tibet;
- to streamline the functioning of the local Tibetan Assemblies in all major Tibetan settlements;
- to oversee the work of BRDL sub-committees;
- to debate issues of national and international importance as well as issues of local and individual significance;
- to hear public grievances and petitions of Tibetans-in-exile;
- to monitor the aspirations and problems of the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, by maintaining contact with them;
- to play the role of opposition parties under the present circumstances because maintaining effective control of the Government is not only a matter for the opposition, it is the responsibility of the Parliament as a whole.
The Secretariat of the Parliament works under a Parliamentary Secretary, who works under the guidance of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The Secretariat undertakes the responsibility of the preparation of parliamentary procedures and practices and makes arrangements for recording the formal proceedings of the House. The entire proceedings of the session are published in the forms of a New Bulletin (of about -250 pages), which is distributed to all the Settlement Officers, representatives of Local Assemblies, Tibetan Freedom Movement Committees, Tibetan press, Offices of Tibet, NGOs and Tibetan Support Communities and organisations.
The Business routine of the house in transacted in the following manner:
- Question Hour;
- statements of the Kalons or individual members;
- passing of legislation;
- voting of Grant-in-Aid and control of public finances;
- Zero hour;
- processing of miscellaneous budget; and
- debate on motions or statements.
In the interest of preparing and facilitating the work of the Parliament, members are divided on the basis of their area of specialization, into various committees, to undertake detailed work on behalf of the House. Thus, a major part of the work done by the Parliament is carried out by Committees. These are:
- Standing Committee
- Business Advisory Committee
- Committee on Education
- Committee on Health Care
- Committee on Human Rights and Environment
- Committee on Public Accounts
- Committee on Religious and Cultural Activities.
- Committee on Social Welfare and Settlement; and
- Select Committee on Bills
The five-year term of the Eleventh Parliament ended on May 28, 1996 and the Twelfth Parliament was constituted on May 29, 1996. The first session of the Twelfth Parliament commenced on May 31, 1996 and will end on May 28, 2001.
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