The Centre has slashed budgetary allocation for Tibet House, the Dalai Lama's cultural centre and other Buddhist institutions.
The budget for such bodies under the cultural ministry has been reduced from ₹50.19 crore in the current financial year to ₹20.19 crore for the next fiscal. Government sources claimed the budget has been allocated as per the demands made by them.
The list includes Tibet House, Centre for Buddhist Cultural Studies Tawang Monastery, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, International Buddhist Confederation and GRL Monastic School Bomdila.
It also includes bodies such as Vrindavan Research Institute, Asiatic Society (Mumbai), Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji Sarasvati Mahal Library, Central Library and Connemara Public Library.
In the last fiscal, budget for these institutes was ₹71.51 crore, reduced to ₹50.19 crore for the current fiscal.
When contacted, BJD MP Sujeet Kumar, who heads the All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet, said, "It is unfortunate. Reduction in budgetary allocation especially for Tibet House, Tawang Monastery and Namgyal Institute is worrisome as these institutes work in preserving and protecting the Tibetan culture, which is under attack from China. The government of India should have enhanced the support," Kumar said.
