India-Nepal partnership: Inaugurates secondary school, lays foundation stones for waste management project and meditation centre

India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava along with Minister for Social Development of Karnali Province Khadga Bahadur Pokharel on Sunday inaugurated Nepal Rashtriya Secondary Schools in Surkhet in the Himalayan nation.

Speaking about it, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu tweeted, “Ambassador of India along with Mr Khadga Bahadur Pokharel, Minister for Social Development of Kanali Province, Chief of DCC Surkhet Mayor, Bheri Ganga Municipality inaugurated Nepal Rashtriya Secondary School in Surkhet today that has been built by Indian grant assistance.”

According to the Indian Embassy, till date, 14 such community development projects have been implemented in Karnali province, under the robust India-Nepal Development Cooperation.

Earlier on Saturday, foundation stone for Khumjung Khunde Waste Water Management project was laid in Solukhumbu district of Nepal.

The project, which is being constructed with funding from an Indian grant, is situated in a rural part of the Solukhumbu district and is intended to offer vital community services to the locals.

Launch of the initiative is evidence of India's ongoing commitment to assisting the district of Solukhumbu in developing its outlying regions.

However, this is not the first time India has offered assistance to the development of Nepal’s Solukhumbu district.

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 5, India's Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastva along with Surya Bahadur Kulung, Chairman of Mahakulung Municipality in Solukhumbu, laid the foundation stone for the Ngonga Thekchok Choling Meditation Centre.

The Meditation Centre is being constructed with Indian grant assistance and is set to become a hub for spiritual practice in the region.

Apart from laying the foundation stone, the Indian Ambassador also participated in the ceremonies organized by the Ngonga Thekchok Choling Monastery to celebrate the occasion of Buddha Purnima.

This is yet another example of the longstanding cultural and religious ties between India and Nepal.

In January 2017, India assisted Nepal in the upgradation of the Thame Khola Small Hydropower Plant in Solukhumbu, due to which about 1200 families in Khumjung, Khunde, Namche Bazar, and Thame Valley now have access to electricity.

Apart from this, India has been providing developmental assistance to Nepal for several decades, and the two countries have a longstanding partnership in this regard.

India's assistance to Nepal covers a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, and capacity building.

This reflects the close relationship between the two countries, which is based on a shared cultural heritage and people-to-people ties.