Indian envoy to Nepal inaugurates three aid projects

Kathmandu, Nov 3(UNI) Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee laid the foundation stones for three different projects in western Nepal being constructed with New Delhi's assistance.

The projects are being constructed with grant assistance of 30 million, 13 million and 28 million Nepali Rupees respectively from India.

The envoy laid the foundation stones of new buildings of Prithvi Chandra Hospital, Parasi and Shree Janata Lower Secondary School at Arungkhola -- both in district Nawalparasi, and for the new school and lab building for Shree Gautam Buddha Secondary School, Jayanagar in Kapilvastu district yesterday.

Mr Mukherjee underlined the importance of educational and health infrastructure in the himalayan nation's development and expressed the hope that various development projects being implemented under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme would make a significant contribution in that direction.

He reiterated India's commitment for all possible assistance to the people of Nepal to establish a lasting peace and prosperity.

The existing building of Prithvi Chandra Hospital was constructed in 1968 with India assistance. The new double-storied building with 25-bed capacity would improve the hospital's healthcare delivery system and add facilities such as X-ray, pathology, dentistry and surgery. The new infrastructure would serve about one million people of Nawalparasi and Rupandehi districts.

Shree Janata Lower Secondary School, located in Nayabelhani Village Development Committee of Nawalparasi, established in 1968, provides secondary education to more than 700 students.

It also fulfills the educational requirements of students coming from the adjoining VDCs of Rakachuli, Mainaghat and Dumkibas, which together account for a population of more than 32,000.

Shree Gautam Buddha Secondary School located in Jayanagar VDC of district Kapilvastu, established in 1978, has more than 1200 students, coming from five adjoining VDCs and serving a population of more than 30,000.

These projects are being implemented by the District Development Committee, while separate oversight committees consisting of representatives from the relevant beneficiary organisations and local development and administrative authorities have been constituted to ensure community participation in overseeing the projects for their effective and timely implementation, the Indian Embassy stated.

These are part of more than 265 large and small projects currently being implemented under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure with a layout of over 21 billion Nepali Rupees.

UNI