India signs 11 high-impact community development projects and lays foundation stone for school building in Nepal
Kathmandu: Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for undertaking 11 High-Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal under the grant assistance of the Government of India were signed on Monday. Along with this, the foundation stone has been laid for the construction of the school building of Shree Swarnantaral Basic School, Okhaldhunga, reports 24brussels.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu announced that it signed the MoUs with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of the Government of Nepal, along with Project Implementing Agencies for the HICDPs. The grant assistance from India for these projects will be allocated across sectors such as education, health, and waste management, with a total estimated cost of Nepali Rupees (NRs) 1.16 billion.
The projects include construction of schools and health facilities across various provinces in Nepal. Specifically, the projects are: (i) Shree Janajyoti Secondary School in Kalikot District, (ii) Shree Maheshwar Secondary School in Kanchanpur District, (iii) Primary School’s Educational Building in Rautahat District, (iv) Shree Jana Adarsha Secondary School in Jhapa District, (v) Shree Gokuleshwor Secondary School in Darchula District, (vi) Shree Janata Secondary School in Jhapa District, (vii) Patthardaiya Health Post in Kapilvastu District, (viii) Municipal Hospital in Udayapur District, (ix) Waste Management Centre in Sunsari District, (x) Ilam Hospital Emergency Block, and (xi) Bhimgithe Health Post in Baglung District.
Since 2003, the Government of India has undertaken 590 HICDPs in Nepal, of which 502 projects have been completed in key areas including health, education, sanitation, and public utilities, spanning all seven provinces. The remaining projects are at various stages of implementation.
The embassy emphasized the importance of the India-Nepal partnership, stating, “As close neighbors, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in empowering its people by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.”
A separate ceremony also witnessed the laying of the foundation stone for the school building of Shree Swarnantaral Basic School, Toksel at Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality-7, Okhaldhunga. This school building is being funded by India and is part of the broader HICDP initiative. The construction will consist of a three-and-a-half storey building, including classrooms and toilets for both boys and girls.
In total, the Government of India has initiated 579 HICDPs in Nepal since 2003, with 93 of these located in Koshi Province, which also includes five projects in Okhaldhunga district. Additionally, India has provided 150 ambulances and 62 school buses to different institutions focused on health and education in the region, including four ambulances in Okhaldhunga district.
The HICDPs represent a significant aspect of the multifaceted development partnership between India and Nepal, reflecting the enduring friendship between the two countries.