China is doling out subsistence allowances to the Buddhist clergy in the restive Tibetan province,as part of efforts to woo them against the backdrop of a number of self immolation by monks and nuns. Over 200 monks and nuns at a monastery on the outskirts of the Tibetan capital Lhasa received subsistence allowances yesterday,a move made to improve their living conditions,state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. The allowances were granted to ensure that each member of the clergy at Tsurpu Monastery can have a minimum monthly income of 360 yuan (USD 57.2) equivalent to the per capita subsistence allowance for Lhasa's citizens,said Chungkyi,chief of civil affairs in Todlung Dechen county,located 70-km from Lhasa's city centre. "A total of 223 monks and nuns at Tsurpu Monastery received their allowances for the first quarter on Friday," Chungkyi said. Tsurpu is a major monastery for the Karma Kagyupa,or 'White Hat Sect',of Tibetan Buddhism. It has more than 300 registered clergy people. The allowances were announced ahead of the New Tibetan Year to be celebrated on February 22. About 17 Buddhist monks attempted self immolations in the recent months demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from his self exile. Four people were killed in incidents of protests and subsequent crackdown in south west Sichuan province,neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region. China accuses the Dalai Lama of instigating the monks suicides. Clergy at Tsurpu Monastery were among the first to receive the subsistence allowances,which will also be granted to other needy monks and nuns at monasteries across the plateau region,Chungkyi said. Tibet has more than 1,700 religious sites,with more than 40,000 monks and nuns in total. The allowances are part of a set of new policies introduced by the regional government this year to improve living conditions and social security for religious professionals. The new policies also includes pensions and medical insurance for all monks and nuns. According to the regional finance department,Tibet has allotted about 800 million yuan (USD 126 million) this year for the purpose of improving its citizens' livelihoods,according to the report.
