Bhaktapur, September 4:

Around 3,000 schoolchildren are being benefited from the Children In Programme (CIP) run by the World Vision Nepal in Bhaktapur district, it was informed at an interaction organised by the Katunje Community Development Coordination Committee today. Speaking at the interaction, Indra Bilas Baral, the coordinator of the programme, said the annual budget of the World Vision crosses the mark of Rs 200 million in Bhaktapur and most of the programmes are being run with local partnership. He said the focus of the programmes was on improvement in the economic status of the people living in the district.

“It’s been four years that the World Vision Nepal has started supporting people of low economic standard in Bhaktapur. Though we have not conducted a detail survey of the outcome and impact of the projects, we believe that they have brought a significant change in the district,” Baral said. Nirmal Gurung, community development facilitator, said projects on bio-gas, livestocks and other income generating programmes are on the pipeline. Earlier, Shiva Prashad Munakarmi, president of TU Teachers’ Association, felicitated Subash Chandra Dhungel, former president of KCDCC for his contribution to strengthen the community-based organisation.

Munankarmi also gave away certificates to volunteers. On the occasion, Munakarmi said there was a need to empower communities for sustainable development. He was of the view that INGOs should expand their activities for community development. Binod Raj Dhungel, secretary of KCDCC, said inadequate research was the reason for the unsustainability of programmes run by the World Vision Nepal. Other speakersalso stressed the need for incorporating sustainable approach in programmes run by the World Vision Nepal.