Lokayukta--Ombudsman office, need of the hour

By Tsering Dolma

A Tibetan lady offering Khadak
(white scarf) to a Tibetan self-immolator in Tibet 

If shortage of NGOs is not a bump in our freedom struggle, having too many NGOs won't be a hurdle either but so many NGOs without our government's touch is a serious issue that needs to be addressed sooner than later.


It is very disturbing to see articles criticizing that the NGOs that one think they are doing a brilliant job, and it is more shocking and saddening when these NGOs are unable to clarify or defend the defamation made by some independent critics. 

Not long ago, a British woman who has close association with the Tibetan cause, and who is an acknowledged writer for her critical articles in the Tibetan community penned a couple of articles criticizing the international NGOs, particularly the critic badly attacked the UK based five stared NGO Free Tibet known for her quick and insightful self-immolation stories from Tibet. Saying that the critic herself has spent a year with the Free Tibet, the independent critic said that the organization is nothing but a self centered, self profitable and self career building oriented organization.

It is not just the International organizations run and staffed by non Tibetans, but even the NGOs run and staffed by Tibetans, that need to be questioned in terms of functioning, funding, recruitment of staff and the financial management of the NGOs. A lokayukta bill pass by the Central Tibetan Administration is I think the need of the hour. The system of our government administration is quite transparent, thanks to the Public Audit Commission and Public Service Commission. However, in the name of independence from the government, all of our NGOs are enjoying the freedom to be the 'boss of oneself,' and sadly this freedom is being misused when a particular NGO gets a lazy and luxurious boss who might not corrupt the NGO's money but some times results in the financial mismanagement of the organization. 

Organizing meetings and camps in convenience to the particular boss's trip to the particular country or traveling luxuriously by forwarding the bills to one's organization is also not a corruption, I think but financial mismanagement, and if any of the NGOs are in such un-forgivable actions, then such acts must be voluntarily quitted at least at this critical moment where our brothers and sisters inside Tibet are burning themselves on the fire in protest against the Chinese occupation of our mother land Tibet. 

I am bit positive that our NGOs won't commit such shameless and selfish acts but in order to prevent such things in the future, I think a lokayukta bill is must and the bill must be put in action effectively and timely thereafter. 

 The ombudsman office (lokayukta) must not only act as an audit department but as the supreme organization who will keep an eye on the functioning of the NGOs as well. As of now, unless a press man questions or a critical urgent news arrives from Tibet, almost all the NGOs in our community are having the disease to be relaxed and calm-- just waiting for a bad news from Tibet! 

Sadly nowadays, the bad news from Tibet has become normal, and the candle light vigils have become routine here in the town of Dharamshala.

Editor's note --  Tsering Dolma holds a master's degree in Mass communication, and she is currently residing in Dharamshala, India. 

Follow US on  Twitter // Facebook

Stay tuned to TIBET TELEGRAPH for more news and views on Tibet and Tibetan life, and on areas of interest to the Tibetan readers