Dharamshala - For the second consecutive year, the budget sanctioned for 2007-08 forecasts a surplus, of 11.11 million rupees in the operating and special expenses.

The budget approved by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has a total outlay of over 804 million rupees, of which 188.29 million rupees is allotted for operating and special expenses.

"A surplus budget is extremely laudable," Speaker Karma Chophel said yesterday evening in his concluding address to the Budget session.

"I differ from those who believe that the surplus must be expended. As in the case of a household, we must save something for a rainy day," Mr. Chophel added. The Administrations budget is subject to the scrutiny of the budget estimate committee of the Parliament.

About 23 percent of the approved budget is appropriated for the promotion of Tibet issue, 28% for welfare services, 16% for education, 10% for operating cost of the administration, 10% for health, 6% for religion & culture and 7% for others.

Funds for the exile budget are sourced from His Holiness the Dalai Lama (25%), the Kashag (22%), the Green Book (30%), the exile Finance Department (7%) and administrative charges levied on aid (12%).

In his address, the Speaker also lauded the hundreds of Tibetans who performed an incense-burning ritual in Lhasa, days after the Administration presented a long-life offering to His Holiness on the first day of the Budget session, 14 March.

"Their courage, dedication, pride of nationality, and unswerving faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama are highly praiseworthy."

The third session of the 14th Parliament witnessed 13 starred questions (and rebuttals), legislation of 2 new rules and regulations, 5 official resolutions, 3 resolutions proposed by individual members and 4 calling attentions.

In addition to the review report of the budget-estimate committee, a select committee report on the housing for the retired civil servant and the annual report of the Administration for 2005-07 were also tabled during this session.

In total, the Budget session attended by 41 of the total 43 members produced some 42 documents in about 12 sittings.

(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.)