In a public function held on December 18, 2006 in District Sarlahi, Ambassador of India laid the foundation stone for construction of school building and boundary wall for Shree Faud Singh Janata Secondary School in Raniganj VDC of District Sarlahi. The function was well attended by representatives of DDC, Sarlahi and local administration, Members of Parliament, community leaders and a large number of people from the area. Under this project, for which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Governments of India and Nepal on November 13, 2006, Government of India is providing a cooperation grant of NRs.93,06,394/- to DDC Sarlahi. The school, which was established in 1988, presently runs in a building with corrugated tin roof and the students face great difficulty during the peak summer and winter times. The upgradation of school’s infrastructure will bring immediate benefits to more than 900 students, over 50% of which are girls, by providing an improved environment for learning and will contribute to the socio-economic well being of the more than 5000 strong community of Raniganj VDC. The project will be implemented by DDC, Sarlahi, while an Oversight Committee consisting of the DDC, school management and District Education Officer will monitor the project.
On the same day, at another well-attended function, Ambassador of India inaugurated the additional classroom block and separate hostel buildings for boys and girls with compound wall recently constructed with the cooperation assistance from GOI at Shree Durga Janata Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Babarganj VDC of District Sarlahi. Under this project, Government of India provided a cooperation grant of NRs.2,08,36,727/-. Before the construction of the new blocks, the physical infrastructure of the school was inadequate, particularly since a large number of students came from the surrounding six VDCs. The need for additional classrooms and boarding facility for students was felt for long as these students could not afford to rent accommodation in the vicinity of the school. The problem was all the more acute for the girl students. The upgraded infrastructure of the school will benefit over 600 students of Babarganj and the adjoining VDCs.
At a separate public function on December 19, 2006, Ambassador of India also inaugurated the school building with compound wall for Shree Ramsakhi Mohit Singh Janata Lower Secondary School at Balara VDC in District Sarlahi, which has been recently constructed with GOI assistance of NRs.1,21,43,870/-. The cooperation grant also included provision of equipment, furniture and books for the school. Before the new building was constructed, the school functioned in ramshackle, temporary tin sheds. It is hoped that the construction of the new building and related infrastructure for the school will enable more than 1000 students studying there to have access to improved environment for education and help the school to upgrade into a higher secondary school, thus providing a much-needed facility for higher education in the area.
So far under the bilateral Small Development Projects Scheme (SDPS), seven projects, including six educational projects, have been undertaken by Government of India in District Sarlahi.
In his address during these functions, Ambassador of India stressed the importance of development of educational infrastructure, particularly at the grassroots level, for Nepal’s socio-economic development. He expressed the hope that the various school projects being executed or completed under the umbrella of India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme would make a significant contribution in that direction and lead to visible improvement in the socio-economic condition of the people of Sarlahi and adjoining districts. He reiterated the commitment of Government of India, made during the visit of Prime Minister of Nepal to India in June 2006, to triple the development assistance and double the scholarships for Nepalese students to strengthen and diversify bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.
Currently the bilateral economic cooperation programme between the two countries is witnessing the realisation of more than 160 projects in education, health and infrastructure sectors in 65 districts of Nepal with an outlay of NRs.2000 crores. These are ongoing projects and distinct from NRs.1600 crores economic package announced during the visit of Prime Minister Koirala to India in June 2006. Following the signing of the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government and the people of India are steadfast in their commitment to further contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the people of Nepal.
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