Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla delivers Distinguished Lecture at an event hosted by AIDIA; inaugurates four development projects completed with Indian assistance in Gorkha and Manang Districts.

On the second and final day of his official visit to Nepal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla addressed a limited gathering of leading civil society members on India-Nepal relations at an event hosted by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) in Kathmandu. His speech laid out the foundational multi-dimensional strength of the ties between the two countries and the vision for taking it forward. The full text of the speech is available on https://rb.gy/mq5wnw

In the afternoon, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla traveled to Gorkha and inaugurated three schools constructed with Indian reconstruction assistance viz. Shree Mahalaxmi, Shree Ratnalaxmi, and Shree Tara Secondary Schools, in the presence of Mr. Ram Krishna Sapkota, Secretary, National Reconstruction Authority of Nepal.

There are about 1600 students in these three schools who now have the advantage of the newly constructed earthquake resilient school buildings. These schools are part of 71 educational institutes across nine districts being built under the Government of India grant assistance of US $ 50 million for reconstruction in the education sector. The nine beneficiary districts are Gorkha, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading, and Kathmandu.

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Secretary emphasized that education is the best investment in the future of the country and its people. Since 2003, the Government of India has built nearly 270 educational campuses across Nepal under the High Impact Community Development Projects scheme, complementing the efforts of the Government of Nepal in this area. Shringla encouraged Nepali students to take advantage of over 3000 scholarships being provided by the Government of India to contribute to the development of their country and to further strengthen the India-Nepal partnership.

As part of its post-earthquake assistance to Nepal, the Government of India has substantially fulfilled its commitment in the housing sector with over 46,500 houses handed over to beneficiaries in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts. India is also working with the Government of Nepal on the reconstruction of 147 health posts and hospitals in ten districts of Nepal under a grant of US $ 50 million and 28 cultural heritage sites in 8 districts of Nepal under another grant of US $ 50 million.

In his last engagement before leaving Nepal that also signifies the diverse bilateral development and cultural cooperation, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla virtually inaugurated the Tashop (Tare) Gompa monastery constructed at Shree Kharka village in Manang district. The event was attended by Shri Yadav Prasad Koirala, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal, and Rev. Acharya Lama Norbu Sherpa, President of Nepal Buddhist Federation along with the representatives of Khangsar Sewa Samiti. Foreign Secretary conveyed his pleasure at the Government of India’s role in restoring this ancient monastery in the Manang district and in contributing to the preservation of the rich Buddhist heritage of this Himalayan region. The restoration of the Monastery was taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project under grant assistance at the request of the local Khangsar village and authorities.

After completing his two-day official visit, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla returned back to New Delhi in the late afternoon today.