Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ of Nepal had a productive telephone conversation today, during which they reviewed various aspects of India-Nepal bilateral cooperation. The two leaders discussed matters aimed at furthering the bilateral partnership and strengthening the deep bonds of friendship between the two countries. This exchange of ideas builds upon the discussions held during Prime Minister Prachanda’s recent visit to India from May 31 to June 3.
Nepal is a close and friendly neighbor, and it plays a vital role in India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy. The high-level telephone conversation between the two leaders signifies the continuation of a longstanding tradition of regular exchanges between India and Nepal.
In related developments, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and Nepal’s Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Friday. These MoUs pertain to developmental projects that will be undertaken with the grant assistance of India. Three of the projects focus on the education sector, while the fourth one involves the Water Supply and Sanitation domain. The total estimated cost for these projects amounts to NRs. 170 million.
“These four projects, namely:- construction of School Building of Shree Galainath Secondary School, Shailashikhar Municipality; School Building of Shree Himalaya Secondary School, Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula District; School Building of Diding Primary School, Chichila Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha District and construction of Shreepur Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Triyuga Municipality in Udayapur District of Nepal shall be implemented through local authorities of Shailashikhar Municipality; Byas Rural Municipality; Chichila Rural Municipality and Triyuga Municipality, respectively,” the statement said.
The four projects include the construction of school buildings for Shree Galainath Secondary School in Shailashikhar Municipality, Shree Himalaya Secondary School in Byas Rural Municipality, and Diding Primary School in Chichila Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha District. Additionally, the Shreepur Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Triyuga Municipality, Udayapur District, will be implemented as well.
These developmental projects aim to enhance education facilities and water supply & sanitation provisions for the local communities, thereby improving the overall quality of life for people in Nepal.
India’s commitment to supporting Nepal’s development dates back to 2003 when they initiated 546 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in various sectors, including health, education, drinking water, connectivity, and sanitation. Out of these, 483 projects have been completed, while the remaining 63 are currently under implementation. The total cost of all these projects is approximately NPR. 1220 Crore (INR. 762 Crore). The majority of these initiatives are executed through the involvement of local authorities under the Nepali Government.
