The Central Monastic Body is one of the biggest autonomous institutions in the country with financial support from the government in the form of annual grants and private funds from public donations. Apart from Royal Audit Authority’s annual auditing, the Zhung Dratshang also has its own internal audit to provide transparency for the funds granted and donated. The lack of professional capacity for the monks working as internal auditors is the biggest challenge. However, this is expected to change with the finance ministry’s effort to provide internal audit training to the monks.
Passang is one of the internal auditors with the central monastic body. He has been working for a year with no professional training. In recent times, property and fund management is one area that the monk body has realized is important. And Passang who attended the training said, it is time they develop their capacity and competency.
“We think that what we do is best and correct but the internal audit in the country has its own code of ethics which is why we confront minor problems. Without proper training, we aren’t aware of what should and should not be done. And in the process, a lot of error occurs.”
With the training, an internal auditor from the finance ministry is expected to help the monks learn some of the best practices and code of ethics practised at the national standards.
“Zhung Dratshang is an institution where people have trust and people donate and take. Be it a public donation or anything, proper management is important. They also know the risks involved. So we are also giving training with that objectives. Along with it, we will also train them in procurement, asset management, and risk control,” said Sangay Dorji, the Internal Auditor of the Central Coordinating Agency of the Finance Ministry.
Apart from monastic education and spiritual practices, monks are not taught on handling property and fund management matters. The monks attending the training said any land and endowment offered by the government and the people can go to waste if there’s no check and balance.
Samten Dolkar
