As spiritual projects under Gelephu Mindfulness City expand in both scale and funding, the need for strong financial oversight is becoming increasingly critical. In response, over 30 key officials have undergone intensive training to strengthen transparency, accountability, and compliance. The initiative aims to ensure that every project is implemented with integrity and in line with regulatory standards. The three-day programme concluded today.
Project Directors, Project Managers, and Finance Officers from various spiritual projects under GMC attended the three-day capacity-building training. It was organised by the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority’s Spiritual Workstream in collaboration with the Audit and Corruption Investigation Bureau.
The programme focused on equipping project teams with the knowledge and tools required to manage finances responsibly while upholding ethical standards, at a time when several spiritual projects are beginning to handle substantial financial resources.
“Spiritual projects involve significant financial transactions, making it essential for teams to understand accounting, bookkeeping, and audit practices. Without proper systems, the risk of mismanagement or corruption increases. This training aims to build their capacity to prevent such risks and ensure responsible project implementation,” said Tshering Penjor, Senior Programme Officer, Spiritual Workstream, GMCA.
Participants say the training has been both timely and practical, helping reinforce fundamental financial principles while preparing them for upcoming project demands.
“For project managers, it is beneficial to revisit the basics, while for accountants, it serves as a refresher. As projects begin and financial transactions increase, this is an important reminder to strictly follow financial rules and regulations,” said Sangay Khandu, Director, Gelephu Maitreya Temple Project.
The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including audit and corruption investigation, anti-money laundering, Bhutan Accounting Systems and Standards, taxation, registry requirements, and effective project management.
With 14 sacred projects currently approved and under development in Gelephu Mindfulness City, officials say such capacity-building efforts are vital to ensure these initiatives are carried out with integrity, efficiency, and in line with GMC’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
