Highlighting Government of India's commitment to supporting the peace process in Nepal, Ambassador of India Mr. Shiv Shankar Mukherjee symbolically handed over to the Hon'ble Home Minister of Nepal H.E. Mr. Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Nepal H.E. Mr. Ian Martin, vehicles, communication equipment, food material, tents and generators at a function held at Embassy of India today. Senior officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Government of Nepal and media persons were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador reiterated that India and her friendly people wished to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal. He also stressed India's commitment to support in whatever manner possible the efforts aimed at creating a new, pluralistic and inclusive Nepal in accordance with the wishes of the people of Nepal.
These supplies by the Government of India to the Government of Nepal on the latter's request in the context of the ongoing peace process in Nepal comprise the first two of the four phases of supplies of the entire package, which includes more than 1,000 vehicles, 1639 VHF hand held sets, 892 VHF Trans receivers, 6,800 Metric Tonnes of rice, sugar and skimmed milk, 2000 tents and 20 generators. The Government of India will bear the cost of the entire package, estimated at present to be around INR 70 crores.
The vehicles and communication equipment to be used by the civil police in Nepal will augment its capability to discharge its duties more effectively in the run up to the Constituent Assembly elections. The vehicles to be used by the UN will facilitate its functioning to implement its mandate in the peace process in Nepal.
This assistance is in addition to the economic assistance package that was announced when Hon'ble Prime Minister of NepalHE Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala visited India in June 2006, whereby the Government of India had agreed to extend immediately a one-time grant of INR 100 crore for budgetary support to the Government of Nepal, offered a soft credit line of US $ 100 million for the execution of infrastructure development projects as prioritised by the Government of Nepal, enhance India's ‘Aid to Nepal’ budget from INR 65 crore to INR 150 crore annually, waive the dues outstanding owed by the Government of Nepal to the Government of India on account of defence purchases amounting to more than INR 100 crores, arrange supply of 25,000 metric tons of fertilizers to Nepal at subsidized prices, grant exemption to all exports of goods manufactured in Nepal into India from the 4% Additional Duty of Customs, accelerate the release of all funds to Nepal under the Duty Refund Procedure Scheme, and double the number of scholarships provided by the Government of India for Nepalese students, including for girls. Action on all these measures has been taken by the Government of India, based on the priorities and needs indicated by the Government of Nepal.
|