Since 2003, India has undertaken over 546 High Impact Community Development Projects in Nepal
The recent opening of a new school building in Nepal constructed with financial assistance from the government of India is the latest example of India's strong development partnership with the Himalayan nation.
 
The newly constructed building of Shree Mahendra Rastriya Secondary School, Baluwater, Kathmandu was formally handed over to the local authorities on October 11, 2023. The school was constructed with the generous assistance of NRs.19.20 million from the Government of India under the 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' initiative.
 
According to the Indian Embassy in Nepal, the Government of India grant was utilized for the construction of a three-storey school building and provision of furniture for the school. The project was taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project under an Agreement between Government of India and Government of Nepal. This project was implemented through the District Coordination Committee, Kathmandu.
 
Mahendra Rastriya Secondary School's journey began in 1956, initiated by a group of passionate teachers on an open ground. Since its inception, the school has undergone multiple upgrades, from being recognized as a primary institution in 1973, achieving lower secondary status in 1995, advancing to secondary level in 2000, and eventually being designated as a higher secondary school. Today, it boasts a strength of over 600 students, with girls constituting about 50% of the total strength, a reflection of its commitment to gender equality.
 
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu Prasanna Shrivastava and Chief of District Coordination Committee (DCC) Kathmandu Santosh Budathoki. A significant turnout of political representatives, social workers, officials from the Nepal Government, school management representatives, teachers, parents, and students marked the event.
 
Reflecting on the project, Shrivastava emphasized that this initiative stands as a testament to the thriving development partnership between India and Nepal. "The collaboration has seen significant progress in recent years, encompassing various priority sectors, tailored to the needs of the Nepali people and government," he said, reaffirming India's commitment to further enhance this partnership for mutual benefit.
 
Budhathoki, speaking at the event, extolled India's consistent support, noting, "The Mahendra Rastriya Secondary School is just one of the many symbols of our flourishing bilateral cooperation. We are optimistic about strengthening this collaborative spirit in the future."
 
In the last two decades, India's support to Nepal has been profound. Since 2003, India has undertaken over 546 High Impact Community Development Projects across various sectors in Nepal, successfully completing 483 of them. Notably, 105 of these projects span across Bagmati Province, with 40 focused in Kathmandu. Additionally, in gestures symbolizing goodwill and support, the Indian Government has gifted 974 ambulances and 234 school buses to diverse institutions in Nepal, with Kathmandu alone receiving 69 ambulances and 52 school buses.
 
As neighbouring nations, the depth of cooperation between India and Nepal traverses’ multiple sectors. The successful realization of these High Impact Community Development Projects underlines India's continued commitment to assist Nepal's endeavours in uplifting its citizenry, particularly emphasizing sectors like education. The handover marks not just the culmination of a project, but the continuing bond and shared vision of two neighbouring nations working towards a brighter future.