India Foundation organised the fifth session of the Round-Table Discussions in the ongoing “Tibet Talks” series. The topic for this session was “Parliament in Exile: Administrative Role and Challenges”. The session was addressed by Ms Gyari Dolma, Security Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Dharamsala. The Round-Table Discussion took place on 2 May 2024 (Thursday) at the India Foundation office, with the session chaired by Capt Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation.
The speaker highlighted the unique democratic structure of the Tibetan exile Administration, contrasting it with India’s system. In the Tibetan democratic structure, there are no political parties, and candidates are nominated and elected directly by the people. The speaker explained the dual role of parliament members, balancing both ruling and opposition roles.
The speech then delved into the history of Tibetan democracy, mentioning the influence of Indian democracy on the Dalai Lama and the establishment of the Tibetan Parliament in exile in 1960. It discussed the challenges of holding elections for Tibetans in exile and explained the composition of the Tibetan Parliament, with representatives from each of the three traditional provinces of Tibet. The speaker highlighted the role of women in the Tibetan-Exile parliament with 2 out of 10 seats from each province reserved for women since 1964 and expressed pride in stating that today there are more than 2 women from each province on their merits and not gender. The role of clergy in the parliament was also highlighted, with a discussion on the debates surrounding their representation. The talk moved on to discuss the administrative role of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, describing it as powerful within its democratic setup. The parliament plays a significant role in formulating policies, including foreign policy, with input from the public and debate among members. The Round-Table Discussion was attended by the young Tibetan diaspora in India, Former Diplomats, Entrepreneurs, Indian scholars, and the India Foundation team.
