Strengthening educational frontiers in Nepal’s challenging terrains, India has delivered on its promise with the opening of a fully funded school in Baitadi’s Patan Municipality. This Thursday’s event spotlights a key pillar of Indo-Nepal relations: community-driven development.
The ceremony at Shree Bhumeshwar Secondary School saw Indian diplomat Narayan Singh and Mayor Gauri Singh Rawal officiate the launch. Dating to 1951 and upgraded in 2011, the school now caters to 300 pupils with enhanced infrastructure tailored for remote learning needs.
Gratitude flowed from stakeholders, who credited India for prioritizing backward areas. ‘Enhanced facilities will ignite educational aspirations here,’ affirmed Rawal, as school officials and community leaders echoed the sentiment.
Executed under HICDP—a 2003 initiative evolved from small grants—this project emphasizes sectors like education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, electrification, and flood control. Impressively, India has rolled out 573 ventures across Nepal at NPR 13.59 billion, dominating education with 294 projects, 217 of which are school builds.
The program’s scope expanded post-January 2024, with Jaishankar’s visit securing quadrupled funding per project to NPR 200 million. This move embodies India’s role as a reliable ally, bolstering Nepal’s grassroots infrastructure and exemplifying multifaceted neighborly cooperation for sustainable progress.