Nov 09: As part of the commemorating 20 years of successful implementation of the High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal, through grant assistance of the Government of India, the Embassy of India formally handed over the Mangaladevi Birthing (Maternity) Centre at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu to the Hospital representatives. The project was jointly handed over by Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of Nepal, Ms Anita Devi, Hon’ble Minster for Federal Affairs & General Administration, Government of Nepal and H.E. Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal. Political representatives, officials of the Nepal Government, social workers and local community leaders were also present at the event. Further, agreements for 3 more HICDP projects being undertaken in Nepal under Indian grant assistance at a total estimated cost of NR.130 million in the Baitadi and Mustang districts were also signed on the occasion.
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital is one of the most prestigious medical institutions in Nepal. Mangaladevi Birthing Centre at TUTH has been built with the Government of India’s financial assistance of Nrs. 44.04 Million as a HICDP under the Nepal-India Development Cooperation framework. In addition, 2 sets of 40 KVA Diesel Generators, 5 Buses and 2 Ambulances have been provided to different departments, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, for this hospital in which 1 Ambulance is fully equipped with Advance Life Support. TUTH representatives informed that this birthing centre is being managed by nurses and could function as the model birthing centre for implementation in other regions across Nepal, which could result in reduced maternal mortality rates.
HICDPs, earlier known as Small Development Projects, were launched on 7th November 2003 through a bilateral agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India regarding India’s Grant Assistance for the Implementation of Small Development Projects through Nepali entities working at the local level. These projects are an innovative and important segment of the Development Partnership with Nepal and are being implemented in the priority sectors of the Government of Nepal to create infrastructure to enhance the quality of life at the grassroots level for the people of Nepal.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava highlighted that this journey of implementation of HICDP projects over the past 20 years has been very successful. He expressed satisfaction that since 2003, nearly 550 projects have been taken up under this framework in various sectors including Education, Health, Road
& Bridges, River Training, Drinking Water, Electrification, Irrigation, Culture, Social Welfare etc, which have impacted people’s lives directly. Of these, 480 projects have been completed and the remaining are ongoing. This success translates into over 27 projects every year or simply more than 1 new project being implemented every fortnight in Nepal under the Nepal-India Development Cooperation over the last 20 years. The ambassador thanked the Government of Nepal for its support in this regard and committed to further enhancing and strengthening the implementation of HICDPs in future. These HICDPs have been diverse in sector and geographical spread. It covers all the provinces of Nepal. 84 Projects have been undertaken in Koshi Province, 81 projects in Madhesh Province, 105 projects have been undertaken in Bagmanti Province, 61 Projects in Gandaki Province, 60 projects have been undertaken in Lumbini Province, 14 in Karnali Province and 41 in Sudurpaschim Province. These are apart from 107 projects that spread in more than one province.
Hon’ble Finance Minister Mahat thanked India for its continuous support in the creation of development infrastructure in Nepal. He highlighted that HICDP projects are the cornerstone of the development partnership between India and Nepal. He assured the Government of Nepal of full support in the implementation of such projects which impact the livelihood of common Nepali people. Hon’ble MoFAGA Minister Anita Devi highlighted that the key aspects of such projects are their quick gestation period and the role that they play in economic development at the local level. She thanked the Government of India for its support. She highlighted that HICDPs, despite being small in size, create a big impact in the lives of the common Nepali people and therefore have been appropriately described as Highly Impactful in bringing changes in the community.
Further, the Government of India has also gifted Ambulances and School Buses every year to various institutions working in the health and education sectors in Nepal on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day of India. So far, 974 ambulances and 234 school buses have been gifted to beneficiaries in different parts of Nepal which translates into 1 ambulance being gifted every week and 1 school bus every month. These services are placed to be part of the first line of treatment and contribute significantly to the health care and education sector. This initiative is connecting with grass-root people even in the remotest parts of Nepal.
A short video depicting the journey of HICDP implementation over the last 20 years was also released at the event.
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