By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, May 14: Exile Tibetans spread across the globe have donated around 5 Crore INR to India’s relief efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic through the PM-Cares Fund, the President Dr. Lobsang Sangay of the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration said Wednesday.
The donation was collected from Tibetan communities around the world including North America, Europe and those in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Tibetans in the US donated USD 222,456 (1,63,11,708 INR) while Tibetans in Canada donated a sum of CAD 90,543 (54,66,352 INR) according to reports from the Office of Tibet (OOT) in Washington DC. Along with the donation, Representative Tsering sent a letter to Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu and High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria expressing solidarity and prayers on behalf of the Tibetans living in North America and hoped for a speedy recovery from this unprecedented challenge.
Tibetans in western Europe under the Brussels OOT donated 45,530 Euros (40,42,695 INR) while those under the jurisdiction of Geneva OOT in Switzerland donated more than 1 Crore INR, according to the CTA President. Tibetans in Taiwan donated close to 30 Lakh INR and those in Australia and New Zealand donated 27 Lakh INR. The Tibetans in the Indian subcontinent donated close to 80 Lakh INR.
Dr. Sangay said that donation is a token for the Indian people and the government who have supported and helped the Tibetan people and movement over the decades. The Dharamshala based CTA also chipped in with a day’s salary of all the civil servants to be contributed along with the funds collected.
The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was created on 27 March 2020, for the stated purpose of combating, and containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future. PM Narendra Modi Chairs the fund and cabinet ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman are trustees of the fund.
The PM-Cares fund has been criticised for its lack of transparency and for not being under the jurisdiction of transparency laws such as the RTI Act of 2005. The total amount of funds donated and the names of donors have not been publicly disclosed, and the fund is privately audited.
4 Responses
To Norbu,
I don’t agree that you are a Tibetan. The CCP dogs better do not bark when sincere student is making an offer as a token of love to his master. A master who takes care of entire nation directly or indirectly. A master who saves a nation’s identity and helps to survive from extinction.
Leave the Tibetans in need are hungry and suffering , instead donate to pm care for what ?
You are being selfish, Norbu. If you don’t want to chip in then that’s OK, but don’t criticize the good work done by the Tibetans from all over the world. Cheer up.
Don’t talk shit here u china mouthpiece globaltimes . Tibetan always stand with India .free Tibet Jai Bharat