India and Nepal signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for undertaking 12 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) recently.

In a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal, the country said: "The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal and Project Implementing Agencies of  Government of Nepal  today signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for undertaking 12 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal under the grant assistance of Government of India  in Education, Health, Agriculture,  Drinking Water and Culture Sectors,  at a total estimated cost of NRs.474.00 million."

These 12 projects, namely:- (i) construction of School Building of Shree Rajya Laxmi Secondary School, Siddhicharan Municipality, Okhaldhunga (ii) construction of School Building of Shree Swornantaral Basic School, Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality, Okhaldhunga (iii) construction of Arun Multipurpose Foundation Building, Arun Rural Municipality, Bhojpur (iv) construction of School Building of Shree Nepal Rastriya Secondary School Multi-purpose Building, Dullu Municipality, Dailekh (v) construction of School Building of Shree Janata Secondary School, Surunga Municipality, Saptari (vi) construction of School Building of Shree Panchayat Ma. Vi. School, Sundarharaicha Municipality, Morang (vii) construction of Bachhauli Secondary School Building, Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan (viii) construction of Basepu-Hulu Khanepani Aayojana (Water Supply Project). Sotang Rural Municipality, Solukhumbu (ix) construction of School Building of Shree Tribhuvan Secondary School, Inaruwa Municipality, Sunsari; (x) construction of building for Agriculture Promotion Centre for Food Grain Collection and Distribution Centre, Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, Bajura (xi) construction of Health Post-Birthing Centre, Khaniyabas Rural Municipality, Dhading and (xii) construction of Operation Theatre Building of Rapti Eye Hospital, Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Dang in Nepal shall be implemented through Local authorities of Government of Nepal i.e. Metropolitan City, Sub-Metropolitan City, Municipalities and Rural Municipalities.    

The construction of these projects will help provide better educational, health care, drinking water, agricultural products storage and cultural facilities to the local community.

Since 2003, India has taken up over 563 High Impact Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, including the 12 projects whose MoUs have been signed today, and has completed 490 projects in the areas of education, health, road & bridges, river training, drinking water, electrification,  irrigation, culture, social welfare and creation of other public utilities across all 7 provinces of Nepal at the grassroot level.

The remaining projects are ongoing at different stages.      

As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation.

The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.