India provides assistance to Nepal on I-Day

Kathmandu, Aug 15: India has provided assistance to different organisations and educational institutions of Nepal on the occasion of the former's 60th Independence Day.

Fifteen Mahindra ambulances were gifted by the Indian Government to various non-profit charitable organisations in different parts of the Himalayan nation. Thirteen ambulances were presented by the Ambassador of India at a function held in the premises of Embassy of India and two by the Consul General of India at Birgunj.

Apart from the ambulances, the Ambassador announced that six Swaraj Mazda school buses will be handed out to different schools and educational institutions in the mountainous country.

Besides, he also presented books worth about Indian Rs three lakh to 15 educational and training institutes situated in different regions of Nepal, such as Pokhara, Palpa, Parsa, Sunsari, Sarlahi and Morang, apart from the Nepalese capital.

''Following Prime Minister Girja Prasad Koirala's visit to India in June 2006, for strengthening the economic cooperation between the two countries, Indian government has tripled its economic cooperation commitment under the Small Project Development Scheme and doubled the number of scholarships for students of Nepal,'' a statement of Indian Embassy said.

''Through such programmes, India reiterates its commitment to strengthen cooperation in the critical areas of health infrastructure and human resources development in Nepal,'' it added.

A public function was held today at the Indian mission to mark the 60th Independence Day. Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee addressed the function.

UNI