KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29
Six newly reconstructed schools in Kavrepalanchowk were jointly inaugurated today by Anurag Srivastava, joint secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs of India, with Gokul Prasad Baskota, member of Parliament of Nepal, Kavrepalanchowk-2 and Ganga Bahadur Tamang, member of Parliament of Nepal, Kavrepalanchowk-1, and Dhurba Prasad Sharma, executive member of National Reconstruction Authority.
The six schools have been built under reconstruction grant assistance of Indian government at a total cost of Rs 197 million. The event was attended by officials from Embassy of India in Kathmandu, representatives from Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Education), District Level Project Implementation Unit (Kavrepalanchowk), Banepa Municipality, Panauti Municipality and other stakeholders.
These six reconstructed schools - Shree Ajad Secondary School (Banepa), Shree Bhagwati Secondary School (Panchkhal), Shree Ajad Secondary School (Panchkhal), Shree Dughdeshwar Secondary School (Panchkhal), Shree Sharada Secondary School (Panauti) and Shree Khandadevi Secondary School (Chauri Deurali) - were built according to earthquake-resilient reconstruction norms of the Nepal government and will provide better learning environment to over 2,000 students. The schools are part of India government's commitment to reconstruct educational institutions across eight districts affected by the earthquake under grant assistance of $50 million. The eight beneficiary districts are Gorkha, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading and Kathmandu. Till date, the construction of 14 schools has been completed and construction of 56 schools is ongoing.
Speaking on the occasion, Srivastava highlighted that these six schools are excellent examples of courage and capacity of Nepali people to build back better, and that India is honoured to be a promising development partner of Nepal. "India, as a close friend and neighbour, has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Nepal in its efforts towards reconstruction."
A ground breaking ceremony of Khopasi Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) in Panauti Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk was also held during the day. This health post is one of the 132 health posts being reconstructed under the Indian government's grant assistance of $50 million in the health sector. The PHCC is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs 75 million. It will provide emergency, maternal and child healthcare and other medical services for around 15,000 people in Kavrepalanchowk district.
India has committed reconstruction grant-in aid of $250 million (for reconstruction projects in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors in Nepal). Altogether 50,000 houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot in housing sector, 70 schools and one library in education sector, 132 health buildings in health sector and restoration/retrofitting of 28 cultural heritage sites in cultural heritage sector are being funded by India's post-earthquake reconstruction grant.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 30 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
